Di Lenardo

Di Lenardo from Ontagnano – family winery from Friuli with a modern wine philosophy

The Di Lenardo winery is located in Ontagnano in the region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia in northeastern Italy. The family-run Azienda Agricola Di Lenardo has stood for winegrowing in Friuli for many generations and combines traditional roots with modern cellar technology and a clear commitment to quality.

The wines of Di Lenardo come exclusively from the estate’s own vineyards and reflect the winery’s philosophy: to produce varietally typical, clear and elegant wines that offer great drinking pleasure. The white wines in particular enjoy international attention and showcase the modern style of Friuli.

The history of the Di Lenardo winery

The history of the Di Lenardo family dates back to the 19th century. In 1878, Giuseppe Di Lenardo bought a historic villa from 1737 in Ontagnano, laying the foundation for today’s winery.

The family had already been involved in viticulture before that. Historical documents demonstrate the family’s connection to agriculture and winegrowing over several generations.

An important turning point in the history of the winery was 1987. Since that year, Di Lenardo has processed only grapes from its own vineyards. At the same time, a comprehensive modernization of the estate began. The family invested in new vineyards, modern cellar technology and quality-focused wine production.

The vineyards were newly planted with a high density of vines in order to further improve grape quality. Right from the start, the aim was to produce modern Friulian wines with character and elegance.

Massimo Di Lenardo and the winery’s philosophy

Today, the winery is run by Massimo Di Lenardo. He has been responsible for winemaking since the 1998 vintage and has a decisive influence on the style of the wines.

The philosophy of Di Lenardo is based on a clear and modern approach. The focus is on purity of fruit, varietal typicity and the quality of the estate’s own vineyards.

Di Lenardo focuses on:

1. Exclusive use of its own grapes

2. Quality-oriented work in the vineyard

3. Modern cellar technology

4. Preservation of natural freshness and aromatics

5. Production of elegant and approachable wines

The winery follows a modern wine philosophy in which precision and cleanliness in winemaking play a central role.

The Di Lenardo growing area in Friuli

The winery is located in Ontagnano in the province of Udine in the Friuli DOC area. The Friuli-Venezia Giulia region is one of Italy’s best-known winegrowing areas and is particularly renowned for high-quality white wines.

The vineyards of Di Lenardo are located in a region characterized by its special climatic conditions. The proximity to the Alps and the Adriatic creates ideal conditions for viticulture.

The soils in the vineyards consist mainly of gravel and clay. This soil structure provides good drainage and supports grape quality.

The vineyards also benefit from:

• Good ventilation of the vines

• Balanced climatic conditions

• Suitable soils for white and red varieties

• Long vegetation periods

The vineyards of Di Lenardo

The Di Lenardo family cultivates around 55 hectares of vineyards within a family estate of approximately 150 hectares.

The winery’s most important vineyard sites include:

• Vigne Dai Vieris

• Vigne Da San Martin

• Vigne Da Lis Maris

• Vigna Nuova

• Tiare d’Albe

The vineyards were carefully selected and planted with a modern vine density to maximize grape quality.

Which grape varieties are grown at Di Lenardo?

The Di Lenardo range includes both international grape varieties and traditional Friulian varieties.

White grape varieties

• Pinot Grigio

• Sauvignon Blanc

• Chardonnay

• Friulano

• Ribolla Gialla

• Verduzzo

• Malvasia

Red grape varieties

• Merlot

• Cabernet Sauvignon

• Refosco dal Peduncolo Rosso

• Pinot Nero

The choice of grape varieties is based on the conditions of the respective vineyards and the winery’s philosophy.

Winemaking at Di Lenardo

In the cellar, Di Lenardo relies on modern technologies and precise winemaking. The aim is to preserve the freshness, clarity and aromatics of the wines.

The grapes are carefully processed and fermented under temperature control. The winery places particular emphasis on freshness and varietal typicity in its white wines.

Among the methods used are:

• Temperature-controlled fermentation

• Maturation in stainless steel tanks

• Modern cellar technology

• Precise processing of the grapes

Maturation takes place predominantly in stainless steel in order to preserve the natural characteristics of the grape varieties.

The style of Di Lenardo wines

The wines of Di Lenardo are characterized by a modern and clear style. The focus is on freshness, fruit and elegance.

The white wines are aromatic, precise and accessible. The red wines show a balanced structure and a harmonious style.

Di Lenardo produces wines that emphasize the characteristics of the respective grape varieties and reflect the modern style of Friuli.

Well-known wine lines from Di Lenardo

The winery produces various wine lines and well-known individual wines.

Father’s Eyes

Father’s Eyes is a Chardonnay and is one of Di Lenardo’s best-known wines.

Gossip

Gossip is a Pinot Grigio Ramato from the winery’s range.

Toh!

Toh! is Di Lenardo’s Friulano.

Just Me

Under the name Just Me, Di Lenardo produces modern and accessible wines.

Sustainability at Di Lenardo

The winery relies on sustainable energy supply. Since 2009, the entire estate has been powered by solar energy.

By using photovoltaic systems, Di Lenardo produces renewable energy for the operation of the winery.

Discover Di Lenardo wines online

The wines of Di Lenardo stand for modern winemaking, a clear stylistic approach and the winegrowing tradition of Friuli. The family-run winery combines many years of experience with modern technology and produces characterful white and red wines from its own vineyards in Ontagnano.

Whether Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc, Friulano or Chardonnay – the wines of Di Lenardo showcase the diversity and style of Friuli and are among the most renowned wines of the region.