The Castelli Romani, and in particular the Grottaferrata area, with its 270 metres above sea level, the right distance from the coast of the Tyrrhenian Sea and the volcanic soil, combined with a climate that is one of the mildest and most pleasant in Italy, constitute ideal conditions for the production of quality wines. The members of the Santarelli family are certain of this. From the early seventies, out of pure passion and love for the land, they began to purchase small plots of land, almost entirely planted with vines. Until the mid-1980s, however, the grapes produced were delivered to the local wine cellars. Then, in 1985, thanks to the meeting between Giulio Santarelli and Professor Attilio Scienza, the decision was taken to set up a new winery called Castel De Paolis, to produce great wines from the area. The name derives from an ancient castle dating back to the Middle Ages, which in turn stands on ruins dating back to Roman times. To this day, the winery's cellar makes use of the precious 'Cisterna Romana', in which the barriques with the great red wines for ageing are stored.