Our Philosophy
Cantina il Poggio, vineyard and wine tasting in Salsomaggiore
Cantina Il Poggio, a historic winery in Salsomaggiore Terme, welcomes wine enthusiasts and anyone looking for authentic food and wine experiences.
Our guided tours share the story of our winery, vineyards, and wines, while our tastings pair each glass with a carefully curated dish, highlighting a deep connection to the local terroir.
We turn a simple wine tasting into an immersive journey that blends culture, food, and storytelling.
Here, you’ll find not only excellent wines but also an atmosphere that celebrates the beauty of simplicity and the value of human connections
Cantina Il Poggio is located within Tenuta Il Poggiolo, a 28-hectare estate in the renowned ‘Parma Food Valley.’
Nestled on the highest hill of Salsomaggiore, the winery is surrounded by vineyards, an olive grove, woods, and a private lake.
Tenuta Il Poggiolo is part of M.E. Holding, a group with diversified activities across multiple sectors, including transportation, wellness, real estate, and wine production.
Vineyards
both international and local grape varieties
The vineyards embrace the entire Poggio hillside, crowned by the estate’s historic villa at its peak.
When the current owners acquired the estate, only one hectare of vineyards remained, planted in the 1970s with Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and a few Malvasia di Candia Aromatica vines.
From there, the dream was born.
The first step was to study the land in depth, analyzing its structural and chemical composition with the support of the University of Pavia.
The results revealed predominantly clay-limestone soils, with some parcels rich in schist.
Based on these characteristics—and with the ambition to craft age-worthy, full-bodied red wines—the decision was made to continue planting international grape varieties while also introducing local ones such as Barbera and Bonarda.
Today, the vineyards span 15 hectares, and the historic plot is reserved exclusively for the production of Poggio, the winery’s flagship wine
Winery
Among barrels, barrique and tonneau

For us, the winery is a way of life—a single mindset and approach to work, guided by the rhythm of the seasons and the full sustainability of our production.
Cantina Il Poggio’s wines reflect this philosophy, shaped by the slow pace of the barrel cellar, gentle and patient aging, and the silence that envelops the hill—serene yet demanding days, understood only by those who truly work with their hands.
Among barriques and tonneaux, in the cool underground tunnel, flows the air of newfound knowledge with deep roots. Between macerations, pressings, filtrations, spontaneous refermentations, and seemingly motionless aging, a new path to winemaking emerges—one never seen before.
We Make Wine
The winery is our lifestyle

Luca Gualdana
Director-GeneralGraduated in Viticulture and Enology from the Università Cattolica of Piacenza. After winemaking experiences in Chianti Classico, New Zealand, and the United States, he joined Cantina Il Poggio in 2014, where he oversees both vineyard management and winery operations

Alessandra Gioioso
Wine Marketing ManagerGraduated in Translation and Interpreting from the University of Pisa, with ONAV and WSET certifications. She manages communication (both online and offline) and hospitality at the winery.

Benedetta Sirelli
Event managerGraduated in Languages for Publishing from the University of Verona, with ONAV certification. She is responsible for organizing and managing events at the winery, both for wine tourists and companies looking to spend a day outside the work environment.

Federico Borghino
Sales managerGraduated from the ARC course at Green Start School, with ONAV certification. He is responsible for establishing and strengthening long-lasting relationships with restaurateurs and wine shop owners.

Adriano
Cellar workerHas been living in our estate since he was 3 years old, since the beginning has worked with his father Santino in vineyards and in the first wine production.

Brian
WinegrowerFor more than 20 years Brian's hands have been taking care of vineyards and olive grove, from pruning to harvest.