Terre Bianche was founded in 1870 when Tommaso Rondelli planted the first Rossese grape vineyard on a unique and peculiar white soil area in the Ligurian Riviera. The estate expanded over the years with the addition of more vineyards and olive tree groves.
His son Adino worked on the railways, yet never neglected the vines, as his 1936 wine production declaration reminds us. The vineyard then passed to his sons, Adelmo and Aldo. The first became a merchant navy captain and sailed the world; the second turned his hand to all kinds of work across Italy, France and Spain. Yet both always came back to their Rossese vines.
Aldo married Marthe, who came from Blanquefort, near Bordeaux, and in 1972 the couple were among the founding fathers of the Rossese di Dolceacqua DOC. Widowed, Marthe carried on the family tradition with her sons Claudio and Paolo: while working as a nurse in Menton, she went on making wine, a few thousand bottles for the restaurants and inns of the area.
Our family business grew and blossomed between 1985 and 1998 under the lead of Claudio and Paolo and Franco Laconi, Paolo’s brother in law. The already acclaimed wine increased in volume production and reached superb quality, whilst the addition of the agriturismo was the natural step to create a great lifestyle experience for our customers.
In 1992 Terre Bianche was awarded with the "Medal Cangrande" from the Mìnistero dell'Agricoltura for the 'for having contributed to the growth, enhancement, and promotion of the wine culture of Rossese di Dolceacqua.'
At the end of the 90s, Filippo took over from his father Claudio to head the business with Paolo and Franco and to push further the quality of all our wines, which had already reached award-winning status.
Together with historian Alessandro Giacobbe, Filippo conducted research and developed a zoning project for the 'Unità Geografiche Aggiuntive' (Additional Geographical Units, or UGA) of Rossese di Dolceacqua, known locally as *Nomeranze*. This complex undertaking spanned several years (from 2011 to 2014) and was supported by the 'Vigne Storiche' producers' association, the CIA (Italian Farmers' Confederation), the Chamber of Commerce, and the Liguria Region.
In 2024 Filippo is acknowledged 'Accademico Corrispondente' in the Accademia della Vite e del Vino (AIVV), in Firenze.
In 2024, Filippo is awarded as 'Ethical winemaker' by Region Liguria's Agricolture Assessor.
Terre Bianche in 2025 is registered in the "Rete del Lavoro Agricolo di Qualità" of the Ministero dell’agricoltura, della sovranità alimentare e delle foreste.
Today all the family is working hard to maintain the standards achieved over the years and to enrich the experience provided to our customers.
More than 2500 years of history
700 B.C.
The local ligurians build a small tower in the Arcagna area, on top of mount Aurin. The tower served as a viewing and defence base, in which they could keep livestock and grow small allotments.
600 B.C.
The Greeks found the Massalia colony (i.e. Marseilles), and start trading with the Ligurians, introducing viticulture to the area.
100 B.C./400 A.D.
The Romans colonise the Ligurians. The Roman Aurinia family manages allotments and fields in the Dolceacqua valley, including Tramontina, la Colla and Arcagna amongst others. The Terre Bianche area is already used to mine the raw materials for the production of shingles and bricks.
600/1000
The subsequent domination by Byzantines, Longobards e Saracens bring religious conflicts and general havoc to Dolceacqua valley. At last the CaroIingian royalties restore the peace and spread the Christian religion through the Benedictine monks, who introduce innovative agricultural techniques to the area.
1151
The Benedictines monks build the S.Maria monastery in Dolceacqua; Crosa, Butin, Arcagna, Auriveu, Borgu Novu feature among their estates. Agriculture in the valley changes dramatically and olive groves make a long lasting entrance into the area.
1260
The Terra Blanca region (i.e. Terre Bianche) is already cultivated by the Alemanno and Macarius families.
1523
The ‘vermigli’ or ‘rocensi’ wines of Dolceacqua are becoming known and appreciated.
1742/1748
The Dolceacqua valley – and its flourishing agriculture – is subverted by the Austrian Succession War.
1817/1839
The rossese di Dolceacqua is quoted in the ‘Pomona Italiana’, by G.Gallesio.
1870
The Rondelli family plants Terre Bianche the first rossese di Dolceacqua vineyard.
1885
Phylloxera, a pest of vines, hits Dolceacqua.
1901
Mario Calvino, agronomist (and father of renown writer Italo), introduces the American portainnesto, a revolution for the viticulture of the region.
1972
After a temporarily neglected viticultural scene following the second World War, the Rossese di Dolceacqua becomes the first D.O.C. in Liguria, celebrating the quality of its vineyards.