In San Colombano, a cozy hamlet located between low Pavia and the flat of Lodi, where the plain turns into picturesque hills, the Panigada family, in addition to the historic store of salami, has been producing for three generations a wine that bears the curious name of "Banino". San Colombano owes its name to the Irish monk that Christianized it in the sixth century and who imported the cultivation of the vine. Its inhabitants are called "Banini", hence the origin of the name of the wine, an exclusive corporate brand.
The hills that rise from the surrounding plains, with an area of approximately 1,400 hectares, date back to the Miocene period, from the geological point of view, when an earthquake would have made them emerge from the sea. This is witnessed by the continuing discoveries of corals, fossils and shells on top of the hills. The Municipality, in effect, hosts a small paleontological museum.
Structure and composition of the soil vary sharply within a few meters, from white soils, rich in clay and limestone, to sandy and silty areas. This diversification of the soils is combined with sun exposure and curves of different level giving rise to a series of very interesting micro–zones and microclimates, which paired with a perfect exposure allow to harvest grapes of the highest quality. The management of the owned vineyards is very attentive to the environmental aspect. To prove this, grass and wildflowers fill vineyards, since no use of herbicides is made. Their mowing and subsequent decomposition nourish vines, not fertilizers of chemical origin.
In the growing season, the fungal protection is implemented using mainly sulfur and copper, without treatment with fungicides.
The harvest, totally manual, is carried out in boxes to protect the integrity and the fragrance of grapes ready to crushing.
