Aldo Conterno is known as the “King of Barolo” in Italy. Poderi Aldo Conterno is situated in Monforte d'Alba on the prized Bussia Soprano vineyard, in the heart of the Barolo region.  The Conterno family has been producing the great Piemontese wines for more than five generations.  Aldo left his legendary brother at his father's cellar in 1969 to pursue his own winemaking interests and reputation, creating the wines of Poderi Aldo Conterno in the "Favot" cellar.

Aided by his three sons Franco, Stefano and Giacomo Aldo tends 25 ha of vines which for the most part surround the family home. This vineyard sits at an altitude of around 400 m, with a terroir of calcareous marl alternating with layers of sand. There are also three Cru vineyards on the famed Bussia slope, one of the jewels of the Barolo vineyards. These three are Romirasco, Cicala and Colonnello, south and southwest facing slopes on clay-calcareous soils, peppered with elements of iron, and the fruit harvested here gives rise to the estate's three single vineyard flagship wines, although they may also be blended into a single bottling depending on the quality of the vintage.

The Antinori family has been making wine for over six hundred years. Throughout its long history, spanning 26 generations, the family has always personally managed the business making innovative, sometimes courageous choices, always with unwavering respect for tradition and the land.
Today, Marchesi Piero Antinori directs the long-lived family vision, and his three daughters participate in various activities throughout the firm.  One of Italy's most dynamic and visionary producers of fine wines, with estates concentrated in the finest and highly progressive viticultural areas of Tuscany and Umbria, Antinori has also played an important role in preserving Italy's enological traditions. 

As well as the family's traditional heritage of estates in Tuscany and Umbria, investments have been made over time in other areas highly suited to quality wine production, in Italy and abroad, in a quest to promote new terroirs, rich in wine growing potential.

Because of the geological make-up of its hills and the microclimate of the surroundings Montalcino is one of the oldest and most perfect wine growing regions of Italy. As far back as the XVI century Frà Leandro Alberti said that Montalcino was “famous for the good wines they grow on these delightful hills”. International fame arrived with Brunello di Montalcino, which was created at the end of the XIX century by Ferruccio Biondi Santi. Building on the experience of his grandfather Clemente Santi, who was an authority in agricultural issues of the Sienese region and a skilful viticulturist, and driven by his own intuition, he selected a particular clone of the Sangiovese grape (the Sangiovese Grosso) on his estate “Greppo”. These grapes, purely vinified, were the beginning of a new class of Tuscan wines. The wines are still today made in an old-school style where ageing is required to fully enjoy them.

Founded in 1825, Bourgognes Faiveley is one of the largest family-owned Domaines in Burgundy. Over the course of seven generations, the Faiveley family has carefully expanded their vineyard ownership to a total of 120 hectares spread over 15 villages and extending from the Côte de Nuits to the Côte Chalonnaise. They also possess seven monopoles (single appellations in their entirety) - the greatest number of any single domaine. Depending upon the vintage, approximately 80% of the domaine's wines are produced from their own estate vineyards, and the balance is from select vineyards under long-term contracts with the family.
In December 2004, after directing the family Domaine for 30 years, François Faiveley handed over the reins to his son, Erwan. Today, Erwan is one of the youngest directors of a Burgundy Domaine on record.
Domaine Faiveley remains one of the most important in the Côte d'Or although subtle changes have started here since Erwan Faiveley assumed control from his father. The winemaking style here remains full, hearty and traditional, but these are wines unapologetically built for the long-term and if you have the patience, you will find them very rewarding.

Cantine Marchesi Fumanelli Winery has been producing excellent wines for 600 years in the Veneto region of Italy. Located in the heart of the most classic part of Valpolicella, the Fumanelli Family has cultivated their vineyards since the 15th century, producing fine wines while maintaining a unique relationship with the terroir, local traditions and culture.
The Fumanelli Winery produced wine from 1600 up to 1927. After the winery buildings were restored in 1998 - 99 the production restarted with Valpolicella Classico Superiore Squarano 1999. Squarano is an ancient estate situated on a hill which overlooks a valley surrounded by vineyards. The villa was constructed by Marchesi Fumanelli’s family in the seventeenth century. Currently the winery produces the following wines: Valpolicclla Classico Superiore 'Squarano’, Amarone 'Pralongo', Soave 'Campozucco', Bianco IGT 'Terso', Passito IGT Bianco and the dessert wine 'Le Vampadore'. All grapes are estate grown in their 40 hectares of vineyards.

Ama is an old, fortified village in the heart of the Chianti Classico region. The meticulously cultivated vineyards are privy to optimal exposures and consist of fertile soils. Castello di Ama is a modern estate comprising 200 acres of vineyards. These vineyards are divided into five important parcels: San Lorenzo, Bellavista, La Casuccia, Bertinga and Montebuoni
Since 1988 it has been run by the second generation, Lorenza Sebasti, solidly supported by wine production specialist, extraordinary wine maker and husband Marco Pallanti.
The wines, produced exclusively with grapes from the property, are distinguished by our own style of Chianti Classico, uniting austerity, elegance and richness.
Chosen as Italy’s ‘Winery of the Year’ in 2005 by the influential Italian wine guide Gambero Rosso, Castello di Ama continues to grow from strength to strength.

Ceretto is one of Piemonte's major estates, though perhaps the term estate isn't quite adequate. It was founded in the 1930s by Riccardo Ceretto, who passed the torch to his sons Bruno and Marcello in the 1960s (commonly referred to as the Barolo Brothers).
In the Langhe region, every hill has its own history and its own image. The Ceretto Aziende Vitivinicole has been able to select the best crus and create a group of small wineries that produce a considerable number of bottles without sacrificing quality. Direct, in-house wine-making that combines tradition and innovation is the cornerstone of the Cerettos' corporate philosophy. And as important as investment in technology and property has been investment in human resources, so the azienda has trained a group of talented young professionals and given them a significant degree of autonomy and responsibility.

Federico, Bruno's son and the youngest in the family chose to take a University Diploma in Business Administration. While still studying he began to deal with the management of the company and later joined on the sales management side of the business, focusing in particular on the export markets.

Founded in 1533, Chateau Haut-Brion was the only non-Medoc estate to be included in the famous 1855 classification and the first recorded First Growth to be imported to the United States, by Thomas Jefferson. Illustrious owners have marked Haut-Brion for more than four centuries.
Clarence Dillon bought Haut-Brion in 1935. Clarence had a son, Douglas, who gained fame as the Secretary of the U.S. Treasury when John F. Kennedy was President. Douglas's daughter, Joan, would marry a Luxembourgian nobleman and give birth to Prince Robert, who today manages the company that oversees the château. During the same time, the Delmas family were growing grapes and making wine on the estate. Jean-Philippe Delmas is the third generation of the winemaker family to manage the estate.
Château Haut-Brion is planted with 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc. Average age of vines is 30 years. The Grand Vin at Chateau Haut-Brion is fermented in stainless steel vats and aged in new oak barrels for 24 to 27 months, and clarified with six egg whites per barrel. Jean-Philippe Delmas believes in a controlled but rather hot, short fermentation in order to achieve the complex bouquet of ripe fruit, tobacco and mineral, earthy scents; the rich, ripe, medium to full-body and good structure. This is a wine that seems to balance power and elegance, richness and harmony perfectly.

In most appraisals of the wine-growing world, the five First Growth Châteaux of the famous 1855 Bordeaux Classification are placed among the very best in the world. Of those, the one that is accorded the top prize in terms of consistency of its red wines is Château Latour.
The Château makes three principal wines, all red; in addition to its world famous "Grand Vin de Château Latour", it has produced "Les Forts de Latour" since 1966, and since 1990 a third simply labelled "Pauillac". The Grand Vin is generally 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot. Latour has some of the greatest old vines in Bordeaux and a new winemaking team is now working with state-of-the-art new equipment under inspired leadership.
The dynamic young Director of the Château, Frédéric Engerer, is determined to make the greatest wine possible at Latour and has the confidence of owner, François Pinault, to do all that it takes to achieve this aim. Production levels have been slashed in recent vintages with only the best parcels of vines now producing grapes for the Grand Vin.

Chateau Margaux is one of the Five First Growths and only one outside of Pauillac.
The history of Chateau Margaux stretches back to the 12th Century, although this predates the construction of the chateau itself, which is a strong contender for being the most splendid, nicknamed the 'Versailles of the Medoc'; the imposing 19th Century four-square palace is an impressive site and is certainly worthy of the incredible wines produced on the estate! Unsurprisingly it appears on the Chateau Margaux label. All four common red Bordeaux varieties are planted, these being Cabernet Sauvignon (75%) and Franc (about 3%), Merlot (20%) and Petit Verdot (about 2%).
Under the ownership of Corinne Mentzelopoulos and astute direction of Paul Pontallier, Chateau Margaux has plotted a steady course across three decades, with a seemingly endless stream of fabulous vintages. Without undue reliance upon technology or artifice, the wines of Chateau Margaux contain the purest expression of a fine terroir. The combination of solid wine making skills, thoughtful conservatism, with an eye to the future and prudent use of modern advances, take this majestic First Growth from strength to strength.
Chateau Margaux is an estate clearly worthy of its position. Over the last thirty years the wines that bear the distinctively elegant label are without doubt some of the greatest wines of all Bordeaux; showing finesse, perfume, concentration and longevity.

La Mondotte was purchased by the Count von Neipperg family at the same time as two other vineyards, Château Canon-La-Gaffelière and Clos de l'Oratoire. The tiny vineyard at La Mondotte has recently reached its full potential and the tremendous success of the 1996 vintage has shown that Stephan von Neipperg has more than met the challenge.
The 4.5 hectare La Mondotte vineyard is located east of the Saint-Emilion limestone plateau.
"Our basic approach is the same at all our estates: to use the most natural methods as possible, to observe closely what is going on in the vineyard, to have a perfect understanding of the soil. We are instinctively reticent about accepting pat answers. We make sure to produce wine in keeping with the specific parameters of each vintage.
We also feel that the winemaker must have a great deal of flexibility to do his job right", explains Stephan von Neipperg. All vineyard and winemaking operations are in keeping with environmental concerns.

As far as the great wines of Bordeaux go Château Montrose is somewhat of a youngster having been founded in 1815. However this beautiful vineyard has produced one of Bordeaux's most consistent and respected wines for over 150 years. It is considered to be one of the top St Estèphe's and is a deuxième cru (super second).

Château Montrose is located in the east of St Estèphe (the northernmost of the great Médoc communes), just north of the hamlet of Marbuzet, on a gravel knoll only 800 meters from the Gironde estuary. The closeness of the estuary ensures a micro climate that protects against frost, and the vines, which lie on deep clay-gravel soils, roll down the slope towards the river and benefit from a south-easterly aspect. The soil is a mix of gravel, black sand with a subsoil of clay and marl.

Montrose's wine is typically a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot 25% and 10% Cabernet Franc and is matured in oak barriques (30% new) for 18 months. The wines age incredibly well and are some of the longest lived in the Médoc. They are traditionally deeply colored, austere and powerful when young, but when mature are quintessential St Estèphe clarets. They are highly prized for their fruit and classic, well structured style.

Nicolas Glumineau is the Technical Director of Montrose.

Located in the village of Pauillac in the Médoc, 50 km north-west of the city of Bordeaux, France, Mouton Rothschild is one of the First Great Growths of Bordeaux Grand Crus, alongside Château Latour, Château Haut Brion, Château Margaux and Château Lafite-Rothschild.
The Bordeaux Classification of 1855 came about when wine brokers were tasked by Emperor Napoleon to create a classification of the wines of Bordeaux. The rating was based (mostly) on the price that the wines were bringing in the market and it divided these top wineries into five classifications. These classifications are known as 'Growths'.
Historically, however, Château Mouton Rothschild was excluded from First Great Growth status. This, it was thought to be so because the vineyard had recently been purchased by an Englishman and was no longer in French ownership.
In 1973, after decades of intense lobbying by its powerful and influential owner, Mouton Rothschild was elevated to "first growth" status - this was one of the two changes in the original 1855 classification (in 1856 Château Cantemerle was added to the Grand Cru list). This prompted a change of the Château Mouton motto: previously, the motto of the wine was Premier ne puis, second ne daigne, Mouton suis. ("First, I cannot be. Second, I do not condescend to be. Mouton, I am."). Today the motto is Premier je suis, Second je fus, Mouton ne change. ("First, I am. Second, I used to be. Mouton, I do not change.")
Mouton Rothschild’s 203 acres of vineyards produce Cabernet Sauvignon (77%), Merlot (11%), Cabernet Franc (10%) and Petit Verdot (2%) that is used in the blend. The wine is fermented in oak vats (one of the few châteaux in the Médoc that is loyal to this traditional method) and then matured in new oak casks.
Baron Philippe de Rothschild, father of the current owner, Baroness Philippine de Rothschild, came up with the idea of having each year's label designed by a famous artist of the day. Since 1946, many of the world's great painters and sculptors have created works (displayed at the chateau) that are also reproduced on the labels of the wine.

Jean-François de Pontet, royal governor of the Médoc, combined several vineyard plots in Pauillac in the early 18th century. Years later, his descendants added neighboring vines in a place named Canet. This was the beginning of one of the largest estates in the Médoc.
A century later, Pontet-Canet was included in the famous 1855 classification, thereby confirming its membership among the elite of the Médoc. This privileged position did not go unnoticed by one of the most important Bordeaux shippers of the time, Hermann Cruse, who bought the estate in 1865. The Cruse family owned Pontet-Canet for 110 years, until another shipper (from Cognac this time), Guy Tesseron, acquired it in 1975.
Currently owned by Guy Tesseron's sons, Alfred and Gérard, this means that Pontet-Canet has belonged to only three families in over two centuries. Thirty years after their arrival in Pauillac, the Tesserons can be proud of having gradually restructured the entire vineyard as well as renovating the cellars and service buildings.
Pontet-Canet's 80 hectares of vineyards are located in the northern end of the Pauillac commune, across the road from first growth Château Mouton Rothschild. The soil composition is mainly gravel over a subsoil of clay and limestone. The plantings are divided up as 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot, and the remainder divided between Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. Vines average 35 years of age.

The winery was established in 2002, when Canadian businessman Cliff Lede purchased 60 acres of vineyards in the famed Stags Leap District.  In the following years, Lede formed an unrivaled team to make the most of this remarkable property. 
Completed in time for crush 2005, the new state-of-the-art gravity-flow winery boasts a berry-by-berry sorting system and conical tanks commissioned using a design borrowed from Château Latour.  One tank per vineyard block ensures each lot evolves at its own pace and acres of caves with single-layer barrel storage ensure access to each barrel at all times. 
The winery produces Sauvignon Blanc, Claret and Cabernet Sauvignon.  The flagship, Poetry Cabernet Sauvignon, is crafted from the steep hillside portion of the estate.
The land, the talent, the tools and the passion: Cliff Lede Vineyards, a notable addition to the Stags Leap District.

Established from scratch as recently as 1968 by Jacques Seysses (du-Jacques) this domaine’s progress to the top has been sensationally fast. Throughout the 1970s and ‘80s Jacques gradually built up an enviable portfolio of vineyards which included many of the highly sought-after Grands Crus (Clos de la Roche, Clos St-Denis, Bonnes-Mares, Echézeaux and Charmes-Chambertin). His wines quickly gained a reputation for quality and soon won a very loyal following both in Europe and back in the States, where his wife, Roz, hails from.
His eldest son, Jeremy now runs the domaine with his wife Diana, who is the estate’s official oenologist. And with his brother, Alec, looking after the export market and his parents still deeply involved, the domaine remains very much a family affair.
Dujac wines are neither filtered nor fined and all of his premiers and Grands Crus are aged in 100% new oak. These are wines of the very highest order. Jeremy and Jacques Seysses now also make a small range of negociant wines under the label Dujac fils et père.

Domaine de Montille is a first class Côte de Beaune domaine and one which is producing some of the purest expressions of Pinot Noir to be found in Burgundy. Hubert de Montille inherited the domaine in 1951. Initially only 2.5 hectares in Volnay, but over the years he acquired further parcels in Volnay, as well as 4 hectares in Pommard. Today the domaine is still run by Hubert, aided by his son Etienne and his daughter Alix.
Since January 1st, 2002 Etienne has been responsible for the Domaine du Chateau de Puligny-Montrachet as well. The domaine is 20 hectares in size, producing wines from 20 different appellations - both red and white. Etienne has started a move towards biodynamic practices - chemical 'crop protection' is now gone - he's reduced the obvious oak content, and is now looking to have yields which will be reflected in quality improvements.
Etienne’s latest venture is DEux Montille Soeur, Frère
“DEux Montille ambition is to be an "haute couture" boutique exclusively focused on individual, genuine top quality wines in limited quantities. My sister Alix and I are the sole shareholders and she will be leading the business as well a being the winemaker. In an attempt to be fair and transparent with all our clientele, the labels will be different from those of Domaine de Montille.

The legendary, tiny Domaine de la Romanée-Conti consistently produces Burgundy's greatest (and most expensive) wines. Regardless of that, remember, after all, Domaine de la Romanée-Conti is essentially a farm. The most obvious claim to fame of DRC is that all its vineyards are in grand cru sites, two of them monopoles (fully owned sites) of the estate. There are some parcels in premier cru vineyards, but the only wines bottled and sold are Grands Crus.

DRC has also been fortunate in its custodians. Ownership has passed down through one or two families and multiple generations. Edmund, the grandfather of current Domaine Co-Director, Aubert de Villaine, became the Director in 1911, and he was succeeded by Aubert’s father, Henri, in 1950. Aubert was raised at the Domaine, enabling him to become intimately familiar with the Domaine’s day-to-day operation before he became involved in its management. Aubert became Co-director of the Domaine in 1974. Like his predecessors, he still views himself as a custodian rather than an estate manager. His goal at the Domaine is to bottle a wine that has had almost no manipulation, but is the result of perfectly balanced, healthy fruit.

Everyone who tastes the full range of DRC wines from a single vintage is struck by how different the wines are. Yet apart from slight variations in the plant material in each vineyard, there is scarcely any difference either in the viticulture or winemaking. The discernible differences can only derive from the vineyards. You can stand in La Tâche, a gently sloping strip with the great Richebourg as its neighbor, and Romanée-Conti tucked within Richebourg as what de Villaine describes as 'its nerve centre'. From here we can look down onto the flatter but gently undulating Romanée-St-Vivant. Echézeaux and Grands Echézeaux lie further to the north. In terms of terroir, Burgundy can scarcely get better than this.

The Fulignis are an old and illustrious family. Their origin can be traced to the golden Venice of Marco Polo. Celebrated condottieri, they fought bravely all over Europe throughout the Middle Ages and the Renaissance until in 1774, they finally settled in Tuscany and turned to more peaceful ventures. In 1923, Giovanni Maria Fuligni purchased a sixteenth-century Medicean villa in Montalcino, and founded the present estate, now managed by his daughter, Maria Flora, and her nephew Roberto Guerrini. Roberto himself styles the wines with oenologist Paolo Vagaggini, and agronomist Federico Ricci is in charge of vineyard management.
Consistently judged among Tuscany’s finest, the wines are aged in the restored convent, which was transformed into barriques cellar, tasting rooms and guest quarters. The former convent’s cool, cloistered tranquility supplies ideal conditions for their élevage.
The grapes are vinified separately according to cru, in a classically inspired international style characterized by a strong backbone of acidity and smooth, polished tannins. What stands out about these wines is their astounding completeness. Everything is in balance, yet dramatic and exciting and their wines exhibit a rare and exciting purity of Sangiovese character.

The Gaja Winery was founded by Giovanni Gaja in 1859 and has been owned and operated by four generations of the Gaja family. Giovanni Gaja was the great-grandfather of Angelo Gaja, the Winery's current owner, who has revolutionized the wine business in Barbaresco and beyond. Having studied in France, Gaja was responsible for the introduction of temperature controlled fermentation, malolactic fermentation and French barriques, not to mention the use of French varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.
In 1994 Gaja acquired its first wine estate in Tuscany, Pieve Santa Restituta in Montalcino. The property's forty acres of vineyards produce two Brunello di Montalcino wines called Sugarille and Rennina.
In 1996 Gaja acquired a second property in Tuscany, Ca'Marcanda, located in Castagneto Carducci in Bolgheri. Of the property's 200 acres, 150 have been planted with new vineyards: primarily Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, as well as Cabernet Franc and Syrah.
BottleCurrently, the Gaja Winery owns 250 acres of vineyards in Piedmont, located in the Barbaresco district (Barbaresco and Treiso) and the Barolo district (Serralunga d'Alba and La Morra).
Since its inception, the Gaja Winery has continuously evolved in ways that have always focused on meticulous care of and attention to the quality of its wines. Strikingly profound and built to live for decades, Gaja's wines display opulence and elegance unmatched elsewhere in Italy.

Founded by Pierre Gosset in 1584, Gosset is the oldest wine house in the Champagne region and one of the smallest producers of luxury champagne, but what it lacks in volume it amply makes up for in quality and prestige.  Gosset only uses juice from the first pressing of grapes, and unlike most other producers, initial fermentation is still carried out in small oak barrels. Riddling and disgorgement are performed by hand. Significantly, and in contrast to virtually all other houses, Gosset champagnes do not undergo malolactic fermentation, resulting in a heightened acidity, slower maturing wines and that inimitable Gosset style – powerful and full-bodied, of unrivalled richness and staying power – in other words, some of the world’s most legendary champagne. Philippe Manfredini is the International Director for Gosset Champagne and Cognac Frapin.

Cognac Frapin - The family-owned Pierre Frapin is a rarity among cognac producers – one of few great names in world-class cognac to own its own vineyards. Frapin’s 741-acre domain, which includes 494 acres of prime Grande Champagne vineyard, took the Frapin family five centuries to amass. It constitutes the largest single vineyard in this top-rated appellation where average holdings seldom exceed 30 acres. The family has been established in the South West of France since 1270, initially as a family of wine-growers. They later became distillers and have continued in this tradition for 20 generations. The Grande Champagne region, Premier Grand Cru du Cognac was where the family chose to settle and made their headquarters in the Fontpinot Castle at Segonzac. Today Frapin is owned by Geneviève Frapin and her husband, Max Cointreau.

Founded in 1897 by Orazio Nonino in the Friuli region of Italy, Nonino has changed the way the world views grappa. Today, current proprietor Benito Nonino and his wife Giannola, together with their three daughters Cristina, Antonella and Elisabetta, continue to lead Italian distillers through their devotion to research, quality and innovation.
In 1973, the Noninos crafted the first ever single-vineyard, single-grape grappa with their Grappa Nonino Cru Monovitigno Picolit. Picolit was a huge success, triggering many of the industry’s current trends. Then, in 1984, Benito and Gianolla solidified their status as industry leaders by introducing the world’s first single-vineyard; single-grape distillate produced using whole grape clusters. This product, known as ÙE (pronounced “Oo-ay”), further revolutionized the industry and introduced distillates with uniquely intense aroma and flavor components.
Nonino’s extensive product line revolves around their award winning grappas and revolutionary ÙEs. Presented in elegant bottles – most of which are hand blown – it is no wonder that Nonino grappas and ÙEs are without equals in the world today.

Thanks to its privileged geographical situation, Alsace is the driest wine region in France. Its micro-climate is caused by the distance which separates it from maritime influences, and by the protection of the Vosges Mountains.This climate enables the grapes to ripen slowly to full maturity, giving the wine great finesse of aroma and unequalled intensity.
Hugel is a family business, today run by 3 members of the Hugel family (12th generations) and 100% family-owned. They are the owners of a 65-acre estate exclusively in Riquewihr, in prime sites, almost half of which are in the Grand Cru zone. The estate is planted only with noble grape varieties (40% Gewurztraminer, 40% Riesling, 15% Pinot Gris, and 5% Pinot Noir) and some of the vines are up to 60 years old. The Hugel family pioneered the resurrection of Alsace late-harvest wines, Vendange Tardive and Sélection de Grains Nobles. No fertilization is ever used; low yields (around two-thirds of Alsace average); extensive use of crop-thinning to ensure high quality. Harvest is only done by hand and always will be.

Hundred Acre has been a perennial super-star since the inaugural 2000 vintage. 
“Good” isn’t a word Jayson Woodbridge, owner, vintner and visionary of Hundred Acre would use when it comes to his wines. His motto is clear and concise, “stand amongst the very best or not at all”; he’s spared no expense assembling one of Napa Valley’s most exciting wines. Accompanied by a team of Napa Valley’s brightest stars, Phillipe Melka consultant (to the winemaking team) and Jim Barbour vineyard manager, Woodbridge has managed to create what Robert Parker has called, “a terrific example of great Napa Cabernet Sauvignon”
His winemaking style could be deemed as very “hands on”. To Jayson, each step from hand picking the vineyards in numerous passes, hand sorting the fruit berry by berry, the forest and age of wood carefully selected and measured prior to barrels being made. Everything hand crafted, hand pruned, scrutinized and aligned for his desired response, near critical perfection and some of the finest wine known to man.

The name "Isole e Olena" was conceived in the 1950's when two adjoining estates, "Isole" and "Olena" were purchased by the De Marchi family and were combined to form one. The history of both estates dates back many hundreds of years. Paolo de Marchi’s father bought this property in the 1950’s and Paolo grew up here. At that time the property was an example of the medieval economy. 120 people lived on this estate. The cultivation was mixed agriculture where everything grew together, olive trees, grain and vines. There was a competition among the crops where all produced little but of grande qualita, it was beautiful and had balance. The production was self-sufficient and self-consumed. Nothing was bought and nothing was sold.Today, many things have changed. Paolo produces 100% Sangiovese Cepparello, Chianti Classico, Cabernet, Syrah and Vin Santo.
Paolo graduated from the University of Torino where he specialized in Oenology, and currently maintains relationships with the Oenology faculties of the Universities of Montpellier, Beaune, Torino, Geisenheim and UC Davis. He is among the most respected winemakers in the world. His early enthusiasm for “extra-Tuscan” grapes in Chianti has been tempered by his respect for the unique characteristics of Tuscany’s indigenous Sangiovese. This is a demanding grape, difficult to ripen and requiring extraordinary work in the vineyards to insure high quality. Paolo still produces small amounts of wines from “international varieties,” including Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, and Chardonnay, but his Chianti Classico and Cepparello are his own, best contribution to Tuscan culture.

L'Aventure Winery is Stephan Asseo's "Grand Cru" of Paso Robles. After 17 years making wine in Bordeaux at his family's three châteaux, Stephan became determined to work with grapes from a warmer climate, where maturity could be achieved more regularly than in Bordeaux. He also longed for the freedom to create blends that were outside the acceptable parameters of AOC law.It was a giant change to undertake, but in 1997 Stephan and his family undertook their "Aventure", settling in Paso Robles' Westside hill country, where Stephan could pursue his dream. Upon visiting the winery site in the rolling foothills of the Santa Lucia Mountains in California's Central Coast region, Stephan immediately fell in love with the terroir. The combination of calcareous soils and a classic Mediterranean climate, tempered by the maritime influence of the Templeton Gap, provided the ideal conditions for him to realize his vision of creating top quality, blended red wines.       

When Pierre Voisin created his cognac house together with Olivier Blanc in 1972, he named it after his grandfather, Léopold Gourmel. Both founders were fond of his authenticity, his closeness to nature when attending his vineyards, his garden and when fishing on the shore of his island, Ile de Ré, off La Rochelle in the Atlantic Ocean. Such a respect for the environment perfectly matched their vision of a natural cognac. As a further reference to Leopold, a horse saddler by profession, they chose the horse’s head as the house logo. Here again, there couldn’t be a better sign than man’s best conquest to symbolize the noble, elegant and refined cognac from Léopold Gourmel. Beyond the emotional link, the justification of this choice can be found in the powerful pronunciation of this name. Saying Léopold Gourmel immediately brings promises of new flavours and moments of complicity.

Leopold Gourmel Cognac Age des Fleurs "15 Carats"
Origin: White wine, richer, stronger, more aromatic.
Visual: Fine Gold.
The nose: Warmer, balanced, floral vanilla from the wood, white flowers (rose, jasmine, lilies).
The taste: Warm and rich on the first part of the palate, silky on the tongue, velvet on the throat, deep in the stomach with a honeysuckle and lime tree flowers finish.
Matching: Perfect for the hunting season with game meat, and also after great American steak, tender red wines.
Features: Cognac lovers will love this cognac that reminds them of their traditional brand but with much more elegance, far deeper finish, and more complexity in an un-caramelized world. Pure vintage, strictly no additives, aged in un-toasted extra fine grain French oak casks, never chill-filtered.
Distiller's Note: "Our cellar master's favorite cognac."

M. Chapoutier's roots in the Rhône date back to 1808, when the family first settled in Tain l'Hermitage from the Ardèche Mountains. Seven generations later we find Michel, with a real passion for the expression of soils, at the head of this exceptional vineyard firmly anchored in history and traditions. Since Michel Chapoutier took control of this long-established firm in 1988, quality has soared and Chapoutier now produces the most diverse and complex wines to be found in the northern Rhône. All the vineyards are now run on biodynamic principles and now all the grapes in Hermitage and Châteauneuf are totally destemmed prior to fermentation. The wines spend a maximum of 18 months in small oak casks, up to a third of which are new. "Filtering a wine is like making love with a condom," says Michel Chapoutier and all his wines are bottled unfined and unfiltered.
Braille has been present since 1996 on all Chapoutier labels. Far from being anecdotic, this symbol draws its origin from the very history of the Hermitage vineyard. Maurice Monier de La Sizeranne, owner of the plot of the Hermitage, la Sizeranne, is also the inventor of the first version of abbreviated Braille. The trademark pays tribute to this man but also expresses the desire to reach out to and include all people with sight-impairments, lovers of good wines.

Breganze is a village situated in the hills north of Venice. The surrounding mountains protect the area from cold winds creating a perfect climate for the cultivation of vineyards. For three generations the Maculan family has been selecting and vinifying the best grapes in this enchanting village, set like a small jewel at the foot of the Alps in the Veneto region.
The Maculan Farm consists of 11 hectares of estate owned vineyards in the commune of Breganze. 24 additional hectares are leased within the DOC zone of Breganze. Maculan also works with other growers, managing production of up to 50 hectares in the DOC zone of Breganze. The winery is located in the historic center of Breganze and provides the link between tradition and innovative technology. Tradition taught Maculan to judiciously choose the vineyards, hand harvest only the best bunches of grapes and to develop the wines in barrique. From modern technology, Maculan have learned to harvest only into small cases, to directly press whole grapes, and to accurately control the fermentation with the aid of the most advanced information available. Fausto Maculan is Breganze's greatest producer and is increasingly acknowledged as one of the world's exceptional winemakers. Fausto combines the ancient grapes of his region with today's most popular varietals to create timeless wines of outstanding quality.

Since taking over for his father in 1989 Henri Boillot has become one of the Côte d’Or’s superstar producers. His estate, Domaine Henri Boillot (formerly known as Domaine Jean Boillot) and négociant wines, Maison Henri Bolliot, are brilliant examples of some of Burgundy’s most celebrated sites. From his village Meursaults, Pulignys and Chassagnes up to his Corton Charlemagne, Chevalier-Montrachet and le Montrachet, Boillot’s wines are intense, structured, exact and age-worthy.
After making wine at his family’s property (Domaine Jean Boillot) for more than a decade Henri Boillot left in 1984 to launch his own négociant business. Not satisfied with the house style of his father and grandfather (light and delicate), Henri set out to produce more concentrated and powerful Pinots and Chardonnays. After sufficiently impressing his grandfather, Jean Boillot, with the quality of his wines Henri rejoined the estate and eventually bought out his brothers and sisters in 2005. He changed the name of the winery from Domaine Jean Boillot to Domaine Henri Boillot to avoid confusion with his brother’s property, Domaine Jean-Marc Boillot. Henri also continued to market his négociant wines under the Maison Henri Boillot label.

Founded in 1859 by Louis Henry Denis Jadot, Maison Louis Jadot has always been situated in the heart of the vineyards, in the centre of Beaune. Maison Louis Jadot controls a 105 hectare "domaine" in Burgundy with more than 70 hectares in the Côte d'Or, exclusively in Premier and Grand Cru. It is from its land that Burgundy gains its richness and diversity. The originality and characters of the wines stem directly from the grapes. At Maison Louis Jadot the choice of the grapes is the number one priority; the philosophy is to respect the origin of the grapes. Therefore the villages and growths of Burgundy are individually expressed in all the wines that carry the name. Recently installed in an old building from the 19th century, the offices are situated above very old cellars from the 14th century connected with the "Couvent des Jacobins" cellars.
Managed by three generations of the Jadot family and then by M. André Gagey for more than 30 years, Maison Louis Jadot is now directed by his son M. Pierre-Henry Gagey, assisted by Mr. Jacques Lardière, who has been Louis Jadot's winemaker for more than 30 years as well.

The house of Pascal Jolivet is one of the youngest and most dynamic in the Loire Valley. Founded in 1987, this specialist in the wines of Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé has very quickly gained a leading position with the Michelin-starred restaurants of France. Pascal owns an estate of more than 70 acres evenly divided between the two appellations. He believes strongly in letting nature make the wines as much as possible, and seeks to tame the more aggressive qualities of the Sauvignon Blanc variety. His wines show the benefits of stainless steel vatting with naturally occurring yeasts. They are fermented cool rather than cold and are left on their lees for 4 to 6 months, gaining subtle but complex aromas as a result.
The Pascal Jolivet style aims for finesse and elegance with, above all, good balance. The maturity in bottle is particularly slow, especially for the Grandes Cuvées as they show their true quality after a minimum of three to five years.

The House of Paul Jaboulet Aîné is one of the Rhône’s most recognizable wineries. The reputation of Jaboulet wines rests on the quality of the well-situated and well-tended vineyards, on low yields, careful vinification, and diligent aging in oak casks.
Jaboulet wines symbolize robustness and elegance, essential qualities of great wines. Their crown jewel is their Hermitage "La Chapelle" which Clive Coates states "is one of the great red wines of the world." Hermitage “La Chapelle” is named after the small hermit's Chapel built in 1235 on the Hermitage hill; the wine regularly rivals Bordeaux 1st Growths for its incredible array of flavors - fruity and enticing when young but acquiring complex leathery and gamey overtones with age.
Thomas Matthews of Wine Spectator has singled out Jaboulet as a producer which "offers reliable wines across the entire range of appellations (26 different appellations in the northern and southern Rhône). Paul Jaboulet Ainé has been especially successful in recent years."
Jaboulet's 45-hectare Domaine de Thalabert vineyard in Crozes Hermitage produces very high quality wines which are superior to most growers` Hermitages. 

Remoissenet Pere et Fils is one of Beaune's wealthiest domains, with a 14th century property within the walls of the town and 2.5ha which includes Beaune Premier Cru, Maconnais, Bressandes and Beaune Greves. It also produces an entire range as négociant.
The groundwork for the winery was laid in the early 1800s by Pierre Remoissenet, a respected cooper, taster and broker in the town of Beaune. For years Remoissenet built its reputation on older reserves and negociant wines.
Since being purchased in 2005 by a group of investors led by the Milstein brothers of New York and Todd Halpern of Toronto, the estate has experienced a renaissance, with the focus of returning Remoissenet to the list of elite producers of the Cote d’Or.
From its own holdings and around the same amount of bought-in grapes, Remoissenet produces about 200,000 bottles a year. The old cellars are full of treasures going back to well before World War II. The company was run for 30 years by Roland Remoissenet, a figure described by Robert Parker as 'one of the most dashing' in Burgundy. His worthy successor, the new face of Remoissenet today is Bérnard Repolt. Bérnard, who was previously president of Louis Jadot is an engaging and witty character

“Life is a Cabernet” - Silver Oak Cellars was started in 1972 with a simple driving philosophy - to focus production on only one varietal, Cabernet Sauvignon. What’s more, they resolved to create a wine with a style all its own: not another hard, tannic red wine requiring years of aging to enjoy, but a wine of fully developed flavors and a velvety soft texture on the day it is released for sale.
Silver Oak Cellars produces Cabernet Sauvignon from two appellations. Their Napa Valley derives its fruit from both owned and contracted vineyards, and is produced entirely at their Oakville winery. Beginning in 1994, small amounts of Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Petit Verdot have been included in their Napa blend to add complexity and softness.
Silver Oak also produces stellar Cabernet from their Alexander Valley vineyards. A critical reason for the success of this wine, and every wine they make, has always been that they create the final blend before aging it in American oak barrels and then bottles. Over the course of four-and-a-half years, the wine’s flavors, aromas, and textures have an opportunity to meld with one another and the wood’s delicate qualities to create the kind of graceful cohesion found only in the world’s most elegant wines.

In 1848 a Basque landowner, Don Toribio Lecanda, met the bankrupt Marques de Valbuena and bought from him a 2,000 hectare estate, the Pago de la Vega Santa Cecilia y Carrascal, in the western part of what now is the Ribera del Duero wine region. Here, sixty-seven years later, we would see the birth of the first estate of the Spanish wine myth Vega Sicilia, indisputably one of the great estates of Spain. Vines were first planted in 1864 near the town of Valbuena in the Duero valley by Don Eloy Lecanda Chaves, who arrived from Bordeaux with Bordelais grape varieties and wine making techniques, thereby laying the foundations for what was to become one of the best wines of Spain. Since 1982 the property has belonged to the Alvárez Diez family, who has continued the traditions of the founder, with their wine maker, Javier Ausás. The Vega Sicilia range includes 3 cuvees: Unico (";unique";) is the flagship, followed by Reserva Especial a blend of top vintages, both made up of Tinto Fino ( 80%), Cab. Sauv and little Merlot, and traditionally aged for 10 years. Nowadays the wine maker, Javier Ausas ages the Unica wines for only 5-6 years, before bottling. Valbuena is made from younger vines, and in years when Unico is not produced grapes normally destined for Unico will go into Valbuena. It is only released after 5 years' ageing. The nearby Alion estate is the new innovative addition to Vega's portfolio. It produces a high quality wine for drinking young. Vega Sicilia has also purchased the Hungarian Tokay estate Oremus. Pablo Álvarez is the director of the winery group.

In the heart of the Pomerol is situated Vieux Château Certan, the oldest cru of the appellation.
Founded in the 16th Century and known under its present name since 1745. It was Charles Bousquet in 1858 who built the buildings that still stand today. The chateau was acquired by Georges Thienpont in 1924. Since this time it has continued to affirm itself as one of the rarest and most prestigious Crus in the world. A symbol of perfection; the exquisite finesse of its wines, the elegance of the chartreuse chateau surrounded by age-old trees, the order and quality of the vineyard, Vieux Château Certain inspires fascination on the part of great international connoisseurs and artists. The sumptuous brilliance of its color, the exceptional wealth of aromas and the depth and subtlety of its taste give the wine a style unique to the Pomerol appellation. Even in very hot years, vintages generally known for their strength, no wine maintains its distinction and elegance so well. The wine of connoisseurs; Vieux Château Certan requires several years in a cellar to reveal its immense complexity and singular body.

François Thienpont's family has been established in the Bordeaux region since 1929, mainly in the Libournais. Vieux Château Certan, Château Puygueraud and Le Pin are some of the famous properties belonging to the Thienpont family.
After successfully working in the wine trade in the USA and Bordeaux, François created his own company called WINGS in 1995. Since then, this well-known and innovative wine merchant has been trading throughout the world, offering the most prestigious chateaux as well as less renowned estates, to buyers who are often wine experts. First located in the town of Mérignac, the company moved to new fully renovated premises in Bordeaux in the spring of 1999. Wings is now a well-established, serious fine wine négociant company.