On the steep hillsides above Santo Stefano di Valdobbiadene, where UNESCO-listed terraced vineyards climb toward the pre-Alpine sky, the Ruggeri family has been growing Glera grapes for centuries. Le Colture is their commercial expression of that heritage, built with care since 1983 into one of the Conegliano-Valdobbiadene zone's most respected estates.
Backstory
The family's viticultural roots in Valdobbiadene trace to the 1500s. The modern winery was formally established in 1983 by Cesare Ruggeri, who set out to produce sparkling wine from the Glera grapes his father Gerardo had long cultivated. Starting from the 1990s, Cesare progressively acquired additional parcels to achieve a complete, self-sufficient production chain. Today, Cesare's three children, Silvia, Alberto, and Veronica, drive the estate forward with renewed international vision.
The Region
Le Colture sits at the epicenter of Prosecco Superiore production, in the hills between Conegliano and Valdobbiadene designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2019. The estate's 40 hectares are spread across 16 farm properties in Valdobbiadene, Conegliano, and Montello, a distribution that captures a wide range of exposures and microclimates within this complex mountain landscape.
Vineyards and Farming
The estate focuses almost exclusively on the Glera grape, harvested entirely by hand across its hillside vineyards. Secondary varieties including Verdiso, Perera, Bianchetta, Pinot, and Chardonnay are cultivated in smaller quantities. The family maintains a strong connection to sustainable practices rooted in the traditional viticulture of the Valdobbiadene hills.
Winemaking
Le Colture produces its sparkling wines using the Charmat (Martinotti) method, in which the secondary fermentation takes place in pressurized tanks rather than individual bottles. This technique preserves the primary fruit character and fresh aromatics of Glera, producing wines that are vivid, floral, and immediate. Annual production stands at approximately 800,000 bottles across the estate's sparkling range.
The Wines
The lineup centers on Prosecco Superiore DOCG: the Sylvoz Brut, the dry Cruner, the prestige Cartizze from the single grand cru hilltop, and the Fagher Brut, a single-vineyard bottling from the Rive di Santo Stefano. A Prosecco Doc Rosé and a red Cabernet Prime Gemme IGT round out the range, showing the family's continued willingness to diversify within their home territory.
