Discover the Del Rebene brand: here’s our interview.

An ancient village, a hilly terroir of great scenic allure, and an immense territory. These are the three ingredients of the Azienda Agricola Del Rébene, a family-run business that since 2007, in complete respect for the territory and in the sustainability of its mission, has been dedicated to grape cultivation in the heart of the Colli Berici of Vicenza. Del Rébene is situated here and is named after the name of the hilly ridge on which it stands, "Rebène", from the term Reben brought by the Cimbrian colonists which means "vine, vineyard".

The Azienda Agricola Del Rébene spans an impressive 23 hectares on a hill formed by an ancient volcanic chimney. It is precisely on these lands that Francesco Castegnaro, having abandoned his career as a lawyer, decided to cultivate almost 5 hectares of vines and 3 hectares of olive trees, in a place that in antiquity was already considered ideal for winemaking. In fact, the summit of the hill and its steep slopes are also cultivated with olive trees, cherry trees, and various vegetables. The sun-kissed lands, watered by the nearby Fontana del Monte, are ideal for cultivating quality fruit and vegetables.
 
The company uses renewable energy sources and has been run with a biodynamic and organic method certified since 2007, allowing the grapes to fully ripen so as to produce quality wines in an unspoiled site entirely surrounded by woods.
In the Colli Berici area, the Rébene is the highest vineyard, at 300m above sea level, and it is here that the cultivars Carmenère, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Tai Rosso find the ideal conditions to unleash their organoleptic characteristics. The nutrient-rich, clayey soil, very steep and facing south, the mild and breezy climate, the altitude, and the drip irrigation give the red grapes great qualities and elegant, fruity aromatic nuances.

We love these realities, these producers of unique, certified, and multi-award-winning delicacies: they are true treasures set in our peninsula among seas and mountains and in the most remote paths of villages and countryside. We do not just stop to enjoy their products, but we want to discover the protagonists of this brand more closely. That is why we sent some questions to those who manage communication with us.

Stay with us to learn about the Azienda Agricola Del Rébene: read the answers!
 

• Who are we speaking with?
  We are Francesco Castegnaro and Claudia Serblin.
   
• Is the company family-run? For how many generations and from what exact year?
  Yes, it is the first generation, initiated production with our brand in 2011.
   
• In what year was the company founded and who was the founder? What was the founder's background or what was the professional field he came from if different from the current one?
  1990, lawyer.
   
• What is the real reason or triggering fact behind the birth of this company and when did it happen?
  At 24 years old, while cycling in the Colli Berici, in the province of Vicenza, I walked into an overgrown path and discovered the ruins of an abandoned village at the end of World War II. That ruin was over 400 years old, and among the brambles, uncultivated vines and ancient terraces could be seen, at about 300 meters altitude. From there, an idea was born in my mind.
   
• What is your relationship with the land of origin and its uniqueness? And why do you want to tell its story through your products?
  The recovery of a 23-hectare property represented for me an exciting adventure, as I had no idea how much work and sacrifice it would entail. Claudia and I met 12 years ago; our passion for nature, experiences of life in the hills, and memories of harvest seasons in our youth united us in a common project.
   
• What was the first product you created?
  Organic EVO oil.
   
• What is the product that you now consider your "flagship"?
  The Carmenère wine, produced with spontaneous fermentation and minimal sulfur presence.
   
• And what is the product that throughout the entire history of the company has most embodied the beating heart, philosophy, and soul of the company itself?
  The "red of Rébene", an award-winning 2016 Carmenere.
   
• Talking about today: how much has the company expanded since its inception? Can we have some numbers?
  In 1992, the 23 hectares of property had been completely uncultivated for more than 40 years. Today we have 3 hectares of olive grove and 5 hectares of vineyards. We produce 100 quintals of olives each year and 15,000 bottles of wine.
   
• At the moment: more tradition or more innovation?
  Tradition.
   
• What has been the most important evolution of the company to bring it to what it is today?
  The establishment of the winery and the tasting room: we vinify, package, and promote our products to consumers independently.
   
• Looking towards the future: what tomorrow awaits the company? Are there any plans for changes or new evolutionary processes?
  The agricultural company is located in the heart of the Colli Berici at 300 meters altitude: it is an easily accessible area, yet at the same time little known, far from sources of pollution and characterized by a microclimate similar to the Mediterranean scrub. We have created an area suitable for hospitality with 9 beds, a tasting room, and a large porch. We are located along the path of the Alta Via dei Berici and for this reason, we have installed charging stations for bicycles. We can offer our guests a "bucolic" dimension with the comforts of technology.
   
• Do you plan to create new products?
  Since 2019, we have chosen to purchase organic Garganega grapes and we have created a sparkling white wine and a still wine, thus expanding our offerings. Regarding oils, since 2020 we have also chosen to produce Monocultivar Rasara and Coratina, increasing the types of organic oils offered to 3.
   
• Having focused on Spaghetti & Mandolino, how important is online selling for you, what has your past relationship been with this sales channel, and how do you see it in the future?
  We have not had e-commerce experience. This is the first time. We believe it is useful and indeed necessary for the future. People have indeed become accustomed to shopping online.
   
• Value: what has it been, what is it today, and what will it be in the future for your company?
  The respect and enhancement of the Colli Berici. The reconstruction of ancient terraces, cultivating the vineyard on steep slopes, making a place that had become inaccessible comfortable and easily accessible. Here there is a positive energy and we are happy to share it with our guests and to "transmit" it also through our products. 

S&M