Villa Pagnoncelli Folcieri

The main structure of Villa Pagnoncelli Folcieri originates from the seventeenth century, while its corner tower dates back to medieval times. On the main ‘piano nobile’ floor (the only one that can be visited by the public) the central portico opens onto the library on one side, and a large reception hall with adjoining smaller rooms. The rooms are all decorated with eighteenth-century frescoes which have mythological and allegorical themes, further embellished with furniture pieces belonging to the family’s ancestors as well as antique items acquired over time. An English-style garden welcomes visitors, while there is a large verdant area at the rear of the property which has retained its Italian design. Bordered by boxwood hedges, this space is now used by the family as a vegetable garden and orchard.

The History of Villa Pagnoncelli Folcieri

The villa was initially used for summer vacations by a noble Bergamasque family. The Pagnoncellis moved into the Villa shortly after the mid 1850s, hailing from the hamlet of Cà Passero, in Berbenno, Valle Imagna. The family has a long tradition as pharmacists, and indeed Maurizio Pagnoncelli Folcieri still practises in Scanzorosciate today. In 1962, third-generation pharmacist Giancarlo Pagnoncelli Folcieri produced his very first vintage of Moscato di Scanzo, a red passito meditation wine which is unique in the world. It is derived from an indigenous, aromatic, botrytized vine, whose history has been documented since the mid-13th century. Since 2009, it has been recognised as the smallest DOCG in Italy, and to date it is the only one existing in the Lombardy region.

Production of Muscat wine

The cultivation of the Moscato grape at the Villa began more as a game or a wager, using just a few bunches of grapes plucked from the vines in the kitchen garden, and resulted in a sum total of only six bottles after the first production run. Giancarlo’s son Maurizio, also a pharmacist, is now in charge of supervising the business with the involvement of the whole family. Around 3,000 50 ml bottles are produced every year at the Villa. This very limited number of bottles supplied ensures the extremely high quality of the wine, making it a very valuable and sought-after product, due to it being such a rare commodity. The wine cellar (which may be visited) is located within the Villa and was carved out of the spaces of the former woodshed or “legnaia”. We are proud to say that our wine has been tasted by popes and sovereigns over the centuries.