OUR ROOTS

Over 2,500 years ago, the ancient Latin people and the Etruscans who inhabited present-day Latium were already cultivating grapevines. In their minds, wine represented the most noble embodiment of the forces of nature. Despite their vast experience in the field of winemaking, the process by which wine matured remained a divine mystery. A good vintage depended on the good will of the gods and on “good omens” (omina, in Latin). A hot summer free of storms, for instance, was considered by the ancient peoples a sign from the gods, heralding a high-quality harvest.

Today, we remain convinced that a high-quality wine can only be obtained by respecting nature and the rhythm of the seasons. This natural constraint can be observed in the Greek alphabet as well. Our brand name –ÔMINA– which ends with an Alpha and begins with an Omega, exemplifies it, like the vines that lie bare at the end of the winegrowing year, but each spring new shoot brings life to what remains of the past. Long ago, the Latin tribes cultivated grape vines in the Alban Hills (the Colli Albani, or ancient Alba Longa, the ancestor city of ancient Rome) and the area already had a reputation as a wine growing region of great prestige. The ancient Roman nobility also purchased wine from this area, while the Roman soldiers were allowed to take vines with them to the colonies, leading to the rapid spread from Lazio throughout the conquered territories. In some of these provinces, as a sign of thanks for exceptionally good harvests, votive temples were erected, much like the one dedicated to Diana, goddess of the hunt, which stands on the banks of Lake Nemi, just a few kilometres from our place. The popes also appreciated the luxuries and products that the Alban Hills offered, so much so that, at the beginning of the 1600s, Castel Gandolfo, a town in the vicinity of nearby Lake Albano, was chosen as the summer residence of the Popes.