Poderi

Poderi is the plural form of podere, an Italian term for a rural estate that typically includes a farmhouse and surrounding agricultural land used for cultivation. A podere may encompass vineyards, olive groves, fields, and gardens, along with outbuildings such as barns, cellars, and workers’ accommodations. The term is most commonly used in central Italy, especially in regions like Tuscany, Umbria, Marche, and parts of Emilia-Romagna, where it denotes a small to medium-scale farm unit that has historically been family-run or owned by a landholder.

Historically, poderi formed part of the agrarian landscape from the medieval period onward. Production arrangements varied, with some poderi operated by family labor and others leased to tenant farmers under various tenure systems, including sharecropping arrangements. The size and function of poderi could differ significantly, from modest holdings focused on subsistence to more productive farms with processing facilities for wine, oil, or food crops.

In modern times, poderi are often associated with rural tourism and boutique wine or oil production. Many have been renovated as agriturismi (agritourism establishments) or marketed as distinct wine or food brands that emphasize the farm’s identity and heritage. The term is distinct from tenuta, which generally refers to a larger estate, sometimes spanning multiple farms under a single management.