The Wild Alps
In 2016, Theresia Angel-Hämmerle and Peter Angel from Vorarlberg founded “The Wild Alps”, based in Balgach, Switzerland, to develop and produce an exceptional portfolio of fine spirits. Their vision was to capture the quintessence of gin, whisky, rum and vodka to really excite aficionados.
The two founders brought with them over 20 years' experience from the spirits industry, where they had worked as developers and producers. The philosophy of the “Angels” is quite simple: they produce what they like. Combining alchemy and adventure in their craftsmanship as distillers, they are open to experimenting with exceptional and unusual ingredients that are full of character.
They drew their main inspiration from the Alps, more precisely from the Villa Maund in Vorarlberg in Austria. This Alpine villa was built according to the plans of William Morris in the late 19th century and served as a hunting lodge for the passionate alpinist Sir John Oakley Maund. The interior design includes some expressive fabric patterns and a tapestry called “The Strawberry Thief”, which were produced in William Morris’ workshops in 19th century England. Theresia Angel-Hämmerle incorporated these patterns and fabrics into her product design and created velvet labels for some of her products. This won her the “Packaging Design” award from the IWSC in London. The Alpine flora in the region also provides the two founders with inspiration for their wild Alpine creations. In the meantime, they are now able to look back on numerous national and international accolades, repeatedly awarded "Best Gin" and "Best Rum (of Switzerland).
Spirits from The Wild Alps
from The Wild Alps
Producer
Château Biac
Sometimes life is full of surprises. The Lebanese Asseily family experienced this first-hand when they became the owners of Château Biac as if by accident in 2006. They regularly spent their summer holidays near Biac, but never would they have dreamt that they would own and manage this wonderful property themselves one day. It’s a fascinating story that Tony and Youmna Asseily are happy to share over a glass of their wine.
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.
Massena / Jaysen Collins
Dan Standish and Jaysen Collins were college friends, and in the late 1990s they decided to put their talents together to produce wine. Recently, Jaysen Collins has taken charge of the "Massena" project on his own.The grapes are purchased from growers in Greenock, Kalimna and Koonunga Hill in the northwest Barossa Valley.