In Farra d'Isonzo, a charming estate, the gem of Moretti Polegato's wine production, where among flowery avenues and a fascinating planetarium, you can taste Luna di Ponca, a precious blend of Friulano, Malvasia and Chardonnays, as well as other fab Collio DOC and Friuli Isonzo DOC wines.
The name of Borgo Conventi comes from a legend according to which Rizzardo di Strassoldo, at the end of the 1600s, donated part of his lands to the Dominican Fathers, who built a convent there. Always dedicated to the production of fine wines, the company was founded in 1975 by Gianni Vescovo, one of the pioneers of the “Collio”, today one of the most renowned wine regions in the world.
A mission renewed in 2001 with the transfer of ownership of the estate to the Folonari family, and again in 2019 when Giancarlo and Augusta Moretti Polegato, owners and soul of Villa Sandi, an important reference point in the world of wine, fell in love with it and decided to buy it bringing many novelties, devoted, as is their style, to quality, art and a sense of beauty.
Luna di Ponca is the only white reserve of Borgo Conventi that follows part of the aging in wood, an identity wine designed to convey the highest values of the unique terroir of Isonzo and Collio.
(Giancarlo Moretti Polegato)
With a continuity guaranteed by the oenologist Paolo Corso at the helm of the winery since its foundation, the production techniques are updated as well as the hospitality offer of the estate. This has included the renewal of the wonderful tree-lined arrival avenue, immersed in 30 hectares of vineyards that extend as far as the eye can see, of the villa, first of all its suggestive orangerie with original green window frames, as well as the Bottega del Vino, Borgo Conventi’s store and tastings lounge.
The wine production of Borgo Conventi benefits from the unique terroirs of Collio and Isonzo, once the bottom of the sea composed of layers of clay, sand and fossils, which gives incredible aroma and minerality to the grapes grown there, in particular Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and the native varieties Friulano, Ribolla Gialla, Refosco dal Peduncolo Rosso and Schioppettino.
The heart of Borgo Conventi’s production is today Luna di Ponca, the Collio Bianco DOC wanted by the Moretti Polegato family precisely to celebrate the new course of the estate.
A union between the Polegato family, the moon and this wine, which seems written in the stars. Not surprisingly, right next to the villa stands an astronomical observatory, dating back to its first establishment in 1969 and now managed by the Astronomical Cultural Circle of Farra d’Isonzo which has discovered, up to now, as many as 225 asteroids.
Elegant blend of Friulano, Chardonnay and Malvasia grapes, Luna di Ponca, a tribute to the star that governs these lands and to the name of the rock formation that underlies the Collio terroir, is a wine with long aging, part of which is done in barrique, selected from grapes from low-yield vineyards that have obtained the Biodiversity Friend certification.
A tasting of the estate’s wines – the Collio DOC Sauvignon, Friulano, Ribolla Gialla and Pinot Grigio, the Isonzo DOC, the red Refosco and Schioppettino up to the cru Braida Nuova and Luna di Ponca, conducted with competence and sympathy by Joana, sommelier, will lead you, among anecdotes and curiosities, first to the cellar, where the grapes are harvested and vinified, and then to the barrel room, lit by evocative candles, where the production rests in French and Slavonian oak barrels.
The visit ends in the Bottega where you can taste the wine, enlivened by bites of San Daniele ham and typical cheeses.
The beauty of the estate, the quietness of the wonderful panorama in which it is located and the refinement of its wines make it the perfect destination not only for wine lovers but also for all those who love charming experiences.
By following the company’s social networks, you can stay updated on the many events organized by Borgo Conventi, such as the Cooking Classes and Wellness in the Moonlight.
The Secret
Each cork of Luna di Ponca is engraved with a phrase that romantically sums up the winemaking philosophy of Giancarlo Moretti Polegato: “Passion, love and culture for this land”.
Useful Info
Borgo Conventi
Via Contessa Beretta 19
34072 Farra d’Isonzo, Gorizia
Tel. +39 0481 888004
Tastings are available during shop opening hours, from 10 to 18 also on Saturdays and Sundays, starting from 12 euro.
