Umani Ronchi creates DAVANTAGE
DAVANTAGE is a project – a declaration of love for wine – rooted in the sharing of a philosophy, the energy of passion, and the harmony of intent. It is Umani Ronchi that brings this new distribution concept to life, selecting Torre a Cona, a Tuscan wine estate, as the first key component of its vision.
Michele Bernetti, convinced that wine is far more than a beverage – an experience intertwined with tourism, nature, and personal connection – has realised this vision through a new project, whose cornerstone is Torre a Cona, owned by Niccolò Rossi di Montelera, located just outside Florence in the heart of the Colli Fiorentini.
Umani Ronchi, a key figure in the winemaking history of the Marche region, is thus opening itself to a region of oenological excellence such as Tuscany, embracing a niche reality that is truly one of a kind. In addition to the production of fine wines, predominantly from Sangiovese grapes, the estate also crafts a Vermouth, considered a rarity in the context of contemporary Italian winemaking.
The location of Torre a Cona – off the conventional routes of Tuscan wine – and its ideal positioning in the context of climate change, become the foundation of DAVANTAGE, the first and most significant piece in a mosaic that, in the near future, will fully reveal its essence and path.
“I believe in emotional affinities as well as entrepreneurial ones. Standing in front of Torre a Cona, struck by its extraordinary beauty and the immediate rapport with Niccolò, I realised that there were shared and complementary paths to follow. That’s how the idea of DAVANTAGE was born – a distribution network in which Torre a Cona is the defining element.” – Michele Bernetti
“I’ve always believed that a shared journey leads to surprisingly better outcomes than going it alone. Getting to know Umani Ronchi and its patron Michele, along with his extraordinary business, confirmed to me that some encounters truly define life – and that there are people who have the power to elevate entire regions. Creating synergies with Michele and the Umani Ronchi team was a deliberate and sought-after journey, born from a shared desire to grow and chart a new course.” – Niccolò Rossi di Montelera
Laying the foundations of this new project, alongside the wines of Torre a Cona, is another international oenological gem: Domaine Jean-Baptiste Ponsot, a talented artisan winemaker from the Côte Chalonnaise, who holds a portfolio of exceptional premier crus in the commune of Rully, as well as a small, exquisite parcel in Chassagne-Montrachet.
This is a Burgundy waiting to be discovered – with many fascinating chapters yet to be read and understood.
“In a project devoted to excellence, French wines had to be included. After extensive research, we discovered producers who share our values and are truly unique in their kind. Torre a Cona and Domaine Jean-Baptiste Ponsot possess the perfect qualities to represent and embody what ‘distribution’ means for Umani Ronchi. This is the beginning of a journey leading in only one direction: that of uncompromising uniqueness.” – Michele Bernetti
Moreover, as it becomes increasingly clear that the future of Italian winemaking lies in sustainability and wine tourism, Umani Ronchi – long at the forefront – has been preparing for years to develop along this path. If environmental and social responsibility is now widely recognised as a strategic lever, the connection with the local territory is now essential to offer added value to the wine product. In this too, Michele Bernetti’s vision aligns with that of Niccolò Rossi di Montelera: both see wine and wine tourism as inextricably linked, in a virtuous dialogue aimed at the continuous enhancement of both.
“Wine hospitality is an increasingly broad and complex world: it is rooted in welcoming – whether trade or consumer – and merges with corporate strategies in marketing, communication, and sales, becoming a true business unit. It’s a range of activities that, now more than ever, can no longer be left to chance. Anyone working in hospitality should always strive for the optimal balance between achieving business goals (wine) and offering the sense of ease and enjoyment that a moment of relaxation (tourism) should provide.” – Michele Bernetti
