Damiano Ciolli

Damiano Ciolli is a winemaker from Lazio with ties to Olevano Romano, a hilltop village south-east of Rome, within the historic Cesanese di Olevano Romano wine-growing area. His identity stems from his connection with the Cesanese d’Affile grape variety, which is deeply rooted in these lands and seen as a key expression of the local landscape. The family’s winemaking tradition, which evolved into a bottling venture in 2001, has focused on a precise understanding of the terroir, with wines designed to reflect the interplay between soil, microclimate and grape variety.

The vineyards are situated on the hillsides around Olevano Romano, in a setting sheltered by the surrounding landscape and influenced by the proximity of the Tyrrhenian Sea. The dark red, volcanic soil, combined with rainy winters, sunny summers and morning breezes, promotes the balanced ripening of the Cesanese d’Affile. In the vineyard, the focus is on soil fertility through practices such as green manuring and the use of organic and biodynamic products, as part of an agricultural approach centred on the vitality of the land and respect for the environment.

In the winery, the approach favours spontaneous fermentation and minimal intervention, with the aim of allowing the character of the raw material to shine through. The wines’ style is characterised by freshness, elegance and drinkability, without losing their terroir-driven depth. Damiano Ciolli thus represents one of the most recognisable expressions of Cesanese from Lazio, showcasing Olevano Romano through wines that are consistent, balanced and deeply rooted in their place of origin.