We’re in the hills overlooking the Conca
Valley, a landscape shaped by the river that carves through this subzone before
flowing into the Adriatic Sea between Misano and Cattolica. San Clemente
encompasses a region that includes the towns of San Giovanni in Marignano,
Morciano, Saludecio, and Gemmano, with altitudes
ranging from 60 meters above sea level to about 300 meters in the more inland
areas. The geological diversity here is striking: in the lower areas,
you'll find brown and red soils, while as you climb higher, the landscape
shifts to chalky marl and limestone, particularly around Gemmano and the higher
elevations.
As the soils change, so do the Sangiovese
wines: more power and structure in the
vineyards closer to the coast, with more agility, freshness, and a pronounced
mineral elegance as you move into the higher zones. These are structured
wines, but with a lively acidity, making them the perfect match for Romagna’s
cuisine.
The Rocca of San Clemente
San Clemente is a rare example of a fortified
rural settlement, encircled by medieval walls. The Rocca di San Clemente, a
fortress with a castle dating back to the 10th
century, was originally gifted by Ottone
I to the Counts of Carpegna before passing to the Malatesta family. After their fall, it changed hands from the
Venetians to the Papal States.