THE ESTATE
Malacari Estate, among the oldest wineries in the Marche region, is a historic viticultural estate that exclusively cultivates and vinifies grapes from its own vineyards, guided by an organic approach.
Founded in 1668, the estate draws from a family tradition that has cared for these lands with respect and dedication for fifteen generations. Malacari cultivates approximately 15 hectares of vineyards, located between the Conero area for the Montepulciano variety and Montecarotto for Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi, producing around 37,000 bottles per year.Our working method is traditional and artisanal: using the native grape varieties of the territory, we follow the natural development of the vines, guided by what nature teaches us each day, continually refining our approach to craft wines that unite terroir and tradition.
Today, under the guidance of Alessandro Starrabba Malacari, the estate continues along this path, transforming its grapes into wines that express authenticity, history, and a deep connection to the land.
The estate
A VERTICAL PRODUCTION
From our vineyards to your table
Malacari manages its entire production in-house, cultivating its own vineyards, vinifying its grapes, and bottling the wines it sells directly. The company is a member of FIVI, the Italian Federation of Independent Winegrowers. Being an Independent Winegrower means embodying one’s identity in every bottle, fostering a genuine relationship with the land. For Malacari, dedication to the soil, to quality, and to the craft itself embodies a production model that honors both the origin of the wine and the daily labor of those who create it.
The estate
OUR STORY
Like old vines with deep roots, the Malacari family has cultivated these fields and vineyards for fifteen generations, with love and passion. Since 2010, the estate has returned to organic farming, rediscovering an ancient production model based on a relationship of mutual respect with nature. It is a choice that renews an original bond: that between those who care for the land and the land itself. It is for this reason that we carry on in this way: each vineyard row carries not only our family history but also a shared cultural heritage, one that deserves to be nurtured, passed down, and tended with the same dedication as those who came before us.
Malacari is vertically run by choice, traditional by identity, organic by nature.
The Malacari Winery produces organic wines following the approach of a true farmer-craftsman: each bottle is created with the intention of expressing its terroir, its identity, and the characteristics that nature suggests season after season. The decision to forgo synthetic chemistry in the vineyards stems from a desire to revive ancient practices that respect the soil and the environment, restoring resilience to the land through regenerative methods. This way of cultivating encourages biodiversity and strengthens the delicate balance in which all elements of nature support one another, a virtuous cycle that is reflected directly in the wines. Being part of an ecosystem means contributing to its proper functioning, and for this reason, the goal is to participate while preserving its value.
In 1997, Alessandro Starrabba Malacari decided to focus on the vineyards and winemaking.
He restored the winery in the Villa and began a careful selection of grape varieties, initiating the first fermentations and the aging of the Rosso Conero DOC “Villa Malacari.” The following year, he selected the 4 hectares of Grigiano vineyard, from which, starting that year, the finest grapes would be harvested for the Conero Riserva DOCG “Grigiano.”
A family heritage.
After World War II, Arianna Malacari married Giovanni Starrabba di Ralbiato, and together they transformed the estate from a sharecropped estate into a directly managed enterprise.
They invested in mechanization and in the specialization necessary to establish the first vineyards dedicated to DOC production (1960–1971), as well as in the cultivation of experimental seeds of durum wheat.
They also devoted attention to livestock farming, breeding Marchigiana cattle, and to industrial crops such as sugar beet, sunflower for oil, and olive cultivation.
The erection of the Villa.
In 1668, in Offagna, the Domestica Villa was built by Andrea Malacari.The Villa was designed to bring together all agricultural activities: the winery, grain warehouses, olive mill, horse stables, tool house and workshop; it also served as the country residence of the Counts Malacari of Grigiano.
The Villa is a unique example of a villa-farmhouse shaped as a half-rhombus.The first floor of the central wing houses the main living quarters, while the lower floor contains the cellars.
For its beauty and originality, the Domestica Villa is protected as a historic and architectural site by the Ministry of Culture.
The Malacari family has owned some of the lands currently in use since the 1500s.
Throughout the 1600s, the family’s estates expanded significantly: plots of land were acquired in the Gallignano district, and their holdings in Offagna grew with the purchase of Grigiano hill, now home to the vineyards that produce the eponymous wine.
HISTORICAL PHOTOS
