Italy

We discovered the wines of Azienda Agricola Crissante Alessandria on our trip to Piedmont in 2022 and this was one of the highlights, we were even fortunate to stay in the family’s fantastic guesthouse overlooking the village of La Morra. The estate was established in 1958 and is today overseen by Alberto Crissante who joined his father and uncle in 2007. He has since added a softness to the wines, producing a style of Barolo which is lighter, almost Pinot Noir-esque, characterised by freshness and fine-grained, silky tannins. They can be enjoyed much younger that old school Barolos which can be austere and overly tannic in their youth. As well as Nebbiolo, plantings also include other classic Langhe grape varieties Barbera and Dolcetto, which are spread over six hectares in total. The top Barolo wines Roggeri, Capalot and Galina are from ‘cru’ vineyards surrounding the village, the Roggeri and Capalot vines were planted at the beginning in the 1950s, whereas Capalot came much later in 2014. After macerating and fermenting in stainless tanks for two weeks, these impressive wines spend 24 months ageing in large Slavonian oak botti. There are also smaller barriques which complement traditional methods and add a modern touch, the oak element is always balanced and seamlessly integrated. What an exciting discovery this was, the future is bright for Alberto and his family.

Antoniolo Società Agricola is a traditional, family-run estate in Alto Piemonte. It was established back in 1948 by Rosella and Mario Antoniolo, their focus was on achieving the highest quality in the vineyard and producing single vineyard wines with maximum expression of terroir. This was revolutionary at the time when the Gattinara denomination did not even exist yet. The estate is today run by sister and brother Lorella and Alberto. We were delighted to visit them in April 2022, Lorella took us up the steep hillside to study some of their top vineyard sites which include San Francesco and monopole Osso San Grato (pictured). The wines are classified as Gattinara Riserva, fermentation occurs spontaneously in concrete tanks with minimal use of SO2, followed by a minimum of three years ageing in large Botti barrels in underground cellars, plus one year in bottle before release. They are enjoyable young yet possess the kind of concentration and power associated with traditional Barolos. There are 14 hectares under vine in total, grown on predominantly volcanic soils, this coupled with low PH levels and proximity to the Alps gifts the wines elegance, purity and added freshness. Antoniolo is a reference in Gattinara and a key addition to our portfolio for all Nebbiolo lovers!

Gianfranco Soldera will always be one of Italy’s most respected and admired winemakers. Each bottle is highly sought-after, expressing the terroir of Montalcino in a very unique way. The Sangiovese grapes are the subject of much scientific study and analysis to ensure they are perfectly healthy from budburst through to harvest. IGT Soldera has become a cult wine since separating from the Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, it is one of the most prized additions to Caskadia’s portfolio and is available only in limited quantities.

Emidio Pepe is a true pioneer of biodynamic viticulture in the Abruzzo region, located in the beautiful hills above the Adriatic Sea

Bruno Giacosa was one of the most recognized producers in Piedmont and formed part of a generation responsible for putting the region’s wines on the world map. He was a perfectionist, who sought to produce age-worthy, rich wines, with many layers of complexity. He was also one of the first in the region to age his wines in French oak instead of Slavonian. Bruno Giacosa, who passed away in early 2018, is considered one of the all-time icons of Italian wine producers. His estate; Azienda Agricola Falletto is now in the hands of his daughter, Bruna Giacosa. Our portfolio includes such wines as Dolcetto d’Alba, Barbaresco Asili, Barolo Falletto and Barolo Falletto Le Rocche Riserva.

When it comes to great Italian wine producers, the name Quintarelli is one of the first that comes to mind. Giuseppe Quintarelli’s fame stems from his legendary Amarone della Valpolicella, Veneto’s most emblematic wine made from partially dried grapes (a method known as ‘appassimento’). The Azienda Agrícola is located in the northern part of Verona, and whilst Giuseppe Quintarelli sadly passed away in 2012, his legacy lives on. His other wines not to be missed include: Valpolicella Classico DOC and IGP Bianco Secco, a blend of local and international white varieties.

Dal Forno Romano is a family-run Azienda Agrícola famous for producing some of the finest examples of Valpolicella Superiore and Amarone della Valpolicella

Castello Dei Rampolla has had the same owners since 1739, however it was not until the arrival of Alceo and Livia in 1965 that the estate began to focus on its vineyards and the production of fine wines. The estate has never looked back; two generations have adopted biodynamic principles, whilst planting varieties other than Sangiovese, such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. The great wines of Castello Dei Rampolla include Chianti Classico, IGP Sammarco (Cabernet Sauvignon / Sangiovese / Merlot) and IGP Vigna D’Alceo (Cabernet Sauvignon / Petit Verdot).

Thanks to Tuscany’s warm Mediterranean climate, the village of Bolgheri enjoys exceptional grape-growing conditions. Azienda Agrícola Le Macchiole is one of the few estates in Tuscany which produces a wine from 100% Syrah. It is named Scrio which comes from the Tuscan dialect meaning ‘pure heart’. Messorio, on the other hand, is 100% Merlot, and is considered one of the finest monovarietals in Italy, the name means `wheat harvest´ in ancient Tuscan. Le Macchiole’s range also includes the fantastic Bolgheri Rosso, Paleo Rosso (Cabernet Franc) and Paleo Blanco (Chardonnay / Sauvignon Blanc) .

Podere San Giuseppe is an estate just south of Montalcino that is surrounded by the rolling hills of Tuscany: a stunning setting for stunning wines. Stella di Campalto’s family acquired the estate in 1992, and she has got to know each of her vineyards intimately so as to extract the best possible expression from the different soils. With only 5.5 hectares of vines, Stella’s production is artisanal and limited, gaining organic certification in 1996. Her two wines, Rosso di Montalcino and Brunello di Montalcino, both undergo an extended period of ageing before she deems them ready for release; this includes up to three years in bottle! Visiting Podere San Giuseppe is a memorable experience, including a 15-metre-deep cellar, where the temperature is maintained at a constant, natural level during the summer months. We were instantly seduced by these ethereal wines which are some of the purest expressions of Sangiovese we have experienced.