Perched on a luminous hilltop in Gaiole, Castello di Ama is where Chianti Classico becomes art. Since 1976, when visionary Roman families breathed new life into this historic estate, Castello di Ama has redefined what a Tuscan winery can be, becoming one of the region's most captivating and revered properties.
The magic of Castello di Ama lies in the partnership between CEO Lorenza Sebasti and winemaker Marco Pallanti, former President of the Chianti Classico Consorzio, whose devotion to Sangiovese borders on the spiritual. From 75 meticulously cultivated hectares emerge wines of breathtaking clarity and elegance, each bottle a liquid expression of the estate's singular terroir. These are wines that speak softly but command attention, celebrated worldwide for their purity and finesse. Now, the estate's legacy continues with their son Arturo Pallanti, a Florence-trained enologist who honed his craft through harvests in Sicily and Piedmont. Raised among the vines with a deep passion for food, wine, literature, and art, Arturo has joined his parents in stewarding Castello di Ama into its next chapter, bringing fresh energy to the estate's daily operations.
Castello di Ama transcends traditional winemaking. The estate has become a living gallery where acclaimed contemporary art installations transform the landscape into an immersive cultural experience. This bold fusion of viticulture and artistic vision creates something utterly unique in the wine world: a place where every visit becomes a journey through beauty, where world-class Sangiovese and world-class art exist in perfect harmony. Castello di Ama doesn't just make wine; it creates experiences that linger in memory long after the last glass.
A First Growth of unparalleled distinction, Château Margaux epitomizes the pinnacle of Bordeaux winemaking. While viticulture has flourished on this hallowed terroir for centuries, the estate's magnificent neoclassical château was built in the early 19th century and stands today as one of the Médoc's most celebrated architectural masterpieces.
The estate's renaissance began in 1977 under the visionary ownership of André Mentzenopoulos, whose transformative investments elevated Château Margaux to new heights of excellence. His daughter, Corinne Mentzenopoulos, has continued this legacy with unwavering commitment to perfection, assembling an exceptional team including the legendary Paul Pontallier, who guided 33 remarkable vintages. Today, director Philippe Bascaules and technical director Sébastien Vergne, collaborating with renowned consultant Eric Boissenot, uphold the estate's exacting standards.
The estate's 82 hectares are planted predominantly to Cabernet Sauvignon, complemented by Merlot, with touches of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Château Margaux is celebrated for its signature style: wines of perfumed elegance that possess remarkable structure, extraordinary complexity, and profound length, a rare synthesis of refinement and power that has captivated connoisseurs for generations.
A jewel of Pauillac and one of Bordeaux's most illustrious Second Growths, Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande has earned the distinction of "super second," producing wines that rival the First Growths in quality and reputation. Since the late 1970s, the estate has captivated collectors worldwide with its signature elegance and remarkable consistency.
The château's singular character was shaped by a legacy of exceptional women. Virginie Comtesse de Lalande, for whom the estate is named, established its identity following the division of the original Pichon property in 1850. Over a century later, May-Eliane de Lencquesaing, known as "La Générale," became one of Bordeaux's most prominent figures, elevating the estate to unprecedented heights during her stewardship from 1978 to 2007.
Today, under the ownership of the Rouzaud family of Champagne Louis Roederer and the expert guidance of winemaker Nicolas Glumineau, Pichon Comtesse continues to enchant with wines of extraordinary refinement. With parcels extending into Saint-Julien, the estate produces wines that marry Pauillac's power with an uncommon grace and sensuality. Each vintage embodies the elegance, complexity, and profound aging potential that have made Pichon Comtesse a legend among Bordeaux's elite.
Château Pontet-Canet stands as one of Bordeaux's most celebrated estates, a Fifth Growth that has soared to rival the finest First Growths through visionary leadership and unwavering commitment to excellence. Since the Tesseron family's acquisition in the late 1970s, this historic Pauillac property has become synonymous with both revolutionary viticulture and wines of extraordinary purity and power.
Under the guidance of Alfred Tesseron, Pontet-Canet made history as the first major Bordeaux château to embrace biodynamic farming across its entire vineyard, a bold decision that would forever change the estate's trajectory. This pioneering commitment to natural viticulture and terroir expression has yielded wines of remarkable intensity and refinement, capturing the essence of Pauillac in its most profound form. Today, Alfred's daughter Justine Tesseron continues this legacy, guiding the estate with the same passion and exacting standards.
Pontet-Canet's wines are celebrated worldwide for their silk-like texture, exceptional depth, and crystalline purity. Critics and collectors alike recognize these as wines that transcend their Fifth Growth classification, consistently achieving a level of quality that places them among Bordeaux's elite. Each vintage is a testament to the transformative power of biodynamic viticulture and the Tesseron family's relentless pursuit of perfection.
Since establishing his estate in the 1980s in Illasi, just beyond the Valpolicella Classico zone, Romano Dal Forno has ascended to the pinnacle of Veneto winemaking, producing Amarone and Valpolicella of such extraordinary concentration and complexity that they have become the benchmark by which all others are measured.
Romano Dal Forno is the undisputed leader of Valpolicella's modern renaissance, transforming the region's reputation through uncompromising dedication to quality. From his meticulously tended eight hectares, he coaxes the fullest expression from indigenous Corvina and Rondinella grapes through exacting vineyard management and obsessive selection during harvest. His yields are among the lowest in Italy, a testament to his belief that greatness can only be achieved through sacrifice.
Dal Forno's wines possess an almost mythical status among collectors and connoisseurs. His Amarone is revered for its profound depth, velvety richness, and extraordinary ability to evolve gracefully over decades. Each bottle represents the ultimate expression of Valpolicella's potential, a masterwork of patience, precision, and singular vision that has elevated Italian winemaking to rarefied heights.
Domaine de la Chapelle stands as one of the most revered names in the Rhône Valley, a wine of legendary status that has captivated collectors for generations. Born from the storied slopes of Hermitage, one of France's most hallowed wine regions, La Chapelle represents the pinnacle of Northern Rhône Syrah and remains among the world's most sought-after red wines.
The Maison Paul Jaboulet Aîné, founded in 1834, built its formidable reputation on the excellence of La Chapelle. This iconic cuvée is sourced from the hill's most exceptional terroirs, including the celebrated parcels of Les Bessards and Le Méal, where ancient vines produce fruit of extraordinary concentration and complexity. Since the Frey family's acquisition of the estate in 2006, they have honored this heritage while embracing organic and biodynamic viticulture, ensuring the purest expression of these remarkable sites.
La Chapelle embodies the grandeur and elegance of Hermitage at its most exalted. These are wines of profound depth and structure, possessing an almost supernatural ability to evolve gracefully over decades. Each vintage of La Chapelle is a testament to the majesty of the Hermitage hill and the enduring legacy of one of the Rhône Valley's most distinguished houses.
One of Burgundy's most revered estates, Domaine de Montille has achieved legendary status for producing wines of extraordinary purity and longevity. The domaine's reputation was forged by Hubert de Montille, a distinguished Dijon lawyer and consummate vigneron, who assembled prime vineyard holdings in Volnay, Pommard, and Puligny-Montrachet beginning in 1947. His uncompromising vision created wines of profound structure and crystalline precision.
Etienne de Montille has elevated his father's legacy to new heights since assuming leadership in 1995. A pioneer in biodynamic viticulture, Etienne converted the estate to organic farming immediately upon taking the helm, later embracing biodynamics in 2005. His masterful use of whole cluster fermentation has refined the estate's style, coaxing forth wines of remarkable transparency and grace that capture the essence of each precious vineyard parcel.
The 2017 union with Château de Puligny-Montrachet, which Etienne had acquired in 2012, created an unparalleled collection of some of the Côte d'Or's most coveted vineyard sites. Today, Domaine de Montille stands among Burgundy's elite, crafting wines that are sought after by collectors and connoisseurs worldwide for their impeccable balance, profound depth, and breathtaking ability to age.
Since 1897, the Nonino family has stood at the forefront of Italian distilling, transforming grappa from a rustic spirit into one of the world's most refined and coveted distillates. What began with Orazio Nonino in the Friulian hills has evolved into a legacy of innovation and uncompromising quality, now guided by the visionary sisters Cristina, Antonella, and Elisabetta Nonino.
Nonino revolutionized the spirits world in 1973 with the creation of the first single-varietal grappa from Picolit grapes, a breakthrough that elevated grappa to the realm of fine spirits. This pioneering spirit continued in 1984 with the invention of ÙE, the first whole-grape distillate, further cementing Nonino's position as an innovator without equal. Each generation has built upon the last, honoring tradition while fearlessly charting new territory.
Today, Nonino represents the pinnacle of Italian distilling artistry. From their exclusive batch-steam copper stills emerge spirits of extraordinary purity and elegance, including the celebrated Amaro Nonino, beloved by bartenders and connoisseurs worldwide. The Nonino name has become synonymous with excellence, transforming the global perception of grappa and earning international acclaim as Italy's most distinguished distillery.
Founded in 1859 in the heart of Beaune, Maison Louis Jadot stands as one of Burgundy's most distinguished and revered wine houses. The Jadot family's connection to Burgundy dates back to 1794, when they arrived from Belgium and began acquiring Premier and Grand Cru vineyards throughout the Côte d'Or.
For over a century and a half, four generations of the Jadot family cultivated both vineyard holdings and an impeccable reputation, expanding their influence across Europe and the Americas. Today, Maison Louis Jadot maintains its headquarters beside the historic Couvent des Jacobins, a former convent dating to 1477. The house's winemaking philosophy artfully balances reverence for Burgundian tradition with modern precision, allowing each terroir to express its truest character.
With meticulous attention to every aspect of viticulture and vinification, Maison Louis Jadot continues to produce wines of exceptional quality and authenticity, honouring the vision of its founder while embracing the future of Burgundian winemaking.
Few names in wine command the reverence of Marchesi Antinori. For twenty-six unbroken generations since 1385, when Giovanni di Piero Antinori joined Florence's Vintner's Guild, this storied dynasty has stood at the pinnacle of Italian winemaking, shaping the very soul of Tuscan viticulture.
In the 1970s, the Antinori Family ignited a revolution that would forever transform the wine world. From their legendary Tignanello estate emerged wines of such breathtaking power and refinement that they shattered every convention: Tignanello itself, the iconoclastic masterpiece that proved Tuscany could rival Bordeaux's greatest châteaux; Solaia, an electrifying symphony of elegance from neighboring slopes; and Guado al Tasso, the Bolgheri triumph that revealed the extraordinary potential of the Maremma coast. These are not merely wines, they are monuments to what Italian viticulture can achieve at its most exalted.
Today, the Antinori family continues to reign as Italian wine's most distinguished dynasty, their legacy carried forward with the same visionary spirit that has defined six centuries of excellence. Balancing profound tradition with fearless innovation, they remain the ultimate expression of winemaking nobility, a family whose name will forever be synonymous with the greatest achievements in wine.
Pascal Jolivet has redefined the essence of Loire Valley Sauvignon Blanc, establishing himself as one of the most influential figures in Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé. Born into a family with deep roots in the wine trade dating to 1926, Pascal founded his eponymous house in 1987 with an audacious vision: to craft wines of crystalline purity that would reveal the full expression of the Loire's greatest terroirs.
His revolutionary cellar in Sancerre became the birthplace of a distinctive style that captured the imagination of critics and collectors worldwide. Wine Spectator's recognition of his Sancerre Blanc among the world's top 100 wines in consecutive years during the 1990s confirmed what connoisseurs had already discovered, these were Sauvignon Blancs of unprecedented finesse.
Today, Pascal Jolivet's estate spans 120 hectares across the region's most prized sites in Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé, each parcel meticulously farmed to capture the essence of its limestone and silex soils. His wines are celebrated for their luminous clarity, precise expression of terroir, and ethereal balance, a testament to his unwavering commitment to showcasing the Loire Valley's incomparable elegance and distinction.
Spain's most legendary wine estate, Vega Sicilia reigns as the undisputed pinnacle of Spanish winemaking and the founding pillar upon which Ribera del Duero's international reputation was built. Established in 1864 by the visionary Don Eloy Lecanda y Chaves in the austere landscape of Castilla y León, the estate has commanded reverence for over 150 years, achieving a near mythical status that transcends the wine world.
Under the devoted stewardship of the Álvarez family since 1982, Vega Sicilia has become synonymous with uncompromising excellence and the marriage of Spanish tradition with timeless elegance. The estate's flagship wine, Único, stands among the world's most coveted and collectible bottles, a testament to Spanish viticulture at its most exalted. Each vintage is a profound meditation on terroir, crafted with obsessive attention to detail and released only when deemed worthy of the Vega Sicilia name.
To encounter Vega Sicilia is to experience the soul of Spanish winemaking, where patience, precision, and an unwavering commitment to perfection have created wines of extraordinary depth and longevity. It remains the ultimate expression of Spain's viticultural heritage.
One of Pomerol's most storied estates, Vieux Château Certan has commanded reverence since 1745, when its name was first recorded. Situated on the legendary Pomerol plateau alongside the most illustrious properties of the Right Bank, this historic estate produces wines of extraordinary refinement and longevity that stand among Bordeaux's greatest treasures.
The Belgian Thienpont family acquired Vieux Château Certan in 1924, beginning a century of devoted stewardship that has elevated the estate to iconic status. Today, Alexandre Thienpont guides the property with the same meticulous attention to detail and respect for tradition that has defined generations of his family's work. The Thienponts' profound understanding of this exceptional terroir has created wines of remarkable consistency and elegance.
Vieux Château Certan's 14 hectares of ancient vines, averaging over 50 years of age, produce wines of singular character. The estate's distinctive blend, with a notable proportion of Cabernet varieties alongside Merlot, yields wines of uncommon structure and aromatic complexity. Celebrated for their silky tannins, vibrant energy, and seemingly infinite aging potential, these are wines of profound elegance that capture the essence of Pomerol at its most exalted.
A son of Santa Barbara, Justin Tyler Willett began Tyler in 2005
at the age of 24 with a few barrels tucked away in the corner of
the Sta. Rita Hills cellar he was working in at the time. It was
there, as the assistant winemaker, he honed his approach to
Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.
Justin – a champion of old vines – has since engaged the
famed historic vineyards of Santa Barbara, including the
region-defining Sanford & Benedict, in the Santa Rita Hills.
Great effort has been made to seek out vineyards of pedigree and
establish close collaboration with those growers.
More recently, Justin and his wife Amanda purchased the
site that would become Tyler’s new Estate Vineyard. They quickly
went to work developing the property, planting 28 acres to
Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Syrah along with an extensive remodel
of the existing ranch house. The Mae Vineyard, in the heart of
the Santa Rita Hills, marks the next chapter for Tyler Winery. -
We will be tasting the new 2021 vintage, along with the other
Vineyard Designate wines from Sta. Rita Hills.
With a firm belief that winemaking starts in the vineyard
and the sincere desire to have minimal impact on the
environment, grapes are farmed organically, handpicked at night,
and sorted by hand at the winery. In the cellar, all lots are
fermented using native yeast in large oak vats, and once dry the
wines are put down to barrel for their elevage. The use of new
oak varies by vineyard, vine age, and vintage and is used in a
way that only complements, never overshadowing the wine. After a
year or so in barrel, the wines are racked, blended, and
returned to the barrel for a few additional months before being
bottled, typically unfined and unfiltered.
Château Petrus, which is located on a plateau in the eastern portion of Pomerol, Bordeaux, gets its name from the Latin version of St. Peter. In 1961, Jean-Pierre Moueix purchased the estate. Today, Jean-Francois Moueix, the son of Jean-Pierre Moueix, and his children, including Jean Moueix, own Petrus. The 28.5 acre vineyard of Petrus is situated at the top of the highest elevation on the Pomerol plateau and is planted to 100% Merlot grapes. The blue clay subsoils of Petrus are what make the wines so special. Petrus is distinctive as its entire vineyard is right on top of the clay, while neighboring vineyards only have a portion of blue clay in their soils. From this unique soil and terroir, Petrus only produces one wine.
Lucien Le Moine is a small House of Grand Crus in Beaune.
Established in 1999, this domaine remains a two person operation
to this day, with Rotem and Mounir Samoua at the helm. Mounir
learned and worked in a Trappist Monastery where he discovered
Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. He studied Viticulture and Oenology
at the ENSAM Montpellier, then spent 6 years working at
different wineries in Burgundy, other areas of France and
California, where he became fascinated by the ‘old way’ of
growing, vinifying and aging wines. One day, he decided to push
everything he saw and experienced to the exteme, with Rotem, and
built a small cellar dedicated to the ideas of purity and
typicity.
Rotem comes from a cheese making family. She learned
Agriculture both at the Technion and the ENESAD in Dijon and
oriented her studies towards wine. At the end of her title she
won a national prize from the French Academy of Agriculture for
a study on the Côte d’Or, then participated in many harvests in
Burgundy and California. She joined Mounir in 1999 and they
started Lucien Le Moine together.
Having studied, lived, and worked in Burgundy for several
years, they got to know many good growers in the region. They
decided that with these relations, the would dedicate their
devotion to quality in a small selected production of Crus. They
only produces only Grands and Premier Crus from Côte d’Or. They
try to have the most beautiful crus in each village, renewing
their selection every year, depending on the vintage. Their
small production and doing everything themselves allows them to
adjust and respond to each cru in each vintage.
Vineyard Brands has history spanning more than 40 years of buying wines from Domaine Ponsot - first from Hippolyte Ponsot, later from his son Jean-Marie, and most recently from Laurent and Rose-Marie. Domaine Ponsot’s history begins in 1872 when William Ponsot purchased a wine estate in Morey-Saint-Denis and set up his home there. His major parcels of land at that time were the Clos des Monts-Luisants and Clos de la Roche. His nephew and godson, Hippolyte Ponsot, took over the domaine in 1920, and in 1932 started bottling his entire harvest at the domaine, a rarity for the time. Eventually estate was passed down to Hippolyte’s son Jean-Marie, and later to Jean-Marie’s children, Laurent and Rose-Marie. Today, Rose-Marie Ponsot is the sole director of the company, seconded by Alexandre Abel. Unfettered by the latest fashions, Domaine Ponsot has always sought to express the richness of Burgundy terroir through natural cultivation practices. Human intervention is limited and only applied to the help that the vine needs. The family’s long tradition of letting nature take the lead work that today the vineyards are in exceptional condition.
Château Haut-Brion’s vineyard is located in the commune of Pessac, just a few miles southwest of Bordeaux’s city center. It belongs to the Pessac-Léognan appellation, to the north of the Graves wine-growing region. The first vines appeared on the gravel hillsides of Haut-Brion in the first century AD. In 1521, Château Haut-Brion became the first Bordeaux vineyard to be named after its terroir, instead of the owner or the parish, making the estate the first luxury wine brand in the world. This led Haut-Brion to earn the rare distinction of Premier Grand Cru Classé (Classified First Growth) in the 1855 classification, the only cru outside the Médoc to receive this prestigious title. The success of Château Haut-Brion’s wines lies in its respect for tradition, its values, its unique expertise acquired over the centuries, and its innovative, modern vision. Through the wines, the estate aims to reveal the quintessence of our exceptional terroirs.
At the beginning of the eighteenth century, Château Latour started to be highly recognized around the world, thanks to the reconquest of the British market and the development of the wine business in Northern Europe. The aristocracy and other wealthy groups of consumers became very enthusiastic about a few great estates, of which Latour was one. And that was how Thomas Jefferson, ambassador of the United States in France, and future President, discovered this wine in 1787. At that time, a cask of Château Latour was already worth twenty times as much as one of ordinary Bordeaux wine. The reputation of Château Latour was consolidated during the 19th century. It was confirmed in 1855, when the government of Napoléon III decided to classify the growths of the Médoc and the Graves for the International Exhibition in Paris: Château Latour was classified as a First Growth. The existing Château was built during this "Golden Age", between 1862 and 1864.
There are hundreds of “climats” in Burgundy identified by name, some of these have always been noted, recognized and praised for their ability to produce the most perfect wines. On the hills that embrace them, they occupy the most favored sites in the heart of the Côte de Beaune and Côte de Nuits, where the soils and weather conditions are the most auspicious. These are the Grands Crus, exceptional vineyards that enjoy vast respect, barely 1% of the surface and less than 1% of Burgundy’s production. Yet these plots are where the worlds benchmark Chardonnay and Pinot Noir wines come from. All of the Domaine’s eight vineyards are Grand Cru. The organically cultivated vineyards lie on well drained slopes facing east and south-east. The average age of the vines is around 44 years. Soil supplements are limited to compost made from crushed vine roots, grape skins and residues from fermentation. To avoid compacting the soil with tractors, horses were re-introduced to cultivate the vineyards of Romanée-Conti and Le Montrachet. Five hectares in La Tâche and Grands Échézeaux are cultivated biodynamically, where the vines are only treated with natural preparations and according to a strict lunar timetable. The yields are extraordinarily low, just one of the reasons Domaine de la Romanée-Conti’s wines are some of the most sought-after in the world. It takes the produce of three vines to produce one bottle of Domaine de la Romanée-Conti.
Champagne Barons de Rothschild was founded in 2003, with their first harvest in 2005 and their first release in 2009. The three branches of the Rothschild family (Lafite-Rothschild, Mouton-Rothschild, and Baron Edmond de Rothschild) came together to produce one of the world’s finest Champagnes. Located in the heart of Champagne, the wines are made almost exclusively from Grand Cru and Premier Cru vineyards.
Chardonnay is the driving force in these great Champagnes. It is the sign of a refined style. Its elaboration is a long and delicate process: following a minimum aging period of 3 years in the cellar, each cuvée has a very low dosage and rests between 6 to 9 months in order to develop maturity and balance. Champagne Barons de Rothschild is the first project where the three Rothschild branches collaborated on a project since 1744 when the dynasty was born.
Vines first appeared on what is now known as the
Mouton-Rothschild estate in the early 18th century. Throughout
the 18th and first half of the 19th century the quality of the
wines increased steadily, save for a short period of decline in
the 1840s. This temporary fall from grace was to cost Mouton its
status as a First Growth wine when the 1855 Classification was
published. Rankings were decided upon by the prices the wines
had been fetching in the market place.
The Rothschild family bought the property in 1853, and its
reputation was rapidly restored. The driving force, however,
proved to be Baron Philippe de Rothschild, who assumed control
in 1922. He revolutionized the running of the estate.
Introducing château-bottling, as early as 1924, and instigating
the practice, after the Second World War, of employing a
different artist each year to design the label. His greatest
achievement was to have Mouton upgraded to 1st Growth Status in
1973, the only change ever to be made to the 1855
Classification. After his death in 1988 the estate passed into
the hands of his daughter, Philippine and since her passing in
2014, it is now in the capable hands of her three
children.
Cliff Lede Vineyards was established in 2002 by Canadian born
Bordeaux enthusiast, Cliff Lede, following the acquisition of a
sixty-acre estate in the Stags Leap District of Napa Valley.
With a focus on producing wines from estate vineyards, Lede
tapped David Abreu, considered the best viticulturist in Napa
Valley, to replant the vineyards. Lede decided to name each
vineyard block after some of his favorite rock songs and
albums—from “My Generation” to “Dark Side of the Moon,” creating
what is known today as the Cliff Lede Vineyards “Rock Blocks.”
In 2005, a state of the art, 25,000 square foot winery and
cave system was etched into a hillside overlooking the estate
vineyards. Not only did Cliff create a beautiful property, he
also assembled an unrivaled team that shares his passion for
quality. Today, Winemaker Christopher Tynan crafts Cabernet
Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc, with the flagship, Poetry
Cabernet Sauvignon, sourced from the steep eastern hillside
portion of the estate. In 2015, Cliff Lede Vineyards achieved
both Napa Green Land and Napa Green Winery certification.
Cliff’s love for creating and building things led to the
purchase of a small winery in the Anderson Valley in 2009.
Breggo Cellars was renamed FEL Wines as an homage to Cliff’s
mother Florence Elsie Lede, who dabbled in home winemaking.
Two years later, the Lede Family acquired the Savoy
Vineyard, a benchmark vineyard for Anderson Valley Pinot Noir
and Chardonnay. The winemaking philosophy at Lede Family Wines
has always been one of minimal intervention that allows the
wines to demonstrate a sense of place. Cliff Lede Vineyards,
Poetry, and FEL Wines form a complementary portfolio of wines
that are consistently exceptional in quality and true to their
source and vintage.
Domaine Marquis d`Angerville consists of 13.5 hectares of vineyards, which includes holdings in no fewer than 8 Volnay 1er crus and smaller holdings in Pommard and Meursault. Pride of place belongs to the 2.90-hectare monopole of Clos Des Ducs in Volnay. This Domaine can trace its roots back to 1507 when its holdings were recognized by royal decree. In 1804, the Baron du Mesnil acquired these vines along with the monopole Clos des Ducs. The baron’s son bequeathed the property in 1888 to his then 15-year-old great-nephew, the Marquis d’Angerville, who later became the grandfather of Guillaume d’Angerville. Guillaume’s father Jacques ran the estate from 1952 until 2003 when his sudden passing made way for Guillaume and his brother-in-law Renaud de Villette, an agronomist who had worked alongside Jacques for fifteen years. The estate was reinvigorated with the addition of viticulturist and winemaker François Duvivier. Among its many accomplishments, Domaine Marquis d’Angerville was one of the first to estate bottle its wine. Guillaume is also the head of Climats de Bourgogne, the organization that successfully lobbied for the vineyards of Burgundy to be recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and which now acts as their steward.
Hugel & Fils, founded in 1639 in picturesque Riquewihr, Alsace, France, is still 100% family owned and managed by its 12th consecutive generation of the family. They are one of the Primum Familiae Vini, a prestigious membership of family owned wineries limited to twelve families. They own 30 hectares of prime sites in Riquewihr, mostly classed as Grand Cru, and planted only with noble Alsace grape varieties. The Hugel family pioneered late-harvest Alsace wines, Vendange Tardive and Sélection de Grains Nobles and drafted the law that governs their production. Born out of respect for these special wines and a determination to guarantee quality and authenticity, the law is the strictest in force in any of the French AOC wine regions.
The name 'Isole e Olena' came about in the 1950s when the De Marchi family purchased and combined two adjoining estates, 'Isole' and 'Olena', each of which dated back hundreds of years. The estate is located in the heart of the Chianti Classico region and The Isola et Olena Estate, run by Paolo de Marchi, is yet another property that has seen a dramatic rise in quality over the last few decades. Paolo's family, originally from Piedmont, purchased the estate in the 1960s. His attention to detail in both the vineyard and the winery was the driving force that turned quality around. The wines have Cepparello at their head, a barrique-aged Sangiovese classified as an IGT - because at the time of its creation in the 1980s a wine comprising 100% Sangiovese could not legally be labelled as Chianti. There is a Chianti Classico and a Vin Santo, as well as some excellent wines from the Collezione de Marchi label, including a Syrah called Eremo, a Cabernet Sauvignon and a Chardonnay.
One of the world's leading family-owned collections of estate vineyards and wineries, Jackson Family Wines planted their first vine in 1974 and has since grown to include 40 individual wineries around the world. They are known for crafting award-winning wines of distinct character and quality, with a focus on viticulture practices, responsible vineyard and natural resource management and meticulous winemaking.
Stephan Asseo, owner and winemaker at L'Aventure Winery, began
making wine in 1982, following his education at L'Ecole
Oenologique de Macon, Burgundy, France. In that same year,
Stephan established Domaine de Courteillac in Bordeaux. He and
his family later purchased Chateau Fleur Cardinal and Chateau
Robin in the Cotes de Castillion, Bordeaux. Over the next 15
years, Stephan developed into an artisan winemaker of fastidious
craftsmanship and gained a reputation as a maverick vigneron.
However, his true desire was to be more innovative than AOC law
would allow. In 1996, this led him, his wife, Beatrice and his
three children, including his daughter Chloé on a quest for a
great terroir, where he could pursue his ideal as a winemaker.
After searching for over a year among the world's great wine
fields, ranging from South Africa to Lebanon, Argentina to Napa,
they found Paso Robles. Stephan and Beatrice immediately "fell
in love" with the unique terroir of west side Paso Robles. The
rolling topography of the Santa Lucia Mountain Range, the deep
calcareous soils, and the maritime influences of the renowned
Templeton Gap all combine to produce a world class wine country,
with the potential to craft some of the world's greatest blends.
It is here, in Paso Robles, that Stephan and his family began
their adventure, "L'Aventure" in 1998.
The spirit of L'Aventure is most evident in Stephan's
"Paso Blends,” such as Optimus and Estate Cuvée. Both wines are
Syrah/ Cabernet Sauvignon/ Petit Verdot blends. In these wines,
as well as in our Rhône blend Côte à Côte, the blending of
premium varietals increases the authenticity, complexity, and
balance of the wines. In this adventurous spirit, we find the
future of Paso Robles wines... great, balanced red
blends.
The Squarano estate is located in the heart of the most
classical Valpolicella, on a gentle hilltop surrounded by
vineyards, cherry and cypress trees. Here the Marchesi Fumanelli
family have been cultivating grapes and producing prestigious
wines since 1470. Built in the seventeenth century by the noble
Fumanelli family one can still admire the inscriptions and
archaeological remains to be seen on the grounds of the villa,
including the vestiges of a temple dedicated to the Goddess
Flora, built by the Romans who planted the first vines over a
thousand years ago.
Since 1998 the ancient cellars, after careful restoration,
host once again the oak barrels for the ageing of the classical
Valpolicella wines. Fumanelli is one of the region’s largest and
most historic family owned wineries, having 78 acres of
exclusively estate grown fruit, within the walls of their
ancient property, eight miles from Verona. As Amarone
specialists, they deftly combine traditional and modern
techniques to produce authentic expressions of their distinctive
terroir.
In 1834, a full 100 years before the introduction of the A.O.C.
system, Antoine Jaboulet began to transform a sleepy region into
one of the most important quality winegrowing terroirs in the
world. Since that time, Paul Jaboulet Aîné has become the
benchmark in the Northern Rhône, with the iconic Hermitage ‘La
Chapelle’ being responsible for some of the greatest wines ever
produced.
Ten years ago, the Frey family purchased this historic
property and committed tremendous effort and resources to
improve upon the already legendary estate. They immediately
started converting the estate vineyards to biodynamic principles
and encouraging sustainable practices from every family grower
they work with. With each successive vintage the purifying
effects of these natural agricultural improvements can be felt
and tasted. This is one of France’s finest estates, the crown
jewel of the Rhône Valley. Oenologist and proprietor Caroline
Frey is producing the authentic standard for quality Syrah
across the Northern Rhône.
In its 160 years of history, Pol Roger has carved out one of the best reputations in the circle of leading Champagne brands. For five generations, the descendants have been equally demanding and loyal to the winemaking strategies initiated from the very beginning. Located in the town of Epernay, the winery originated with Pol Roger in 1831, beginning as a wholesaler of wine. The prestigious house is a member of the Primum Familiae Vini and holds the Royal Warrant as purveyors of Champagne to Queen Elizabeth II.
In 1999, Paolo De Marchi and his son Luca began laying the
foundation to bring back the original family cellars in Lessona.
With the goal of bringing the legendary wines of northern
Piedmont back into the limelight. The first vintage 2004 was
released in 2006. Most of the vines owned by Proprietà Sperino
are in the historic district of Ori (meaning ‘gold’ in Italian),
so-called for its bright yellow, deep marine sands
characterizing the soil on the sunny pre-alpine plateau of
Orolungo.
Proprietà Sperino now counts eight hectares of vines, at
the foot of Monte Rosa. Six are in Lessona, split between the
Belvedere, Ormeggio, Castagnola, Rava and Covà vineyards. The
other two and a half make up the Madonna degli Angeli vineyard
around the hamlet of Forte, in Bramaterra country. The mineral
rich sands of this area are unique to the Piedmont. The cellars
are located in the old castle of Lessona, dating back over 200
years. This may be one of the most important and historical wine
restoration projects in Italy today.
The creation of Pym-Rae Tesseron Estate began with the purchase
of the property by Alfred Tesseron and Melanie Tesseron of
Pontet Canet in Pauillac in January 2016. Prior to that, the
property was better known as the Robin Williams Napa Valley
vineyard and estate. The name Pym-Rae is an homage to the late
Robin Williams as that was the name Robin Williams gave to the
vineyards. The inspiration behind the odd-sounding Pym-Rae is
quite simple. It combines the middle names of Robin William’s 2
eldest children, Zachary Pym Williams, and Zelda Rae Williams.
The Pym-Rae vineyard is planted to 75% Cabernet Sauvignon,
18% Merlot, and 7% Cabernet Franc. The Pym-Rae vineyard
currently includes slightly more than 18.5 acres cultivated with
vines that are planted high up on Mt. Veeder with an elevation
that is close to 1,500 feet.
Etienne de Montille and Brian Sieve of Burgundy and Rodolphe Peters of Champagne have joined forces in this brand-new project. Located in the Santa Rita Hills of California, Racines is a combination of individual experiences coming together to hand craft small lots of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir with purity and transparency. The heart of this estate is the former Wenzlau property, which they now control via a long-term lease.
Maison Remoissenet Père et Fils has more than a century of
winemaking history in Burgundy, France and is one of Beaune's
wealthiest domaines. The estate was established in 1877, at a
14th-Century building in Beaune and is best known for its grand
and premier Cru Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Remoissenet Père et
Fils owns 13 hectares (32 acres) of vineyard land in Beaune and
Gevrey-Chambertin. The estate also purchases fruit from growers,
but by quality, not quantity, with bonuses offered where quality
exceeds expectations. Grand cru wines, both white and red, can
see up to 100 percent new French oak in the aging process, and
reds are neither fined nor filtered.
In 2005, Maison Remoissenet Père et Fils sold to a group
including New York financier Edward Millstein, Toronto's Todd
Halpern, and Maison Louis Jadot, when Roland Remoissenet retired
at 75 years old. The sale included the firm, vineyards, famed
cellar and everything in it, including old vintages of grand cru
wines such as Montrachet and Bâtard-Montrachet. Former president
of Louis Jadot, Bernard Répolt, heads the consortium of owners
of Remoissenet Père et Fils and has expanded production and
received positive press for the heightened quality of wines
produced.
Silver Oak began over a handshake between two friends with a
bold vision: focus on one varietal, Cabernet Sauvignon, aged
exclusively in American oak and worthy of cellaring for decades
to come. Raymond Twomey Duncan, a Colorado entrepreneur who
began investing in California vineyards in the late 1960s, and
Justin Meyer, a winemaker and former Christian Brother, began in
a Napa Valley dairy barn in 1972, producing only 1,100 cases of
their inaugural vintage. Over the next two decades, Silver Oak
grew in popularity. Our Napa Valley and Alexander Valley
Cabernets sold quickly upon their release from the winery and
became a sought-after staple on restaurant wine lists around the
country.
After selecting Daniel Baron to succeed him as winemaker
in 1994, Justin retired, selling his share of Silver Oak to the
Duncan family in 2001. With David R. Duncan serving as President
and CEO and Tim Duncan as Executive Vice President, the Duncan
family continues to operate the winery to this day. In 2006, a
fire destroyed our historic Oakville winery. It was a difficult
and emotional event; but in hindsight, a blessing in disguise.
When we regrouped on the morning of the fire, we knew we had to
rebuild, and it wasn’t long before the excitement of a new,
state-of-the-art winery overcame our sense of loss. Today, we
are applying this experience from our LEED Platinum Oakville
winery toward a new winery in the Alexander Valley. Set amidst
70 acres of estate vineyards along the rolling foothills of the
Mayacamas Mountains, our new Alexander Valley winery will push
industry design and innovation standards through alternative
energy sources, innovative water reuse systems and reclaimed
building materials.
Snowden Vineyards is dedicated to the creation of classically styled, terroir-driven wines reflecting the unique heritage and character of their site. The Snowden family came to the property in 1955 – originally a 160-acre homestead. The family has always been determined to preserve and protect the natural environment of the ranch. To maintain a balanced and healthy ecosystem within the vineyards, they utilize organic farming practices and, in the cellar, make their wines with as little intervention as possible to ensure they honestly reflect terroir, vintage and variety. Winemaker Diana Snowden Seysses (also winemaker at Burgundy's iconic Domaine Dujac), from the family’s third generation as winegrowers, uses her new and old-world winemaking experience to produce elegant, balanced, wines showcasing the nuances of the site.
Gently push open the door of the Tesseron home in Châteauneuf-sur-Charente to discover the family treasure: a unique collection of the finest cognacs. This treasure trove dates back to the nineteenth century when Abel Tesseron acquired this property and began his collection of rare and priceless cognacs. A tradition continued by his son and grandson Alfred, who runs the business today and who also owns the prestigious Château Pontet-Canet, a Pauillac Classified Growth in 1855.
Abel Tesseron created his own cognac company in 1905, relying at the time on two separate estates, one situated in the Grande Champagne area (Boneuil) and the other in Petite Champagne (Saint-Surin). He adopted a long-term policy of building up stocks of eaux-de-vie, carefully conserved in a twelfth century crypt. These old and rare treasures, besides achieving a great reputation amongst a small circle of connoisseurs, have always been sought after by the big cognac merchants, assured of the fine quality of the eaux-de-vie they would use to complete their blends.