Piedmont

Located, as its name suggests, at the foot of the Alps bordering France and Switzerland, Piedmont is the second largest of Italy’s 20 regions, after Sicily.

Recognized for its industry like Fiat in Turin, Piedmont is also one of the greatest regions in the world in terms of cuisine (don’t forget the white truffles from Alba!) and wine!

With 46 DOC and 4 DOCG, Piedmont has more wine appellations than any other Italian region.

Massolino

The history of the Massolinos. became entwined with the history of Serralunga d’Alba in 1896, when Giovanni founded the estate.

Giovanni was the very first person to bring electricity to the village.

The first wine cellar was built by Giuseppe, son of the founder Giovanni, who, together with his sister Angela, extended his estate into the best soils.

At that time, Giuseppe had six children. Three of them followed in their father’s footsteps, expanding the estate.

They purchased Margheria, Parafada and Vigna Rionda, cru vineyards which are authentic jewels.

In the 1990’s Franco and Roberto, both oenologists, joined the family estate and put Massolino as one of the best Barolo producers.

Tuscany

Tuscany is known for its landscapes, history and artistic legacy.

As the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance, the region has an incredible art and architecture heritage.

Tuscany is certainly the most famous of all Italian regions for its wines. Sangiovese reigns in all its forms in the vineyards of Chianti but also Montepulciano and Montalcino.

It is also the land of the Super Tuscan, the Bordeaux blend style that laid the foundation of some of the greatest Italian wines.

As a pairing with these wines, Tuscany cuisine is based on simplicity but high quality and certainly topped with Tuscan olive oil, recognized all over the world.

San Polino

San Polino is about 8 hectares of Sangiovese vineyards which lie in 3 different plots of land. They are located at San Polino and to the north of Montalcino to 450m asl.

It was the first farm in Montalcino to obtain Organic certification, in 1994.

The owners, Luigi and Katia, have a holistic attitude to viticulture.

They believe that they must respect, encourage and restore the biodiversity in the vineyard.

To fertilize the fields, they make their own compost using the stalks of the grape bunches, the pressed grape skins, all the green cuttings, from grass to pruning and animal dung.

They plant grasses and beans to add nitrogen and nutrients to the soil.

Aosta Valley

Surrounded by Piedmont in the south and east, French Alps in the west, Swiss Valais in the north, Aosta Valley is the smallest, least populous, and least densely populated region of Italy.
The region is renowned for the quality of its local salamis and meats giving rise to specialities such as carbonada, a dish composed of stewed meat wine, onions and spices. The cheeses are equally famous.
Home to Europe’s highest elevated vineyards, Valle d’Aosta is Italy’s smallest winemaking region both in terms of size and production.
Claiming an impressive list of autochthonous varieties, the region has also many grapes from France. Not surprisingly, wine labels are often written in Italian and French.

Les Crêtes

Founded in 1989 by Costantino Charrere, Les Cretes is one of only a few private wineries in the Valle D’Aosta. The winery is located in Aymavilles.

It currently manages 25 hectares of vineyards in six villages. The production is about 220,000 bottles per year.

Les Crêtes produces its wines in a very specific context, characterized by high mountains, sandy slopes and alpine temperatures.

Les Crêtes vineyards are planted in both indigenous vinifera varieties (Petite Arvine, Petit Rouge, Fumin), as well as the more traditional varieties (Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Syrah, Muscat). Their Chardonnay has been awarded best white in Italy by Gambero Rosso in 2009.

Burgundy

Burgundy (or Bourgogne in French) is a legendary wine region in eastern France.

Most of the red wines are made from pinot noir grapes and white from chardonnay grapes.

Burgundy has a higher number of AOCs than any other French region, often seen as the most terroir conscious. The various AOCs are classified from grand cru vineyards down to non-specific regional appellations.

Chablis is the furthest north-region and produces some of the greatest whites.

Further south lies the Côte d’Or, split into Côte de Nuits, home to many of the world’s finest Pinot Noir wines, and Côte de Beaune where Chardonnay plays a more prominent role, though outstanding red and white are produced throughout.

And South is the Côte Chalonnaise and the Maconnais.

Domaine Ponsot

Domaine Ponsot is a family-owned wine producer in Burgundy since 1872.

The winery is known for its red and white wines made from Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. It is also well-known for the Morey-Saint-Denis Premier Cru Clos des Monts Luisants, the only 100-percent Aligoté premier cru wine in Burgundy.

Most of the domaine’s holdings are in grand cru and premier cru vineyards, and Ponsot makes wines from such famous vineyards as Clos de la Roche, Clos de Vougeot and Corton.

Tuscany

Tuscany is known for its landscapes, history and artistic legacy. As the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance, the region has an incredible art and architecture heritage.

Tuscany is certainly the most famous of all Italian regions for its wines.

Sangiovese reigns in all its forms in the vineyards of Chianti but also Montepulciano and Montalcino.

It is also the land of the Super Tuscan, the Bordeaux blend style that laid the foundation of some of the greatest Italian wines.

As a pairing with these wines, Tuscany cuisine is based on simplicity but high quality and certainly topped with Tuscan olive oil, recognized all over the world.

Caccia al Piano

The Tenuta lies in Bolgheri, a village in the commune of Castagneto Carducci. The ancient hunting preserve, dating back to 1868 and belonging to the noble Della Gherardesca family.

In 2003, Franco Ziliani, owner of the Guido Berlucchi, acquires Caccia al Piano turned into a wine estate at the end of the nineties.

The estate comprises about 30 hectares overall, of which 23 are planted to vineyard. Averaging between 13 to 23 years old, they are divided into four crus: San Biagio, Grottine, Cantina, and Le Bozze.

140,000 bottles are produced per year. Red wines are from Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Syrah and Petit Verdot. White wines rely on Vermentino and Sauvignon Blanc.

Rhône

One of the demanded red wine regions in France is the Rhône, a valley that starts due south of Lyon and continues along the Rhône River until Provence.

Due to its notable length, it has varying soils, expositions, micro-climates and varieties. The north is home to appellations such as Hermitage, Crozes-Hermitage, St-Joseph, Cornas and features Syrah as its sole red grape. Its whites include Marsanne, Roussanne and Viognier.

In its southern half of the Rhône, the wines are notably different. The vineyards are hotter, flatter and composed of different soils and varieties, such as Grenache, Mourvèdre, Cinsault and Carignan as well as the ubiquitous Syrah. The resulting wines such as Châteauneuf du Pape, are rich and robust with lots of character and warmth.

Château de Beaucastel

Château de Beaucastel is 110 hectares, with one single plot in an exceptional terroir at the Northern limit of Châteauneuf du Pape.

The terroir is archetypal of the best terroirs in Châteauneuf: rolled pebbles on the surface, sand, clay and limestone deeper down.

The vines are old and have been organically grown for 50 years, which has allowed the roots to grow exceptionally deep.

They were one of the first converts to organic and biodynamic farming in Châteauneuf-du-Pape, which they adopted in 1950 and 1974 respectively.

Piedmont

Located, as its name suggests, at the foot of the Alps bordering France and Switzerland, Piedmont is the second largest of Italy’s 20 regions, after Sicily.

Recognized for its industry like Fiat in Turin, Piedmont is also one of the greatest regions in the world in terms of cuisine (don’t forget the white truffles from Alba!) and wine!

With 42 DOC and 17 DOCG, Piedmont has more wine appellations than any other Italian region.

The most recognized grape variety is Nebbiolo named exactly for the arrival of this pre-harvest fog (called “nebbia” in Italian), which prolongs cluster hang time and allows full phenolic balance and ripeness. This grape is responsible for the exalted Piedmont wines of Barbaresco and Barolo, known for their ageability, firm tannins and hallmark aromas of tar and roses. Nebbiolo wines, despite their pale hue, pack a pleasing punch of flavor and structure. Barbaresco tends to be more elegant in style while Barolo is more powerful. Across the Tanaro River, the Roero region, and farther north, the regions of Gattinara and Ghemme, also produce excellent quality Nebbiolo.

Barbera is the most planted grape in Piedmont, beloved for its trademark high acidity, low tannin and juicy red fruit. Dolcetto, Piedmont’s other important red grape, is usually ready within a couple of years of release.

Marchesi di Gresy

Tenute Cisa Asinari dei Marchesi di Grésy has been owned by the di Grésy family since 1797.
In the early 1970s Alberto di Grésy realized the potential of his vineyard and decided that he had to vinify his own grapes. In 1973 he produced his first vintage with the objective of transferring the class and character of the terroir, vineyards and varietal into the bottle.
Marchesi di Grésy only vinifies grapes coming from its properties, 45 hectares of vineyards divided among the Martinenga, Monte Aribaldo, La Serra and Monte Colombo estates.
Located between Asili and Rabaja, the Martinenga cru is 100% owned by di Gresy family. The vineyard is the only Langhe single owned “monopole”.

Piedmont

Located, as its name suggests, at the foot of the Alps bordering France and Switzerland, Piedmont is the second largest of Italy’s 20 regions, after Sicily.

Recognized for its industry like Fiat in Turin, Piedmont is also one of the greatest regions in the world in terms of cuisine (don’t forget the white truffles from Alba!) and wine!

With 46 DOC and 4 DOCG, Piedmont has more wine appellations than any other Italian region.

Massolino

The history of the Massolinos. became entwined with the history of Serralunga d’Alba in 1896, when Giovanni founded the estate.

Giovanni was the very first person to bring electricity to the village.

The first wine cellar was built by Giuseppe, son of the founder Giovanni, who, together with his sister Angela, extended his estate into the best soils.

At that time, Giuseppe had six children. Three of them followed in their father’s footsteps, expanding the estate.

They purchased Margheria, Parafada and Vigna Rionda, cru vineyards which are authentic jewels.

In the 1990’s Franco and Roberto, both oenologists, joined the family estate and put Massolino as one of the best Barolo producers.

Tuscany

Tuscany is known for its landscapes, history and artistic legacy. As the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance, the region has an incredible art and architecture heritage.

Tuscany is certainly the most famous of all Italian regions for its wines. Sangiovese reigns in all its forms in the vineyards of Chianti but also Montepulciano and Montalcino.

It is also the land of the Super Tuscan, the Bordeaux blend style that laid the foundation of some of the greatest Italian wines.

As a pairing with these wines, Tuscany cuisine is based on simplicity but high quality and certainly topped with Tuscan olive oil, recognized all over the world

Fuligni

Fuligni was founded in 1923 by the Fuligni viscounts, an ancient Venetian family who moved to Tuscany around 1770. The present owner is Maria Flora Fuligni, who works side by side with her nephew Roberto Guerrini Fuligni.

The property covers approx. 100 hectares east of Montalcino, historically the home to the most classic of Brunellos. The surface area under vine is 12 hectares, principally located at I Cottimelli (hence “vigneti dei Cottimelli”).

The older vineyards are 380-450 meters above sea level, mainly east and southeast facing.

Fuligni produces Rosso, Brunello, and Super Tuscans. They are all consistently ranked amongst Tuscany’s finest.

China

The vineyards are situated at altitudes ranging from 2,200 to 2,600 meters. They are nestled in the foothills of the Himalayas, close to the mythical city of Shangri-La.

Approximately half of the 27 hectares currently cultivated were initially planted with engrafted rootstock in 2000, consisting solely of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc.

The LVMH team expanded the vineyard in 2013, adding Merlot, Petit Verdot, Syrah.

The Ao Yun terroir benefits from extraordinary climatic conditions, mirroring those found in Bordeaux.

The name Ao Yun translates to “flying above the clouds,” alluding to the cloud-covered peaks that surround the vineyards.

The 2018 vintage marks the inaugural release of a Chinese grand cru through the Bordeaux négociant system.

Ao Yun

Wine production in China dates back to the Han dynasty (206 BC–220 AD).

The country’s first modern winery, Changyu, was established in 1892 in Shandong province, close to Yantai.

China’s vast territory and favorable climate conditions make it the world’s largest grape producer, accounting for nearly half of global grape production. It also boasts the third-largest vineyard area globally.

The Yantai-Penglai region, home to over 140 wineries, is the most prolific, responsible for 40% of China’s wine output.