Marchesi Alfieri
At the intersection of Roero, Langhe and Monforte, between Asti and Alba, lies the small medieval village of San Martino Alfieri. The magnificent baroque castle of the Marchesi Alfieri and the Azienda building are located on the hill.
The winery is run by three sisters, Emanuela, Antonella and Giovanna San Martino di San Germano, direct descendants of the Marchesi Alfieri. The winemaker Mario Olivero has been at their side for many years.
The Alfieri have been living here since 1616, and have been closely connected with the Piedmont region and its history since. They have asserted their influence honourably in literature, architecture and politics. The magnificent chambers, halls and the romantic orangery speak of an eventful family history at every turn. The huge park is a feast for the eyes and quickens the heart of any botanist or gardener.
Red wines from Marchesi Alfieri
from Marchesi Alfieri
Wine has been grown on the estate for centuries, but bottling only began in 1990. Of the 21 hectares of vines belonging to the estate, 16 are planted with Barbera, one of the leading varieties in the Piedmont region. It provides wines with a deep colour, intense fruit and few tannins, traits appreciated by many wine lovers. To obtain good quality, the yield must be strictly reduced. The grapes are harvested by hand for each vineyard and are vinified separately. Prudent ageing in wooden barrels balances the lack of wine tannin and gives it the necessary structure.
The winery offers beautiful guest rooms for wine lovers, where you can feel like a marchioness or marchese. For more information, visit the homepage at www.marchesialfieri.it. Begin your trip to the Piedmont early with a glass of savoury Barbera!
Producer
Montepeloso
The Montepeloso winery, located in Maremma, owned by Swiss co-proprietor and estate manager Fabio Chiarelotto, has earned a reputation for outstanding red wines. With a combination of mostly traditional and indigenous grape varieties, but also international varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon, complex wines with a Mediterranean character are produced. This Tuscan gem is hidden in the hills of Suvereto, near the Tyrrhenian coast — one of the hottest areas of Tuscany.
Villa Carumè
Villa Carumè is situated between Mazara del Vallo and Trapani, where the wind blows in from the Mediterranean across the vineyards and the sun shines practically all year round. The vineyards benefit from a warm Mediterranean climate, plenty of sunshine and constant sea breezes. Here, wines are produced from typical Sicilian grape varieties such as Grillo and Nero d’Avola.
Maison Stéphan
Jean-Michel Stéphan has vinified more than 30 vintages of Côte-Rôtie and is one of the true masters of natural winemaking (vins naturels) in the northern Rhône region. His wines have a vibrant purity that makes them unmistakable, characterised by a balance of energy and transcendence that stems from his vision of making impeccable wines without any additives.