More than a winery: what is Terre dei Cavalieri
A system of estates producing wine in Friuli, Veneto and Umbria under a single direction. What makes it different and why it exists
It’s not a winery
Terre dei Cavalieri is not a winery. It’s not a single farm. It’s not a consortium. It’s a project that brings together several estates across different Italian regions: Rocca Bernarda in Friuli Venezia Giulia, Villa Giustiniani in Veneto, Castello di Magione in Umbria. Each estate has its own territory, its own grape varieties, its own wines. But all of them work under a single direction and a single name.
This model already exists in Italian wine: there are families and groups managing estates in multiple regions. What sets Terre dei Cavalieri apart is its origin. The estates belong to the Sovereign Military Order of Malta. Castles, villas and land looked after for centuries. This is not a detail — it’s the element that makes this project unlike any other.
The three estates
Rocca Bernarda is located in the Colli Orientali del Friuli, in Ipplis di Premariacco. It’s a 16th-century villa surrounded by vineyards on hills of marl and sandstone. This is where the whites of the Colli Orientali are produced — Ribolla Gialla, Friulano, Sauvignon — along with Picolit DOCG, one of Italy’s rarest dessert wines. Picolit production at Rocca Bernarda has been documented since 1559.
Villa Giustiniani sits on the hills of Asolo, in the province of Treviso. The estate lies within the Asolo Prosecco Superiore DOCG production zone, a restricted denomination with stricter rules than generic Prosecco. The hillside vineyards, planted with Glera, produce a Prosecco with structure and personality.
Castello di Magione is in Umbria, near Lake Trasimeno, close to Perugia. The castle was built in the 12th century as a hospice for pilgrims. Today it produces wines under the Colli del Trasimeno DOC denomination: reds based on Sangiovese and whites based on Grechetto. Beyond wine, the estate also produces DOP extra virgin olive oil, honey and ancient grain flours.
Why a single project
The simplest answer: because the estates belong to the same owner and it makes sense to have them work together. But there’s more to it. A multi-estate project can offer a range of wines that no single producer could. Friulian whites, Veneto Prosecco, Umbrian reds: anyone entering the world of Terre dei Cavalieri has three territories to explore, not one.
For buyers, it means a single point of contact with diverse products. For visitors, it means three connected destinations. For anyone who discovers one estate by chance — tasting a wine at a restaurant, driving past a castle, seeing a post — it means finding out there’s a bigger project behind it.
The bond with the Order of Malta
The estates of Terre dei Cavalieri belong to the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, one of the oldest religious orders in the world. Castello di Magione was built in the 12th century under their stewardship. Rocca Bernarda has been tied to the Order for centuries. This is not a marketing narrative — it’s the reason these lands exist as productive units.
No other wine producer in Italy can tell this story. There are wineries in castles, wineries in historic villas, wineries with centuries of activity. But estates that belong to a chivalric order with nearly a thousand years of history, producing wine across multiple regions under a single direction: that is Terre dei Cavalieri.
What you can do
Visit the estates. Rocca Bernarda, Villa Giustiniani and Castello di Magione are open by appointment. Tastings include the estate’s wines, the story of the territory and a tour of the spaces. Bookings are made through the Terre dei Cavalieri website.
Buy the wines. The online shop on the website offers labels from all three estates, delivered to your door. Food products — olive oil, honey, ancient grain flours — are available in the same shop.
Follow the project. The Terre dei Cavalieri Instagram profile shares the daily life of the estates, the wines, the tastings, the territories. The newsletter arrives four times a year with news, new releases and invitations to experiences.
A project that’s growing
Terre dei Cavalieri is a project under construction. The new labels carry the brand name on the bottle for the first time. Communication is being centralised. The story is taking shape. Discovering it now means discovering it at the beginning — and there’s value in that: watching something come to life, following its steps, feeling part of a journey.
Multiple estates, multiple regions, one project. This is Terre dei Cavalieri.
