Conti Faina Winery

About

The 13th Century Castle of Collelungo houses the historical cellars of the farm. Already in Zeffirino Faina's time these cellars gained great notoriety from 1876 onwards. Testimony to this ancient history can be found on the cask dated 1883, still present in the ageing area, and once used for the settling of these wines which were famous throughout Italy for their high quality. The original premises are still in use today, underneath the castle which, according to a local tale, doubled up as a secret passageway for the "Bella Imperia", a legendary character from Medieval times. The cellars are not only an active working site but also a fascinating tourist attraction. The tunnels which are used for the ageing of the wines are no less than 150 metres long, creating a route through the arches and secret passageways, along which visitors may also admire ancient winemaking tools - a kind of living museum of wine. Furthermore, the castle is located within a fascinating medieval hamlet which is still inhabited, and where a stroll through the little lanes will bring you into contact with some of the extraordinary local characters.

At a glance

• Typical visit: about 30 minutes