Today and for over 100 years in the historic, mountaintop town of Montepaone in Calabria, Italy, the Montillo family makes homemade wine and vino cotto (a naturally-sweet, cooked wine syrup) for their personal use.
Montepaone, Italy in Calabria majestically overlooks the Ionian Sea.
Photos by Ryan Tibbert, August 19, 2017
In 1970, Vito Montillo, Gregorio's father, moved his family from their southern Italian home to Newton, Massachusetts where they started a new life together, carrying on most of their wonderful Italian traditions. To this day, one of Greg's annual favorites is making homemade wine and vino cotto.
In August 2008, husband and wife team Greg and Deena Conti Montillo followed their dream to be the first producer of authentic vino cotto in the United States and established Montillo Italian Foods. Just two months later, full of hope and enthusiasm, their first bottle of Vino Cotto di Montillo was sold.
Over the years, they’ve received many complements from their Italian customers who say, "It tastes just the way they remembered it as a kid living in the old country." For Greg and Deena, hearing these words equals success and warms their hearts.
Gregorio and Deena Montillo
Greg and Deena are very proud to share this small part of their Italian heritage with you. They’ve made it possible for you to experience authentic vino cotto, also known as vincotto originale, by sourcing only the best California wine grapes, supporting US workers and their families and following all US FDA regulations for a safe, shelf-stable product. The end result is a delicious, healthy gourmet syrup that’s been enjoyed for centuries throughout the Mediterranean--dating back to ancient Roman times.
Now it’s your turn to taste why this syrup stands the test of time while discovering new ways to enhance your family’s favorite foods.
