Women of Wine: Clelia Romano of Colli di Lapio

In 1994, on an old farm just east of Naples, Clelia Romano began her winemaking career where her family had been farming and selling their grapes for generations. Today, with the assistance of her daughter Carmela, the Colli di Lapio estate produces a modest 4,000 cases of very fine wine per year. The wines she makes are considered textbook examples of the Campania region's signature grape varieties: Aglianico, Fiano and Greco di Tufo, all of which have been cultivated in the area since the time of the ancient Greeks.

Colli di Lapio is a practicing organic estate. Romano has been one of the region's leaders in the use of sustainable farming practices. By using integrated insect and disease control, organic fertilizer and crop cover between the rows, she ensures that the grapes and soil are the healthiest they can be. There are no other secrets to the quality produced here; simply superlative vineyards, meticulous care and winemaking of the highest integrity.