our PRODUCERS
Common traits overshadow the differences. The farms we work with value character, nature, and truth. They work land with knowledge from tradition and decision-making filtered through 1,000s of hours among their vines, learning up close.
Our portfolio strives to be deep, not broad. The variations that abound in wines produced by hand between one farmer and the next are key to our learning process and are a big part of where the fun is in this endeavor.
We share an emotional, at times irrational bond with these people and their wines. We care about their success, and see value in who they are and what they do. But mostly it’s in the bottle: our love comes from the wine, the same experience you have tasting the wines. So maybe your feelings will be close to the same.
Northwest Italy
Azelia
Piedmont, Italy
Who: Luigi, Lorella & Lorenzo Scavino
Where: Montelupo Albese, Castiglione Falletto & Serralunga d’Alba
What grapes: Dolcetto, Barbera, Nebbiolo
Key facts: A fifth generation winery, Azelia produces highly sought after wines of the Langhe with extreme precision at every step of the production.
Borgo Moncalvo
Piedmont, Italy
Who: Andrea and Luca Elegir and their parents
Where: Loazzolo, possibly the smallest DOC in Italy, south of Canelli
What grapes: Moscato, Brachetto, Barbera, Dolcetto, Pinot Noir, Cortese
Key facts: Borgo Moncalvo power their estate entirely with solar panels, and use solar energy for their hot water. Many of their vines were planted in the 1920’s.
Bruno Rocca
Who: Francesco Bruno and children, Luisa and Francesco
Where: Barbaresco, Cuneo (Piemonte, Italy)
What grapes: Nebbiolo, Chardonnay, Barbera
Key facts: The Rocca family are ascending the quality-laden ranks of Barbaresco viticulture. Smart vineyard purchases, meticulous farming, and the energy of two generations working together with love for their homeland are driving this remarkable push to the summit.
Carussin
Piedmont, Italy
Who: Bruna Ferro and her sons Matteo and Luca
Where: San Marzano Oliveto, south of Asti, north of Canelli
What grapes: Barbera, Carica l’Asino, Dolcetto, Grignolino, Nebbiolo, Moscato
Key facts: Certified-organic, with biodynamic tendencies. They make beer. They have donkeys.
Cantine Crosio
Piedmont, Italy
Who: Roberto Crosio
Where: Candiá Canavese
What grapes: Erbaluce, Nebbiolo, Barbera, Merlot
Key facts: A terroir shaped by glacial debris, beautiful lakes, and dramatic Alpine backdrops, Roberto cares for his vines by hand, without the use of herbicides
Cascina Barisel
Piedmont, Italy
Who: Franco Penna
Where: Canelli
What grapes: Dolcetto, Barbera, Favorita, Moscato
Key facts: No chemical fertilizers or insecticides are used on this five-hectare family estate. A south facing three-hectare calcium-rich monopole sits immediately behind his cellar and is the source of most of Barisel’s grapes.
dacapo
Piedmont, Italy
Who: Renata Bonacina
Where: Agliano Terme
What grapes: Barbera, Ruche, Pinot Noir, Nebbiolo, Grignolino, Chardonnay (for sparkling wine)
Key facts: Organic. Da capo means from the top. This certified organic and certified vegan estate uses two farms to grow outstanding indigenous grapes.
Giovanni Almondo
Piedmont, Italy
Who: Domenico Almondo with his sons Federico & Stefano
Where: Montà, Roero
What grapes: Arneis, Riesling, Nebbiolo, Freisa, Barbera
Key facts: The Almondo Family has a deeply rooted history in the region dating in the 14th century, but their attitude towards winemaking is anything but antiquated.
La Casaccia
Piedmont, Italy
Who: Giovanni & Elena Rava, daughter Margherita & son Marcello
Where: Cella Monte, just south of the Po River
What grapes: Barbera, Grignolino, Freisa, Chardonnay, Pinot Nero
Key facts: Certified organic. The underground cellar of this estate is entirely carved into sedimentary “Pietra da Cantoni” stone, which you see above ground in all of Cella Monte’s buildings.
La Mesma
Piedmont, Italy
Who: Paola, Francesca and Anna Rosina
Where: Gavi (Piedmont, Italy)
What grapes: Cortese
Key fact: Three sisters with a dedication to biodiversity and making award winning white wine.
Oltretorrente
Piedmont, Italy
Who: Chiara Penati and Michele Conoscente
Where: Paderna, near Tortona
What grapes: Timorasso, Cortese, Barbera, Dolcetto
Key facts: A young wine-obsessed couple from Milan and their two kids are starting a new organic farm in sleepy Paderna. So far the results are really exciting!
Saccoletto
Piedmont, Italy
Who: Daniele Saccoletto
Where: San Giorgio Monferrato, close to Casale
What grapes: Grignolino, Barbera, Freisa, Nebbiolo, Syrah
Key facts: Certified organic by ecocert Italy since 2004, certified organic grapes since 2000. Low sulfur (40mg/l roughly). Also no enzymes, added yeasts, no animal gelatin, harvest in 3 successive passes in 14kg baskets.
Vallana
Piedmont, Italy
Who: Giuseppina Vallana and her children Marina, Miriam and Francis
Where: Maggiora, Novara, Alto Piemonte
What grapes: Spanna (Nebbiolo) Vespolina, Barbera
Key facts: The Vallana family name first shows up in connection to winemaking in Alto Piemonte in 1787. Five generations of the family have made wine at the present estate.
North Central Italy
Alberici
Emilia-Romagna, Italy
Who: Amilcare Alberici and his daughter Arianna Alberici
Where: Boretto, Po Valley, Reggio Emilia
What grapes: Lambrusco Salomino, Ancellota, Lambrusco di Fogarina, Nostrano
Key facts: Lambrusco di Fogarina is a traditional grape saved from extinction by the work of this estate.
Alla Costiera
Veneto, Italy
Who: Filippo Gamba
Where: Vo’ Euganeo, Padova
What grapes: Friulano, Moscato Giallo, Garganega, Serprino, Raboso
Key facts: Filippo does it all by himself; 7ha of certified organic farm
La Cappuccina
Veneto, Italy
Who: Sisto, Elena, and Pietro Tessari
Where: Monteforte d’Alpone (Veneto, Italy)
What grapes: Garganega, Trebbiano di Soave, Pinot Grigio
Key facts: Certified organic since 1985. The Tessari family use solar panels to power their entire production facility.
Piccinin
Veneto, Italy
Who: Daniele and Camilla Piccinin
Where: Lessinia
What grapes: Durella, Corvina, Molinara, Rondinella, Cabernet, Merlot, Pinot Nero
Key facts: Daniele is a former chef who makes lively, engaging wine using natural methods. This estate specializes in Durella, a very local white grape.
Tenuta degli Ultimi
Veneto, Italy
Who: Sebastiano Ricci
Where: Conegliano, Treviso
What grapes: Glera (Prosecco), Merlot
Key facts: Alpine glacier water seeps out of the rocks and provides natural irrigation to these vineyards in the hills just outside Conegliano
NORTHEAST ITALY
Ferlat
Friuli Venezia Giulia, Italy
Who: Moreno Ferlat & Federica Tabacchi
Where: Cormons
What grapes: Ribolla Gialla, Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon, Friulano, Pinot Bianco, Chardonnay, Malvasia Istriana, Moscato Giallo, Cabernet Franc, Merlot,
Key facts: Two cool ‘kids’ making natural and distinct wines in the renowned DOC Friuli Isonzo. Farming Organically and making wine naturally, these wines are aromatic and full of the flavors of the region.
Nicolini
Friuli Venezia-Giulia, Italy
Who: Giorgio & Rossana Nicolini and their son Eugenio Nicolini
Where: Muggia
What grapes: Malvasia, Borgogna Nera, Piccola Nera, Vitovska
Key facts: This is the smallest estate we import. Two hectares (one planted,) no outside workers, land inherited from grandparents. Fidelity to old methods and indigenous grapes is the guiding principle at Nicolini.
Thurnhof
Alto Adige, Italy
Who: Andreas Berger
Where: Bolzano, Bozen, South Tyrol
What grapes: Sauvignon, Vernatsch, Lagrein
Key facts: This is a 3.5 hectare, 6th-generation family estate farming high mountain vines outside Bolzano.
Visintini
Friuli Venezia-Giulia, Italy
Who: Andrea, Cinzia, Palmira and Oliviero Visintini
Where: Corno di Rosazzo, Udine
What grapes: Friulano, Ribolla Gialla, Picolit, Franconia, Sauvignon Blanc…
Key facts: The Visintini estate, once the location for the Castle of Gramogliano, has been in the family since 1884
Central Italy
Annesanti
Umbria, Italy
Who: Francesco Annesanti
Where: Arrone, Valnerina
What grapes: Grechetto, Malvasia, Trebbiano Toscano, Ancient Local Trebbiano Variety, Pecorino, Barbera, Merlot, Sangiovese, Pinot Nero
Key facts: Like almost all peasant properties of the past, which aimed at self-sufficiency, it incorporates land planted with olive trees, arable land for the production of cereals and legumes and vineyards.
Antonelli
Umbria, Italy
Who: Filippo Antonelli
Where: Montefalco
What grapes: Grechetto, Trebbiano Spoletino, Sangiovese & Sagrantino
Key facts: a 90 hectare family estate since 1881 completely dedicated to the organic production of vines (50 hectares) and olives (10 hectares)
Caparsa
Tuscany, Italy
Who: Paolo Cianferoni
Where: Radda in Chianti
What grapes: Sangiovese, Colorino, Canaiolo, Trebbiano, Malvasia
Key facts: This certified-organic (by CCPB) one-man estate makes compelling wine from old vines in the heart of Chianti Classico, with very little manipulation or modern technology.
Castello di Torre in Pietra
Lazio Coast, Italy
Who: Filippo Antonelli & Lorenzo Majnoni
Where: Torrimpietra, Roma
What grapes: Vermentino, Fiano, Malvasia Puntinata, Chardonnay, Trebbiano, Sangiovese, Montepulciano, Cesanese, Syrah and Merlot
Key facts: The winery is located in the medieval village of Torre in Pietra Castle, where the existence of vineyards is documented since the sixteenth century, when the fund belonged to the family Peretti of Pope Sixtus V.
Centorame
Abruzzo, Italy
Who: Lamberto Vannuci
Where: Casole di Atri
What grapes: Trebbiano, Montepulciano, Pecorino
Key facts: This 12-hectare organic estate uses massive solar panel towers to create all its energy needs and more.
Corzano e Paterno
Tuscany, Italy
Who: Arianna Gelpke and Aljoscha Goldschmidt
Where: Frazione San Pancrazio, north of Poggibonsi, west of Greve
What grapes: Sangiovese, Canaiolo, Cabernet, a little Merlot, Trebbiano, Malvasia, Semillon, Petit Manseng, Chardonnay
Key facts: This 40-year-old working family farm makes unpasteurized sheep’s milk cheese, olive oil and wine from fields they own on two sides of a valley. The place is an inspiring integration of man and nature.
Clivo Altura
Tuscany, Italy
Who: William Goldschmidt
Where: Vagliagli, the heart of Chianti Classico (Toscana, Italy)
What grapes: Sangiovese
Key facts: In William’s words, “the Sangiovese grapes for La Debuttante are from a single 0,6 ha vineyard in the subregion of Panzano in Chianti Classico. The nice thing about this vineyard is that I'm doing all the work on it so I can manage it organically and manage the crop as I want.”
Fattoria Castellina
Tuscany, Italy
Who: Maria Elisabetta Mainardi
Where: Capraia e Limite, Chianti Montalbano
What grapes: Primarily Sangiovese, with Vermentino and small amounts of French Grapes
Key facts: This certified-organic (by IMC) winery uses biodynamic methods including plowing with a horse, and farm fields planted in the old albarello trellising method.
De Sanctis
Lazio, Italy
Who: Luigi and Francesco De Sanctis
Where: Frascati, Lazio
What grapes: Malvasia Puntinata, Malvasia di Candia, Trebbiano
Key facts: This certified-organic family farm in the suburbs of Rome uses biomass to power its cellar and winery.
Pian dell’Orino
Tuscany, Italy
Who: Caroline Pobitzer and Jan Hendrik Erbach
Where: Montalcino
What grapes: Sangiovese is the only cultivated grape variety, using 22 clones.
Key facts: Pian dell’Orino stretches on 11.5 ha, 5.8 ha of which are covered by the vineyard, 1.5 ha by olive trees, 0.5 ha by the garden, and over 3.5 ha by forest.
Pietralta
Tuscany, Italy
Who: Pierfranca Lattuada
Where: Gambassi Terme, close to San Gimignano
What grapes: Sangiovese, Trebbiano, Malvasia, Canaiolo, Colorino
Key facts: Of 37 hectares total, only 5ha are vineyard and 1ha olive grove; the rest is left to nature. Pietralta have a sustainable, integrated approach to farming. The cellar is in a renovated 13th century building.
Pruneto
Tuscany, Italy
Who: Riccardo Lanza
Where: Radda in Chianti
What grapes: Sangiovese
Key facts: One person. Two fields. 3.5 hectares. Two wines (Chianti Classico and Riserva.) 32 years of labor and dedication.
Torre dei Beati
Abruzzo, Italy
Who: Fausto Albanesi
Where: Loreto Aprutino
What grapes: Montepulciano, Trebbiano, Pecorino
Key facts: This certified-organic family owned and operated estate grows indigenous Abruzzese grapes.
southern italy
Cantina Morone
Campania, Italy
Who: Giovanni & Eleonora Morone
Where: Guardia Sanframondi
What grapes: Falanghina, Piedirosso, Fiano, Sangiovese
Key facts: This certified-organic family farm is run by siblings with a dedication to indigenous grapes of their inland Campania home.
Hesperia
Campania, Italy
Who: Anna Della Porta & Peppino Della Porta
Where: Castel Campagnano
What grapes: Pallagrello bianco, Fiano, Pallagrello black, Camaiola plus more
Key facts: A family history that has cultivated a passion for wine for generations. Tradition, competence and passion. These are the elements that contribute to giving character and strength to a project that is the result of the continuity and bond that the Della Porta family has always had with the art of wine.
Masseria Starnavi
Campania, Italy
Who: Luigi Ferrara
Where: Galluccio, Caserta (Campania, Italy)
What grapes: Aglianico, Piedirosso, Falanghina
Key fact: Making wine and growing chestnuts on the side of an ancient volcano.
Morella
Puglia, Italy
Who: Lisa Gilbee
Where: Manduria
What grapes: Primitivo, Negroamaro, Fiano, Viognier, small amounts of Petite Verdot, Cabernet, Malbec
Key facts: This biodynamic estate is farming very old bush vine Primitivo in an effort to preserve and grow interest in a disappearing form of local agriculture.
Paolo Petrilli
Puglia, Italy
Who: Paolo Petrilli
Where: Lucera
What grapes: Nero d'Troia, Aglianico, Montepulciano, Sangiovese, Bombino Bianco
Key facts: This certified organic wine and tomato estate is a great place to discover the character of Nero d'Troia.
Plantamura
Puglia, Italy
Who: Mariangela Plantamura
Where: Gioia del Colle
What grapes: Primitivo
Key facts: A certified organic small family farm working with old vines.
Poggio di Bortolone
Sicily, Italy
Who: Pierluigi Cosenza
Where: Vittoria
What grapes: Frappato, Nero d’Avola
Key facts: This third-generation family estate on the banks of the Para Para river was one of the original five wineries of the Cerasuolo di Vittoria DOCG.
Germany & Austria
Hofgut Falkenstein
Mosel, Germany
Who: Erich Weber and his son Johannes Weber
Where: Konz Niedermennig
What grapes: Riesling, Spätburgunder, Weissburgunder
How many bottles: not enough
Key facts: the Saar-Mosel-Ruwer region once had many productive vineyards. Erich Weber is working hard to bring some of them back to life.
Minkowitsch
Weinviertel, Austria
Who: Martin and Blandine Minkowitsch
Where: Mannersdorf, Weinviertel
What grapes: Gruner Veltliner
Key facts: A 11-hectare, 15th generation family farm on the border of Slovakia. Very traditional cellar work and healthy farming.
france
Bott Frères
Ribeauvillé, Alsace
Who: Nicole Bott and Gladys Wintermantel
What grapes: Sylvaner, Pinot Blanc, Muscat, Riesling, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir
Key facts: Established in 1835, Bott-Freres is a 7th generation family-owned and operated winery. Average vine age at the domaine is 35 years. On 17ha of land, the winery grows all seven traditional varieties for the region.
Clos Maïa
Languedoc, France
Who: Géraldine Laval
Where: La Vacquerie-et-Saint-Martin-de-Castries, Les Terrasses du Larzac
What grapes: Chenin Blanc, Roussanne, Terret Bourret, Grenache Gris, Grenache, Syrah, Carignan, Cinsault, Oeillade, Terret Bourret Noir, Aramon
Key facts: Géraldine has 5.4 hectares ( 4ha to red & 1.4ha to white ) in the Terrasses du Larzac appellation which she maintains without any chemical treatments in order to obtain an organic certification. She believes in making wine with as little winemaker intervention as possible.
Domaine du Pas de l’Escalette
Languedoc, France
Who: Delphine Rousseau and Julien Zernott
Where: Poujols, Les Terrasses du Larzac
What grapes: Grenache Blanc, Carignan Blanc, Grenache Gris, Terret Bourret, Grenache, Cinsault, Carignan, Syrah, Mourvedre
Key facts: Delphine and Julien own 35 hectares of land with about 20 hectares planted to vines. The vineyards are spread over 50 terraces on either side of the valley of Pegairolles de l’escalette and Lauroux. All vines on the property are head trained, are propagated using Selection Massale and range in age from newly planted to 80 years old.
Domaines des Vignes du Paradis
Beaujolais, France
Who: Pascal Durand
Where: Saint-Amour-Bellevue, Beaujolais, France
What grapes: Gamay & Chardonnay
Key facts: For five generations (since 1864), Pascal’s family, winegrowers from father to son, has been established in Saint-Amour-Bellevue at the Lieu-dit “En Paradis”. This human-sized estate is made up of 5 ha of vines, including 3.5 ha in AOP Saint-Amour, 1 ha in AOP Beaujolais-Villages and 0.5 ha in AOP Bourgogne Blanc.
Joé Chandellier
Languedoc, France
Where: St. Côme à Mauréjols
What grapes: Carignan, Aramon, Grenache, Syrah
Key fact: A young and passionate winemaker with 5.5 hectares in the Gard. Farmed organically with the careful attention of a man with the purpose to produce natural wines of character that taste of their terrior.
J.M. Goulard
Prouilly, Champagne
Who: Damien Goulard
What grapes: Pinot Meunier, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay
Key facts: Eight-hectare estate that makes 65,000-75,000 bottles of Champagne annually. Damien is a fourth-generation winemaker.
Josmeyer
Alsace, France
Who: Céline and Isabelle Meyer
Where: Wintzenheim near Colmar (Alsace, France)
What grapes: Riesling, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, Gewurztraminer, Sylvaner, Muscat, Pinot Noir, Pinot Auxerrois
Key fact: Pure expressions of wine, sky, earth and esprit
Website: https://www.domaine-josmeyer.com
Les Maisons Brûlées
Loire Valley, France
Who: Paul and Corinne Gillet
Where: Pouillé
What grapes: Sauvignon Blanc, Menu Pineau, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Gamay, Côt, Cabernet Franc, Pineau d’Aunis
Key facts: Les Maison Brûlées, founded by Michel & Beatrice Augé, was one of the very first Biodynamic cooperatives in France. Now owned by Paul & Corinne Gillet, it has been a Certified Biodynamic farm for over 30 years.
Mas Haut Buis
Languedoc, France
Who: Olivier Jeantet
Where: La Vacquerie, Larzac, Languedoc, France
What grapes: Grenache, Carignan, Syrah, old Merlot, Chardonnay, Roussanne, Grenache Blanc
How many bottles: ±30,000
Key facts: Olivier has 14-hectares spanning over a dozen individual plots throughout the Larzac highlands. Most his vines are over 70 years old.
Les Chemins de Bassac
Languedoc, France
Who: Bruno Triguero and Thama Sakuma.
Where: Puimisson, Côtes de Thongue
What grapes: Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre, Pinot Noir, Roussanne, Viognier
How many bottles: 80,000
Key facts: This 19th century winery and NOP certified organic 17 hectare farm has pivoted from quantity to quality wine production over the last two generations.