Chiarli Cleto

In 1860 Cleto Chiarli stopped working as an innkeeper to dedicate himself solely to the production of Lambrusco which until then he had produced to satisfy the needs of the tavern. An epochal stage that will mark the path of the future generation, but also a revolution in the sales of Lambrusco. In fact, even then Chiarli understood the importance of producing Lambrusco in bottles and developed the basic winemaking techniques for this very particular wine which, only in the bottle, becomes sparkling through natural refermentation. The company prospers until it reaches a production of over 1 million bottles a year, expanding its boundaries. Due to its characteristics, Lambrusco Chiarli reaps successes not only on the Italian market but also in America, Argentina, France, England and Germany. Unfortunately in the spring of 1944, at the height of its expansion, the winery was completely destroyed during a devastating bombing of Modena carried out by the Allied forces. The activity ceases. In 1946, after two years of inactivity, the cellar was rebuilt by Anselmo's sons. Giovanni and Giorgio take over the reins of the company. Lambrusco Chiarli is not forgotten, orders arrive from all over the country and from abroad, the cellar starts to come back to life. In 1959 Chiarli was the first winery to introduce the "Charmat Method" in Emilia-Romagna thanks to which the refermentation of Lambrusco was managed in closed containers "cuves closes" with the final result of a more fragrant, fruitier and more varied. Giovanni died in 1989 and Giorgio in 2002. They are the sons Anselmo and Mauro, the fourth generation, who are preparing to continue the work traced by their great-grandfather Cleto. It is a "heavy" but stimulating legacy for the two brothers who have very clear ideas on how to continue the activity and development of the Chiarli winery, the most important private wine company in Emilia Romagna producing Lambrusco. In 2000, the ancient and historic company produced over 20 million bottles of Lambrusco and other Emilian wines, 50% of which were sold abroad, in increasingly competitive and fierce markets. Chiarli manages to win them over by presenting itself with a brand that has always guaranteed excellent quality DOC wines. In 2003 the new winery, dedicated to Cleto Chiarli, forefather and founder of the historic Modena winery, began producing. The best selections of grapes come from the property's vineyards and are vinified, bottled and signed with the Cleto Chiarli brand. The “Cleto Chiarli” winery in Castelvetro represents an important moment for the Chiarli family because it crowns a story that began in Modena 152 years ago in 1860 by the founder Cleto.