VALLE DEL MONASTERO IS A PROJECT BY PAOLO VALENZA AND LORENZO RAFFAGLIO. BOTH HAVE DEDICATED THEIR PROFESSIONAL LIFE TO FOOD AND WINE AND JOINED FORCES FOR A PROJECT BASED IN THE REMOTE VOLCANIC LAND OF PANTELLERIA, A SMALL LAND THAT IS CULTURALLY AND POLITICALLY ITALIAN, BUT GEOGRAPHICALLY CLOSER TO AFRICA, OFF THE COAST OF TUNISIA.

THE ISLAND OF PANTELLERIA HAS AN ANCIENT TRADITION OF WINEMAKING AND FERTILE VOLCANIC SOILS THAT ARE GOOD FOR AGRICULTURE. PAOLO AND LORENZO’S HAVE BUILT THEIR WINERY IN A FORMER MONASTERY, WHICH GIVES THE NAME TO THE VALLEY (VALLE DEL MONASTERO) AND IN TURN TO THEIR WINERY, LOCATED IN THE MIDST OF THEIR VINES IN THE CALDERA OF A VULCANO, A LARGE CAULDRON-LIKE HOLLOW THAT FORMS SHORTLY AFTER THE EMPTYING OF A MAGMA CHAMBER IN A VOLCANIC ERUPTION.

SINCE 2024 VALLE DEL MONASTERO TEND TO THEIR OWN FRUIT, VINIFY AND BOTTLE ON SITE FOUR WINES: A RED, A ROSÉ, A WHITE AND A PASSITO. THE VINES, WHICH SPREAD OVER THREE HECTARES ARE ON PUMICE (ONE HECTARE) AND CLAY/SAND (2 HECTARES). THE OLDEST PLAN ARE FROM 1959, WHILE THE YOUNGEST WERE PLANTED IN 1997. THE AGRICULTURE IS ORGANIC AND PERFORMED BY HAND.