This is him
Now, let's delve into the aspirations of the remarkable oenologist, Roberto di Fillipo, who serves as both the owner and winemaker at Crama Delta Dunarii - La Sapata.
His life is intertwined with the principles of natural viticulture, where he has transformed a dream into a vivid reality. Roberto's days are a blend of tending to his carriage horses, nurturing his vineyards, and managing his enterprises in Umbria (Italy) and Somova (Romania). You'll rarely catch a glimpse of him in formal attire; more often, he can be spotted in sturdy rubber boots, symbolizing his hands-on commitment and profound connection with the earth.
The wine industry in Romania has undergone a remarkable transformation over the past two decades. From the emergence of new vine plantations and state-of-the-art wineries to the coexistence of well-established vines and cherished traditions, this evolution is evident across all wine regions. Romania's diverse wine regions span the entire country, stretching from the northernmost points to the southern, and from the eastern to the western borders. However, we understand that the essence of wine goes beyond mere vineyards and wineries; it encompasses knowledge, passion, and the people involved, all contributing to the unique character and personality of a wine.
In recent years, there has been a notable surge in the establishment of new organic grapevine plantations and the production of organic wines. Two such wineries embracing this approach to winemaking hail from the Dobrogea wine-growing region – La Sapata and Domaine Bogdan.
La Sapata - an Italian in the Danube Delta
Roberto di Filippo, passionate winemaker... Lives from natural viticulture, turning a dream into reality. He spends his time between his carriage horses, his vineyards and his companies: the one from Umbria (Italy) and the one from Somova (Romania). He is rarely seen in a suit and tie, more often in rubber boots.
The Crama Delta Dunării company works an area planted with vines of 20 Ha and a wine cellar of 300 square meters. The grape varieties are, for the white:
Feteasca Regala,
Rkatsiteli,
Welschriesling,
Sauvignon Blanc,
Muscat Ottonel
and for the reds,
Merlot,
Babeasca Neagra or
Sangiovese.
The Crama Delta Dunarii company operates across a 20-hectare vineyard with a 300-square-meter wine cellar. The vineyard, known as
Sarica Niculitel,
features soils that, while not rich, are sandy and weak, enriched over time by aromatic plants that have flourished amidst years of neglect. This unique soil composition is conducive to producing high-quality grapes. The climate in the region experiences cold winters, with temperatures dropping to -15/20 degrees Celsius, accompanied by moderate precipitation in the form of rain and snow. Summers are characterized by hot and dry conditions, with average temperatures reaching 25 degrees Celsius.
He turned his dream into reality
Since the outset of his journey in Romania, Roberto has harbored a desire to revisit the era when agriculture epitomized direct communion with the earth—a time marked by respect for the ecosystem, where soil-dwelling insects, creatures above ground, and wild animals coexisted harmoniously with the fruits of the farmer's labor.
Observing his calloused hands, witnessing his affection for the horses, and taking in the meticulously tended vineyard, it becomes evident that Roberto has invested not only his professional expertise but his entire life into this endeavor.
If you want to meet Roberto and please do not hesitate.
If you want to taste his wonderful organic wines, you are just a
If you want to meet Roberto and please do not hesitate.