Paolo Conterno / Fam. Conterno
The history of the Paolo Conterno winery dates back to 1886. With the founding of Casa della Ginestra in Monforte d'Alba, Paolo Conterno laid the foundation for a family tradition that is now continued in the fourth generation by Giorgio Conterno. The focus has always been on producing wines that authentically reflect their origin, character and vintage.
Deeply rooted in the hills of the Langhe, the estate is located in the historic Ginestra cru – the place where the family comes from and which remains at the heart of the estate to this day. The vineyards extend over an altitude of 300 to 350 metres, with a predominantly south to south-east exposure. Calcareous clay soils, interspersed with chalk and mineral deposits, characterise the terroir here. Combined with a special microclimate – warm days, cool nights and constant ventilation – this creates ideal conditions for expressive, structured wines.
The family cultivates the classic grape varieties Nebbiolo, Barbera and Dolcetto. The steep slopes require a great deal of manual labour and experience – both of which have been developed over generations. Modern technology now supports the work in the vineyard and in the cellar, but every step is still characterised by personal care.
Maturation takes place traditionally in 35-hectolitre French oak barrels. The aim is not fashionable opulence, but balance, depth and longevity – in short, the constant pursuit of the idea of the “perfect Barolo”, which has been passed down through the family.
In addition to the renowned Barolo – above all Barolo Ginestra – other DOC and DOCG wines are also produced. Around 50,000 bottles per year bear the signature of a winery that harmoniously combines family history, terroir and forward thinking.
Producer
Distillerie Tessendier & Fils
Grape growers, producers of Cognac and innovative spirits
“Time is of the essence for creating high-quality spirits” (Jérôme Tessendier)
The Tessendier & Fils Distillery, established in 1880, is a family-run business based in Cognac and Jarnac, on the banks of the Charente, which produces a diverse portfolio of high-quality Cognacs (see Cognac Park) with a modern twist. The heirs, Jérôme and Lilian Tessendier, have succeeded in modernising the family business in the face of the international dimension of the market: first by creating their own brand of Cognac, then by drawing on their ancestral savoir-faire to refine other types of spirits. This knowledge was forged over time, improved from generation to generation and is now shared by the Tessendier Distillery through three Cognac series (Park, Campagnère, Grand Breuil), each with its own unique character, its own history.
Bodegas Amézola de la Mora
The Amézola de la Mora family vineyard originated in the 19th century. Already then it enjoyed a good reputation in large parts of the country. With the appearance of the dreaded phylloxera plague, however, production unfortunately came to an end. In 1986, Iñigo Amézola de la Mora brought the family estate back to life.
Weingut Nicolussi-Leck
The Kreithof, as the ancestral estate is known, is located near the idyllic Lake Caldaro in South Tyrol (Alto Adige) and has been cultivated by the Nicolussi-Leck family since 1915. Standing guard over it are the medieval ruins of Leuchtenburg Castle, which – like the estate – dates back to the 13th century and was presumably also associated with nearby Laimburg Castle in the Etsch Valley.