Paolo is a revolutionary winemaker. A free man who realizes his idea of quality by following unexplored paths, independent of market logic and current trends. Curiosity and rigorous self-criticism are the ever-present stimuli spurring his continuous search for revolutionary winemaking practices. Alongside Paolo is his wife Lara, a profound lover of Nature and a guiding spirit in the world of wine, both in Italy and abroad.
SScrupulous choices in vineyard planting marry with the exclusive use of estate grown grapes and the meticulous control of winemaking procedures, all of which allow Paolo to develop his vision of oenology: his Rodaro philosophy.
March 23, 1846, is the date of the first official document belonging to the Rodaro winery, evidence that the family was already dedicated to cultivation of the land, during a time when Friuli was a part of the Austrian Empire. The Rodaro family were small landowners, which meant they were free from the constraints of sharecropping. They cultivated their fields, together with a hectare and a half of vineyards, having originally traded timber during the Venetian Republic’s reign. Thanks to their hard work and resourcefulness, the Rodaro name has long been respected in their local community of Cividale del Friuli. With uncle Edo’s daily dedication to the vineyards and the cellar, matched by the entrepreneurial flair of his brother Luigi, and later the courageous investment choices made by Luigi’s son, Paolo, today the winery is considered among the most dynamic in the area.
The old family farmhouse has long since been expanded and modernized to accommodate cutting-edge winemaking technology. We trust in technological advances and believe in the necessity to integrate them with traditional craftsmanship to improve both our processes and the efficiency of our work. The winery’s contemporary view is also expressed through its awareness of how socio-economic systems are changing. There is a need to understand change and act in the best possible way to innovate with respect for all. In accordance with Paolo's sustainability programme, the cellar is powered exclusively by solar energy.
Set between the splendid horizon of the Friulian plain and the amphitheatres of the Colli Orientali, perched on the edge of the Bosco Romagno woodland, the estate’s Villa Romano-Rodaro sits on an enchanting hilltop location. Surrounded by 35 hectares of estate-owned vineyards, the eighteenth-century structure, whose architectural style harks back to the Venetian school, was purchased by the Rodaro family in 2002. Consisting of a central part with two lateral wings, the Villa is still used as a residence, while also possessing a remarkable ground floor room adorned with the wall art of local artist, Jàcun Pitôr.
In the early 1900s, as a wandering painter, Giacomo Meneghini (1851-1935), known in Friuli as Jàcun Pitôr (James the Painter) and in Slovenia as Jakob Malar, painted naïve style wall murals in the entire room that leads to the Villa's small barrel cellar. A kind-hearted soul possessing a rustic character, Jàcun Pitôr lived a bohemian life. Sleeping in barns, he sought nothing more than food and shelter in exchange for the works he painted for his hosts. Popular humour accompanies his work, ironic and sometimes wise phrases, which today remain current in their meaning. The room bears witness to the artist's stay in the Villa where, protected from light, the natural colours of the paintings have been perfectly preserved. The room and the small barrel cellar can be visited by appointment.
