My parents are back Italy and, of course, they end up at this vineyard in Parma—Cantina Monte delle Vigne. Let me tell you—it's like a dream… but without the Italian grandma screaming, “Mangia! Mangia!” when you respectfully decline a second helping of gnocchi. We’re talking rows of vines, rolling hills, and some of the best wine you’ve ever tasted. I mean, this guy Andrea started with a farm and turned it into a whole operation! Organic, high-end wines. No fancy chemicals, just dirt, water, and a lot of patience. You feel like you're drinking history—but don't worry, this isn’t that stuff your uncle makes in his basement with questionable ingredients.

Oh, and the food. You ever have wine so good you ask yourself, “Should have a sandwich with this?” Well, they’ve got that covered too. Cheese, prosciutto, the works. Served on a slice of Italian bread that is toasted, sprinkled with roasted garlic, and drizzled with olive oil. It's the kind of meal where, after you're finished with the gelato, even your stretchy pants are feeling snug. Let’s dive in.

Best Wineries in Parma: Monte delle Vigne

It was a clear, sun-filled Fall Day in the Langharina section of Parma. It is nice to have a contact when you are traveling in Italy. Mario, a friend of ours, arrived at my apartment at 3 pm. He introduced me to Franco who was an acquaintance of the owner of Cantina Monte delle Vigne, translated “Cellars in the Mountain of Vines”. We headed south on SS62 for about 10 miles toward “i colli” (the hills) of Parma. As we travelled in the lush countryside, I applauded those who had the pleasure of living here. We saw beautiful, verdant farmland and in the distance rolling hills which are part of the Northern Apennines that run north to south, rising gently to about 700 feet.

Monte delle Vigne in Colli di Parma

Colli di Parma are described by Frà Salimbene de Adam, a Franciscan friar, in his "Cronica” (Medieval, Chronicles 1167-1287) published in the late 1200s. The rolling hills are a bucolic setting for the geometric rows of vines, strategically positioned, facing east on the Taro River. A place where dreams are born.

In 1983 Cantina Monte delle Vigne was born from agrarian beginnings. Andrea, the founder, was nineteen years old when he purchased a 17-acre farm in the Parma hills. He began to cultivate alfalfa and wheat and conducted organic farming before the certification was born. Andrea’s passion for organic farming encouraged him to search for the most advanced methodologies to combat climate change.

Andrea followed his dream, and he started quality organic wine production. He experimented and let nature have her way with the grape vines. He visited various winemakers and continued to improve the quality of his grapes. Then il destino (destiny) struck. He met a gentleman, Julio, with wine making experience and knowledge. Julio became his mentor and his friend. Hard work, passion and nature improved the grapes year after year and in 1992, Andrea succeeded in producing an excellent dry (secco) red wine, in the land of Lambrusco sparkling reds. Cantina Monte delle Vigne produced the first fully dry red wine in the Parma region. Andrea called the wine of his dreams Nabucco, named after the Guiseppe Verdi Opera that tells the story of the Israelites captured by the King Nabucco (Nebuchadnezzar). It is the signature wine of the Monte Delle Vigne Brand in Italy.

In 2004, Andrea collaborated with Paolo, his neighbor, and a Parmesan entrepreneur, to expand the Monte delle Vigne dream. Paolo added 375 acres to the vineyards and added Barbera and Malvasia vines and financial energy to the project.

In the village of Ozzano Taro we turned left off the main street and traveled up a winding road to a secret place of dreams Cantina Monte delle Vigne. As we entered the driveway, Elisabetta greeted us. We toured the outside of the modern winery. The truckloads of grapes are destemmed and crushed on the covered first level and gravity fed down into large stainless-steel fermenting containers. The wine is aged underground in 225-litre, 45-gallon, premium oak barrels producing an uncompromising level of quality that is consistently among the best wines in Italy.

Gravity-fed fermenting vats

We enter the welcoming Cantina reception area where the Monte delle Vigne name dominates. Multilingual Elisabetta and Mario, Franco and I sat around a table to learn Monte delle Vigne secrets.

Cantina Monte delle Vigne

Elisabetta explains that Barbera and Bonarda, red grapes, grow on the east hills and on the west hills grow Malvasia, the region’s white grape. In the center vines of Merlot and Chardonnay grow as well as the famous Lambrusco grape. All benefit from nature’s extended seasons and the mild winter. Indigenous grapes protected by natural influences and passionate care are complemented by state-of-the-art technology. The combination gives birth to organic, excellent award-winning wines of Cantina Monte Delle Vigne. She proudly states “Spain has five wine regions; France has ten wine regions but in Italy there are more than 70 wine regions.”

Elisabetta has secrets for those Americans who travel in Italy. Elisabetta says that wine and food pairing is important but, in these times, choices are flexible. In all of Italy local culture is important in food pairing. Today red wines, in Emilia Romagna, may be light and sparkling and paired with fish dishes. In the South of Italy and Sicily local white wines may be bold like the white muscato grape made dry, not sweet, and are served with pork, polpi (octopus) and pasta dishes.

It is important to know something about wine tasting as well as to have imagination and emotion in enjoying wine and savoring good food. Hold a wide bottomed glass of clear, deep ruby red Rosso Monte delle Vigne to the light. It is an artful vision. Close your eyes and enjoy the fruity aroma of the white Malvasia Selezione Colli di Parma D.O.C. rising from a taller narrow vessel. After a taste of Parmagiano Reggiano cheese to prepare the palate, the lingering bold taste of the full body of red Nabucco di Monte Delle Vigne is memorable. Enjoying a glass of wine can be an artful experience for the eyes, the nose and the mind. It is all the result of the individual’s effort to enjoy the science producing the colors, the perfumes and the complex tastes of exceptional wines. Elisabetta says, “The flavor of wine is from the tongue to the brain, but the appreciation of the wine is in the soul.”

Andrea, founder and owner joined us. He is an introspective and serious man with a matter-of-fact approach. When you are with experts, you ask to learn their secrets. I asked, Andrea, how do you determine the value of a bottle of wine. He answers, the business of producing a corked bottle of wine determines the cost. If it must be shipped, acceptable wine will cost the winemaker about $10.00 to bring 750 ml bottle to the consumer. Local wine in a corked glass bottle that is sold for less than $10.00 must be suspect. If you are in a restaurant, a good bottle of wine may be enjoyed for about $35- 45 or in a local enoteca (wine store) spend $20 and you will not be disappointed. Red wines should be opened two or more years after the vintage year and white wines should be consumed less than two years from vintage. Today good bulk wines can be found and sold in a carton box for $5.50 per 750 ml. bottle equivalent; a good choice for home use.

Andrea says, when wine is priced above $100 per 750 ml, supply and demand is in play, and you are buying a commodity. Limited availability creates supply-and-demand dynamics.  Scarcity will drive up the value of specific vintages. In fact, some vintages are produced in low volumes for this reason. A wine’s brand reputation influences its price. With some, how the wine “tastes” may be, ironically, beside the point.

The Burgandy region of France’s Romanée-Conti Pinot Noirs command the highest wine auction bids—more than $500,000 for a single bottle. These decades-old wines are prized for their rarity, although their actual “desirability” is in the pocketbook of the bidder.

In 1985, Christopher Forbes paid $156,450 for a bottle of 1787 Château Lafite. The bottle was engraved “Th. J.,” indicating that it had belonged to noted wine connoisseur and U.S. President Thomas Jefferson. 

In 2000, a 750 ml bottle 1945 vintage from Bordeaux Château Mouton-Rothschild sold for $51,700. In 2010, Christie’s sold an imperial (eight 750 ml bottles) of the legendary 1947 Cheval-Blanc vintage, Bordeaux’s Château Cheval-Blanc in St.-Emilion sold for $304,000 ($38,000 per 750 ml bottle). Today, a 750 ml bottle of Année de la Victoire vintage, Bordeaux's Château Mouton-Rothschild, 1945 is offered at $21,620.

Année de la Victoire vintage, Bordeaux's Château Mouton-Rothschild, 1945

When speaking about regional food specialties, Elisabetta described the delicious culatello di Zabello, the prime cut of prosciutto, Borgotaro Porcini mushrooms, the famous Parmagiano Reggiano cheese and olive oil from Brisighella, a scenic hill town, south of Faenza and of course the red Bolognese meat sauce. Other delicacies are the fresh piadina, a flatbread cooked over a stone or iron griddle, fresh squacquerone cheese, a creamy and fragile cheese. We were served piadina panini (small sandwiches) with squacquerone and arugula and some filled with prosciutto, and the delicious fossa cheese from sheep’s milk. It was delightful.

Elisabetta and Andrea shared the warmth of Italian hospitality and a glass of the Nabucco di Monte Delle Vigne. It is an impressive dry and full-bodied wine with a deep ruby color, aroma of red fruit and a soft smokey and savory (tart) after taste. It is the pride of Cantina Monte Delle Vigne and is a product of Andrea’s dream and passion. The wine is Delicato, Dilizioso e Elegante (Delicate, Delicious and Elegant).

In 2021, the harvest was certified as organic by the Institute for Ethical and Environmental Certification (ICEA). The certification describes the environmental factors of the Colli di Parma that give the unique character of Ozzano Taro land.

I asked and Elisabetta and Andrea shared their favorite places to eat. In Parma center, Ristorante Da Cocchi on via Gramci adjacent to the Hotel Daniel serves local specialties and a magnificent stew. If you drive 6 miles South of Parma off route SS62 near the picturesque Boschi di Carrega Regional Park you will find Trattoria di Cafragna in Fornovo di Taro. This family-run establishment has been serving traditional Italian cuisine since the early 1900s. Owner Adele Padovani is your hostess, and her husband Giancarlo Camorali prepares the savory foods from local produce of Emilia Romagna.

I invited Elizabetta and the group to her favorite Cafe in Langhirano for an espresso and dessert (dolci). We exchanged pleasantries and she suggested that I take my wife to a romantic interlude on the Aeolian Islands off the North coast of Sicily. It was a pleasant end to a pleasant afternoon. Thank you, Andrea and Elisabetta and Mario and Franco. Dio vi benedica.

On Elisabetta’s suggestion, Judy and I had lunch at Taverna della Castello. The restaurant is within the walls of the medieval Castle of Torrechiara. We ate on the outdoor terrace which offered an unequalled view of the Valley of Parma. Everything on the menu is homemade from local meats and vegetables and the wine list is extensive. Judy enjoyed homemade ravioli filled with local fossa cheese and seasoned with butter and sage. The price was reasonable. We enjoyed the unique experience. We drove north to Parma.

Taverna della Castello

Our travels can be like a prayer and include blessed moments.

Until next time, God bless you and stay well.

George A. Arangio, M.D.

P.S. Keep We Talk with God at your bedside and share it with your family.

P.P.S. Please ask three (3) of your family and friends to read We Talk with God. It may be the answer to their prayers. And give a rating and a review. Thank you.

Summary:

The post reflects on the author's upbringing in Phillipsburg, New Jersey, its historical roots, key economic developments, and changing social dynamics over the decades. The narrative blends personal memories, especially about the 1960 football team, with broader reflections on societal shifts, technology, environmental concerns, and the enduring need for faith and community.

George A. Arangio, M.D., is the author of We Talk with God, a scripture-based guide to God’s advice that will boost your spiritual energy, bring you peace, and enrich your life. It is full of simple lessons. It shows how God’s Word guarantees answers to life’s important questions. It may also be the answer to your prayers. Please read it and write a review on Amazon.com. For further insights and discussion, visit WeTalkWithGod.com.