Canaiolo Nero is one of the oldest grape varieties ever cultivated, found predominantly in Tuscany but also in the neighboring regions of Marche and Umbria. It is believed that it was brought to our area by a passing clergyman or travelers, and here it found the ideal soil and climate conditions to fully express its virtues.

There are several hypotheses regarding the origin of its name. Tommaseo, in the Grande Dizionario della Lingua Italiana, defines “Canaiuola, a black grape so called because its sweetness is exceedingly pleasing to dogs.” Another widely accepted hypothesis is that the name Cannaiola derives from the Latin “Dies caniculares,” that is, the dog days at the end of July and the beginning of August, when the color of the grapes begins to turn violet. Yet another theory links the name to the word “canna” (reed), referring to the practice of supporting the vines with reeds, a method widespread in water-rich areas like ours.

Cannaiola vines have been cultivated since time immemorial in the area of Marta and the neighboring territories of Capodimonte and Tuscania, southwest of Lake Bolsena, always tended by the people of Marta, who jealously guard their traditions.

After a period of relative neglect and following the granting of Denominazione di Origine Controllata (DOC) status in 1996, the cultivation of Cannaiola intensified, and several vineyards were registered under the “Cannaiola” designation. The recognition of the D.O.P. “Cannaiola dei Colli Etruschi Viterbesi,” as established by its production regulations, is reserved for wines made from at least 85% Canaiolo Nero, locally known as Cannaiola.

Our vineyard, which produces Cannaiola in the municipality of Capodimonte-a terrace overlooking the lake and the beautiful Bisentina Island-is in part still the one planted at the end of the 1960s by our beloved grandfather Tancredi Ortenzi, catalogued as an indigenous genetic heritage by Arsial, and the beating heart and hallmark of our Cannaiola.

Azienda Agricola San Lazzaro is a family-run business, founded in 2002 by Giacomo and Costantino Scatarcia with the aim of producing great traditional wines in an artisanal and sustainable way. We are located in the DOC Colli Etruschi Viterbesi area, a territory of volcanic origin with a long and distinguished winemaking tradition. We are located in the municipalities of Marta and Capodimonte, immersed in the unspoiled nature typical of the southern shore of Lake Bolsena.

Azienda Agricola San Lazzaro
Strada Provinciale 114 – 01010 Marta (VT)
Phone: +39 392 9021727
Email: info@cannaioladimarta.it
Website: http://www.cannaioladimarta.it
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Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cannaiola_marta/