Il Farneto Berzmein Marzemino 2021

Azienda Agricola Il Farneto was founded in the mid-1990s by Marco Bertoni, who envisioned a winery dedicated to sustainable agriculture and natural winemaking in an area dominated by industrial production. The 8-hectare estate is located in Castellarano, nestled between the hills of Scandiano and Canossa in western Emilia-Romagna, at elevations that provide isolation from the heavily industrialized valleys below.

The farm has operated according to biodynamic principles since 2003, earning certification for its commitment to soil health and biodiversity. The vineyards are densely planted at 4,000 vines per hectare on sandy clay soils, with vines averaging 15 years of age. In addition to grapes, the estate cultivates wheat and maintains farm animals—including donkeys—as part of its integrated agricultural approach.

Winemaker Flavio Restani crafts wines using traditional techniques that prioritize the long-term vitality of the land. Fermentation occurs spontaneously with indigenous yeasts. For still wines like Berzmein, aging takes place in large old French oak barrels (up to 500 liters) that soften the wines without imparting overt oak character. The estate's sparkling wines—including the popular Frisant range—are produced using Metodo Ancestrale, with secondary fermentation in bottle. All wines are bottled unfined and unfiltered with minimal sulfites.

Il Farneto focuses on indigenous grape varieties: Spergola and Malvasia for whites, Marzemino and Lambrusco Grasparossa for reds. The wines are named after the Rio Rocca, a local river celebrated for its geological features and natural wilderness. This naming reflects Bertoni's philosophy of connecting wine to place—each bottle expressing the specific terroir and traditions of this corner of Emilia.

The estate also works with rare varieties like Termarina, an ancient red grape surviving only in the region's oldest vineyards.

Discover other Il Farneto wines including Frisant Bianco and Giandon Orange. Browse our best-selling natural wines for more biodynamic Italian producers.

Emilia-Romagna stretches across north-central Italy, bordered by the Po River to the north and the Apennine Mountains to the south. This fertile region—famous for Parmigiano-Reggiano, prosciutto di Parma, and traditional balsamic vinegar—also possesses a rich viticultural heritage dating back to Etruscan and Roman times.

The western portion of Emilia, where Il Farneto is located, presents a landscape of rolling hills rising toward the Apennines. The estate sits between the towns of Scandiano and Canossa in the commune of Castellarano, an area defined by clay-rich soils and varied elevations that provide natural drainage and temperature moderation. The Rio Rocca river runs through this territory, lending its name to several of the estate's wines.

Emilia-Romagna's climate combines continental and Mediterranean influences. Winters are cold with occasional fog, while summers bring warmth tempered by breezes from the Apennines. This climatic interplay helps grapes retain acidity while achieving full phenolic ripeness—particularly important for indigenous red varieties like Marzemino, Lambrusco, and Malbo Gentile.

The region is best known internationally for Lambrusco, the sparkling red wine produced in enormous quantities across the plains. However, the hillside zones near Reggio Emilia and Modena support a quieter tradition of still wines from local grape varieties that have grown here for centuries. Marzemino, though more commonly associated with Trentino to the north, finds distinctive expression in Emilia's clay soils, producing wines of depth and aromatic complexity.

Natural and biodynamic winemaking has gained momentum in this area, with small producers reviving indigenous varieties and traditional methods abandoned during decades of industrial farming.

Explore our Emilia-Romagna wines and discover more Italian natural wines. For traditional-method sparklers, browse our natural sparkling wine selection.