SPECIAL EVENTS
Picturesque Location | Tailored Menu Option | Unforgettable Memories
SPECIAL EVENTS
Picturesque Location | Tailored Menu Option | Unforgettable Memories
OUR STORY
About Us | The Winery | The Location | The Farm
Nestled in the rolling hills of Northumberland County, Villa Conti is situated on a 100-acre property which includes 35 acres of vines and a natural pond. It is a unique and stunning setting for an Ontario winery.
LOCAL PRODUCE
Villa Conti produces some of the fruit and vegetables served in the restaurant. Tommaso and Bambina also use locally-grown produce, as well as meat and cheese that is made in Ontario
Farm-to-Table
Villa Conti is a Farm-to-Table restaurant, cooking with fresh and locally grown ingredients. Visitors are welcome to stop by the farm and see the cows, sheep, goats, horses, lama, chickens, bunnies, pigs and ducks.
Homemade Pasta's
The pasta fatta a mano (hand-made pasta) at Villa Conti includes different varieties such as egg noodle pasta, fettuccine, manicotti, gnocchi and lasagna.
Tommaso and Bambina bought the property in 2015 and harvested the grapes to produce their inaugural vintages the same year. They include Cabernet Franc, Baco Noir, Marquette and Frontenac Gris. Just an hour’s drive from Toronto, Villa Conti is situated near the popular cottaging communities of Rice Lake, Lake Ontario and the Trent River. Stop in to taste some of Villa Conti’s wine, or sample from a selection of local and import wines chosen by Tommaso and Bambina.
The nearby municipalities of Cobourg, Brighton, Colborne, Grafton, Port Hope, Rice Lake and Trent Hills each have much to offer. Historic towns, including nearby Warkworth and Hastings, dot the countryside, and there are countless biking trails throughout the region that cater to cycling enthusiasts.
Visit the Winery
About the Area
Northumberland County is also home to many spas, art galleries and antique shops which draw visitors year-round. Villa Conti is neighbour to the Canadian Tapestry & Texture Centre for art classes and the Oak Heights Art Gallery featuring traditional and conceptual artists. Special events including Warkworth’s Maple Syrup Festival in March and Colborne’s Apple Blossom Tyme Festival each May celebrate all the region has to offer.
Bambina Giannitti
Bambina was born in Italy, in the Abruzzo Region, and moved to Toronto as a child. She started her career in the corporate world, but felt she hadn’t yet found her calling. It was Tommaso who introduced her to the hospitality industry 15 years ago. Since then, she has co-owned two restaurants with him, one in rural Italy and Tommaso’s Trattoria in Toronto.
Bambina shares Tommaso’s passion for food which is no surprise since he taught her how to cook their signature Italian fare. Entertaining comes naturally to her. She loves to create a memorable experience for customers, and to help them enjoy delicious food and wine as much as she does.
Bambina and Tommaso have a great partnership and their knowledge, passion and experience are evident in the food and in their attention to detail.
Tommaso Conti
At Villa Conti, Tommaso recreates the life he knew as a child in rural Italy – with a Canadian twist. Born and raised in Pico, a historic town in the Lazio Region near Rome, Tommaso is the fourth generation of a farming and wine making family. His parents and relatives continue the traditions to this day.
Tommaso learned how to make wine, cheese and olive oil when he was young, and has nurtured his passion for food ever since. He trained to be a chef in Italy and worked in the food and wine industries for 10 years before he first came to Canada.
Tommaso has co-owned restaurants in Italy and Ontario, including Tommaso’s Trattoria in Toronto, and has often dreamed of opening a winery. At Villa Conti, that vision has become a reality. Here he combines his knowledge of wine making and talent for preparing the rustic Italian dishes that he loves to share with others. Tommaso plans to grow fruit and vegetables, and raise animals on the 100-acre property, as well as tending to the vines.