San Valentino
San Valentino, an estate rooted in history.
Roots that pierce through time. They reach down, passing through civilizations, drawing from each layer the culture, flavors, and passions of the people who lived there. They run deep—deeper than the time of Tiberius. The tombs of Verrucchio, where ancient grape seeds were found, are proof that the vines of San Valentino grow in a terroir once prized by Etruscans and Romans for quality wine. Carefully preserved in the estate’s private library are 19th-century certificates attesting to the excellence of its products, already celebrated in the local press back then. Yellowed documents, protected by time, show that vine cultivation was already established with 10,000 plants per hectare, neatly aligned in rows.
San Valentino came into being after World War II, changing ownership several times. In 1981, the estate was purchased by engineer Nanni, who built the winery. The grapes were initially sent to a local cooperative. But the real turning point came in the 1990s, when the Mascarin family was the first to recognize that these hectares were a cultural treasure of Italian winemaking—worth loving, protecting, and promoting. More than revenue or financials, it was emotion that guided San Valentino’s remarkable evolution: life itself shaped the way the winery was run.
San Valentino is an anomaly in the world of wine. A kind of Don Quixote that carved its own path, challenging preconceptions and outdated mindsets. Different from traditional wineries. Different from those that followed trends for profit, marketing, or fleeting fashions. Roberto Mascarin, founder and soul of the winery, stayed the course without compromise, never seduced by the trends of the moment. He took the steep, rocky paths, avoiding the smooth and easy ones. Roberto and San Valentino are one and the same. The wines reflect the emotions of each vintage—disappointments, triumphs, and, above all, choices: bold, risky decisions that often threatened to sink the ship.
Roberto entered the wine world as a teetotaler. His father, exclusive importer of Stella Artois beer, had acquired the winery and handed it over to his 20-year-old son—more as a game than a calling. But games lose their charm. And yet, the hillside kissed by salty breezes and the blue of the Adriatic seen from that unique lookout paid Roberto back for every hour spent among the vines. Land of Sangiovese, steeped in winemaking tradition. These vines stood out from the others because of the soil—rich in clay and limestone. That soil is the heart of San Valentino. Unique and mineral-rich, capable of delivering wines with the complexity of great classics.
The first bold move: planting international varieties like Syrah and Cabernet Franc on the Rimini hills. Aged over 10 months in large oak barrels and second-use barriques, the Vivian Rosso struggled to find acceptance in Romagna, where only Sangiovese was expected. But internationally, demand exploded. Top ratings poured in from sommeliers. That choice gave Roberto the courage to keep trusting his instincts—and his heart.
In the early 2000s, organic farming wasn’t even a talking point. The pressure was to produce as much as possible. Sangiovese was profitable in bulk. But it needed chemical fertilizers—short-term gain that poisoned the soil over time. The estate was small. Roberto had a family to support. But the smiles of his wife and daughters, and his respect for the land, pushed him in another direction. To him, the vineyard was a living being: “If we love it and give it the best care, it will return that love.”
The second turning point: in 2008, San Valentino became fully organic. At first, only the smiles of his family repaid the decision, as production volumes dropped. The ship of San Valentino nearly ran aground—and in 2016, the death of Roberto’s beloved wife Valeria was a devastating blow to both man and winery.
Yet, by then, restaurants across Italy and Europe were fighting to get their hands on **Conte di Covignano**, **Luna Nuova**, and the white **Scabi Rebola**. These labels had become staples for fine dining. The winemaking lab Roberto began thirty years earlier had entered the national spotlight. Legendary oenologists like **D’Attoma** and **Moltard**—Italy’s Maradona and Pelé of wine—joined the San Valentino team. Enthusiasts from across Europe were fascinated by the cultural revolution sparked by this small estate. San Valentino had become a model of success. The **Aureli family**, a prominent Romagna business dynasty, joined Roberto as shareholders—drawn by the wines’ grit and authenticity, which mirrored the estate’s own history.
That romantic vessel, San Valentino, capable of weathering the fiercest storms of the international wine scene, had become a flagship of quality and experimentation. Then came the **Tre Bicchieri** from *Gambero Rosso*.
The winery’s feminine spirit remains an indelible part of its identity, even after Valeria’s passing—thanks in part to **Armando Aureli**, who also lost his wife not long ago. Alongside his managerial expertise, Armando brought a sincere and emotionally rich presence to the company. These bottles now hold and honor the smiles of their wives—while telling a deeper story of roots that run strong and deep, steeped in worlds long gone.