This impressive estate was originally built in the 1500s as a Dominican monastery and later served as the summer residence of the De Gatti family, after whom the estate is named, before being bought by the Mascioni family. Our family acquired the “La Gatta” estate in 1969, turning it into a favourite destination for many discerning Valtellina wine connoisseurs.

This month at The Standard Wine Co., we’re celebrating the arrival of some of our favourite Italian wines. These are not just any wines, they’re produced by some of the most passionate wine makers around.

FEATURING
Azienda Agricola La Magia
Le Betulle
Bucci
Oasi degli Angeli
Gianfranco Fino

At 400-450 meters above sea level and facing southeast, the sandy soil contains a good quantity of lime and clay which aids water retention, while the volcanic influence contributes to a wonderful minerality. Power and structure with superb elegance are the result in La Magia’s Brunellos, aged for three years in 500 litre French oak tonneaux.

Gianfranco Fino's adventure began in 2004, with the quest for the perfect vineyard that had to have special and unique characteristics. The search came to an end almost immediately, with the purchase of a very modest 50-year-old Primitivo vineyard of around 2 hectares, which was later extended with the cultivation of additional rented land.

This brief history alone would be enough to consider Gianfranco Fino as part of the group of winegrowers faithful to tradition, keen to save old vineyards and keep their specific characteristics alive.

This wine is the product of Piero's appreciation of the unique region of Friuli as a location for harvesting Pinot Grigio. He has partnered with a leading producer in order to bring to market a light, refreshing and fruity wine that pays homage to an old world wine varietal whilst providing an Italian, local twist.

Marco Casolanetti is the fifth generation of his family to live and tend to their 17 hectares of land in the heart of Piceno, sitting very far south along the coast of Marche. He is the first generation to focus the property on their old Montepulciano and Bordo (the local Grenache) grape vines, and began to plant more vineyards, replacing old fields of grain that the family always madeorzo pasta from, a local favorite.

Headed by the 5th generation of the family, Le Calendre is located in the foothills of San Pietro in Cariano, in the heart of Valpolicella Classica. The family is dedicated to preserving the ancient winemaking traditions of the region and caring for the land. The 4 hectares of vineyards are farmed using organic and low intervention methods.

The Petreto Farm is located in Rosano, a small hamlet in the Municipality of Bagno a Ripoli, a few kilometers south-east from Florence, and extends along the Arno river valley over an area of about 30 hectares, 12 of which are planted with vineyards. It has been owned by the Fonseca family for over 150 years.

Paolo Vodopivec’s vineyards are located in very close proximity to the border of Italy and Slovenia in the unique area of Carso, home to the white Vitovska grape varietal. Vodopivec focuses solely on this one grape, and takes and extraordinarily hands-on approach, from vineyard to cellar. The area of Carso is a limestone plateau extending across the north eastern border of Italy, into Slovenia.

Paterna was established in 1985 by a group of friends wanting to escape the increasingly superficial, tourist-oriented façade of Tuscany. They were somewhat disillusioned by the estates that were spending more time and money on their cellars than they were on their actual products, which naturally suffered in quality as a consequence.

The organically farmed 15 hectare estate is run in a cooperative manner by three young couples, producing wines only from local grape varieties, as well as olive oil and other agricultural products.

Wines were not commercially released from this estate until 1995, despite a history of winemaking dating back 70 years. Mamete Prevostini inherited this winery from his grandfather, and spent several years experimenting with winemaking techniques before he was satisfied with the result.

Il Mosnel has been producing wines since 1836, and was one of the first producers of DOC Franciacorta when the appellation was created in the 1960s. The estate was planted to Franciacorta varietals by Emanuela Barboglio, and her children - the fifth generation to inherit the land - now run the operation, along with a team of winemakers and viticulturist.

Marco de Bartoli worked for the large Marsala firm Cantine Pellegrino before taking over his mother’s estate in 1980. He is credited with single-handedly restoring the image of Marsala both within Italy and more recently internationally through his dedication to producing a ‘real’ Marsala of highest quality and concentration. He passed away in 2011 and his sons now run the business, which has expanded to include vineyards on the island of Pantelleria.

Arnaldo Crociani, carrying on the family tradition, spent his lifetime amongst barrels, bottles and flasks, and with dedication and passion he applied his mastery to the winemaking art, respecting his father and grandfather’s wishes. At his death, his children Giorgio and Susanna carried on that legacy, but also with the influence of youth and desire to ensure that the wine carries on to a new generation. Their mission is to ensure that the dynasty of Crociani carries on.

The Bucci family have owned land in the famed Castelli di Jesi area of the Marche region as far back as the 1700s, originally inhabiting one of the ‘Castelli’ (Montecarotto) from which the DOC takes its name. Even though they have been growing and making wine for over three hundred years, it wasn’t until 1983 that the present owner Ampelio Bucci began to bottle the wine under the family name. Located on the Adriatic coast, the Marche region has a long history of viticulture, with the two most important grape varieties being Verdicchio and Montepulciano.

Marco Brangero runs this family estate in Diano d’Alba, taking the traditions inherited from his father and contributing his own modernizing influence. This forward-thinking approach has allowed Brangero to bring his family company to new levels of quality. Diano d’Alba sits between Barolo and Barbaresco, just south of the town of Alba. This sub-region has a very close relationship with the Dolcetto variety, one of the historic grapes of Piedmont. Its position within the Langhe region is also ideally suited to growing the other two major Piemontese red grapes; Nebbiolo, and Barbera.

Borgo Molino was founded in 1922 by the Nardin family who remain the sole owners. The estate is located in the historic village of Roncadelle amidst the picturesque hills of the Marca Trevigiana. Whilst they have produced a range of table wines for many years it is the production of Prosecco wine from the noble Glera grape that is their main focus.

The Fiegl family has cultivated vineyards in Oslavia since 1782, when Valentino Fiegl signed the bill of purchase on a vineyard called “Meja”. Since then their aim has been to transmit the unique terroir of their region, primarily through the use of indigenous varieties and traditional blends.

The Winery was founded in 1962 thanks to the tenacity and the will of just 40 farmers today it has 759 members, a vineyard area of about 1.660 hectares and an annual production of 200.000 quintals of grapes mainly white grapes, the most important Sicilian and international varieties all in full respect of the nature, combining tradition and modern oenological practices a large part of the production is grown following the rules of organic agriculture, without the use of synthetic chemical additives and maintaining low level of sulfur dioxide. Therefore among the largest Sicilian wine cooperatives, managed for over a decade by actual President Vincenzo Ampola.