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.

Giuseppe Cortese

Since 1971, Giuseppe Cortese has been producing in the heart of “Rabajà,” a historic cru in the Barbaresco region.

Their high-quality wines from 4 hectares of vineyards benefits from a southwesterly exposure, offering optimal microclimate, soil, and ripening conditions.

The winery adheres to traditional winemaking practices while incorporating modern technology. They are ageing their wines in Slavonian oak barrels and storing them in underground cellars at ideal temperatures.

Their Chardonnay, Dolcetto, and Barbera vines, planted on the slopes opposite Trifolera, yield wines that are noted for their refined elegance and characteristic style.

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.

Marche

Located in central Italy, the region enjoys a very varied landscape going from mountains through hills to beautiful beaches, towering cliffs and clear blue waters.

Marche is best known as a white wine region, although it is also home to some reds of very high quality.

It has been the territory of the Verdicchio grape for more than 600 years. The wines are characterized by lively acidity and subtle herbaceous undertones.

Among the red wines of Marche, the finest are generally made from the Montepulciano grape and/or Sangiovese. The best DOCG is the intensely fragrant Rosso Conero Riserva.

Umani Ronchi

Umani Ronchi is a wine estate in Marche and Abruzzo producing Verdicchio, Montepulciano and others since 1957.

The Estate has a total surface area under vine of 210 hectares nestling between the hills and the sea along the Adriatic coast.

All the vineyards are farmed organically. For the winery, this was a technical decision rather than an ideological one.

In Italy, Umani Ronchi has been recognized “best winery of the Year” 2024.

In Asia, Jorio made its fame thanks to the manga “The Drops of God” by Gambero Rosso.

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.

Domaine de La Solitude

La Solitude belongs to one of the oldest families of Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Their history goes back to the XVth century. From generation to generation, the Estate is still a family affair and is now run by Florent Lançon.
La Solitude stretches over 37 hectares of the best terroirs in Châteauneuf-du-Pape. The domain begins on “La Crau”, high terraces of the Rhône and then descends into the valley of la Solitude. It is a patchwork of terroirs ranging from sandy soils (safres) to clay and pebbles (galets roulés). Thirteen different grape varieties are cultivated there!
The vineyard has been practising organic viticulture for a long time and will be officially certified from 2021 vintage and biodynamic from 2022.

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.

Domaine de La Solitude

La Solitude belongs to one of the oldest families of Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Their history goes back to the XVth century. From generation to generation, the Estate is still a family affair and is now run by Florent Lançon.

La Solitude stretches over 37 hectares of the best terroirs in Châteauneuf-du-Pape. The domain begins on “La Crau”, high terraces of the Rhône and then descends into the valley of la Solitude. It is a patchwork of terroirs ranging from sandy soils (safres) to clay and pebbles (galets roulés). Thirteen different grape varieties are cultivated there!

The vineyard has been practicing organic viticulture for a long time and will be officially certified from 2021 vintage and biodynamic from 2022.

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.

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.

Chile

Old or New World wine-producing country? Its first grapevines were planted as early as the 1500s. European immigrants brought more varieties, particularly from Bordeaux, to Chile in the 1800s. Until the 1990s, most of the country’s wine was consumed locally. As Chilean winemakers started exporting more wine, the world noticed both the quality and value of Chile wines.
With 4,300 kilometers of coastline along the Pacific Ocean, Chile produces wines that are both fruit-forward factor and herbaceous.
Cabernet Sauvignon might be Chile’s most important red variety, but Carmenere is the country’s niche grape (98% of the world’s Carmenère is grown there). As for white wines, Sauvignon blanc has become increasingly popular and performs well when grown close to the cool Pacific; Chardonnay is also ubiquitous in Chile.

Viña Almaviva

In 1997, Baron Philippe de Rothschild and Viña Concha y Toro, sealed a partnership agreement with a view to create an exceptional wine called Almaviva in Alto Maipo, Chile.

The project gives rise to fine Chilean wines that benefit from a rich French winemaking know-how and the unique expression of this Central Valley terroir.

The first vintage achieved immediate international success upon its launch in 1998.

The name Almaviva, though it has a Hispanic sonority, belongs to classical French literature: Count Almaviva is the hero of The Marriage of Figaro, the famous play by Beaumarchais (1732-1799), later turned into an opera by Mozart.

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.

Sicily

The largest Mediterranean island, separated from the Italian peninsula by the very narrow Messina strait, Sicily is probably among the richest regions in history, art and cultural heritage, a mosaic of colours and contrasts.

According to legend, it was Dionysus (Bacchus) who brought pleasure to mankind, and wine to Sicily.

In the past, Sicily was famous for its Marsala and cheap bulk wines. Over the last 30 years, however, Sicily’s wine culture has changed dramatically and is now considered as one of the best regions.

The Sicilian has the largest vineyard in all of Italy. It is three times the size of the vineyard in New Zealand, larger than vineyard in South Africa and equivalent to the vineyard in Germany.

Donnafugata

Established in 1983 by Giacomo Rallo, the winery is now led by José and Antonio.

Donnafugata boasts vineyards in Contessa Entellina, nestled in the heart of western Sicily, as well as on Pantelleria island, situated between Sicily and Africa.

The 2016 harvest marked a milestone for Donnafugata, fulfilling the aspiration to produce wines in eastern Sicily with the distinguished Etna, Cerasuolo, and Frappato di Vittoria appellations.

The name Donnafugata, meaning ‘lady in flight,’ originates from the novel ‘Il Gattopardo’ and alludes to the tale of a queen who sought sanctuary in what are now the company’s vineyards, a narrative that also inspired the company’s logo.