OLD WORLD

The name Chapoutier has been present in the Rhône
Valley since 1808. In 1879, the distant ancestor Polydor Chapoutier was the first to begin to buy vines, thus moving from the status of estate wine - grower to that of a viticulturist, wine producer and businessman. The pioneering spirit already well-planted in the family continues to exist several generations later.

Love for vines and wine and the awareness of the
need to respect earth and terroir additionally led the
Maison M.Chapoutier to adopt a biodynamic cultivation method. This demanding method of cultivation has an unflinching desire: to ensure that soils are living and as expressive as possible.

Founded in 1880 by Joseph Drouhin, the winery has
always been led by the Drouhin family, whose resolve
has been to pass down this heritage and skill from
generation to generation. At the heart of Beaune, with
its XVth century house and its cellars placed on the
register of Historical Monuments, Joseph Drouhin is a
unique site in Burgundy.
For more than a century, grapes from vineyards have
been meticulously selected owing to the perfect
exposition, unique character and reputation.

Established In 1734 by Jacques Fourneaux, Taittinger
is one of the few remaining Champagne houses to be
managed by people who bear its name. Champagne
Taittinger's respect for family traditions ensures that
top quality is a constant priority which is reflected in its reputation.
In 2006, Pierre-Emmanuel Taittinger presided over the
destinies of Champagne Taittinger, remaining faithful to family and champagne-making tradition.

It is in the Médoc that the Cazes family's roots lie: Chateau Lynch-Bages (Pauillac) and Chateau Ormes de Pez (Saint Estephe) were the first estates acquired by Jean-Charles Cazes in the late 1930s. Today the Cazes family group encompasses a collection of reputed wine estates such as Chateau Chateau Lynch-Bages and Chateau Ormes de Pez, but also, Chateau Haut-Batailley (Pauillac), and in Southern France, Domaine de L'Ostal (Minervois) and Domaine des Sénéchaux (Chateauneuf du Pape).
The ambition of the Cazes family is to create exceptional wines that respect the terroir, the character of the local grape varieties and soils they are made from.

Born in 1754, Chevalier Michel Lynch devoted his life to improving the wines on his Lynch-Bages estate. The wine that bears his name has passed through the hands of a renowned winemaking team. Brought out in all three colors, Michel Lynch is a true reflection of the wealth of its terroir – one of the most prestigious in the world.

Eight centuries ago, according to Pier Crescenzi's
chronicle, vines were already being grown at the town
of Gambellara. And on those same green hills of the
Veneto region, the ZONIN family has been producing
wines for seven generations. It is here that the roots
of this company lie: a company that now consists of
11 wine estates with more than 1,800 hectares (3,705
acres) of vineyards located in Italy's most favorable
terroirs.

Piedmont, nestled between the Alps and Mediterranean Sea, offers rugged terrain and a difficult climate. These attributes make it a perfect environment for making compelling wines. Fourth generation proprietor Pio Boffa,the great grandson of Pio Cesare, has led his family's charge into modern winemaking with an approach of minimal intervention, creating wines of supple flavor expression.

Year after year, the wines of Pio Cesare have gained international recognition as some of the world's best wines.
Wine Spectator rated Pio Cesare as "One of the Top 10 wineries for year 2002".

Created in 1985 by Salvatore and Vinzia di Gaetano who believe they are blessed by one of the most suitable territories in the world for winegrowing consequently allowing them to make great wines with indigenous and international varieties. Firriato has been awarded "Winery of the Year" both in 2005 and 2006 by Il Mio Vino.

The Marco Felluga family has been fashioning some
of the Collio region's most enchanting wines for four
generations, and now with more than a hundred years of experience this estate is undeniably Collio's brightest star. Currently, it has expanded to a yearly production of about 600,000 bottles.

Steeped in history, Castello di Albola can trace its
ownership back to the 12th century and has passed
through the hands of some of Tuscany's most
important and influential noble families, such as the
Acciaioli, the Samminiati, the Pazzi and the Ginori
Conti princes. Committed to beauty and excellence,
Castello di Albola is an exceptional source for wines
that are elegant rather than coarse or blowsy.
Our goal is to maintain this style and level of quality
so our wines reflect the authenticity of its historic cellars, where one can find fine wines that have been ageing for decades and yet still have a taste of almost
unreal freshness. Castello di Albola captures the essence of the Sangiovese variety with its often subtle and austere tones, capable of delighting all those who care to unlock its fascinating secrets.

Located in the breathtakingly beautiful Salento Peninsula, an area with a long history but which is now looking determinedly forward towards the future, the Masseria Altemura Estate’s mission is to offer a new perspective on the wines from the Southern Italian Region of Puglia.

The history of the estate began in the 4th century B.C.. Today the past has been brought back to life, thanks to the Zonin’s project of restoring the property to its original splendour whilst adding modern amenities.

Geographically the Estate lies in the centre of Puglia, between the Ionian and the Adriatic Seas which lap the shores of the region. A unique maritime climate and abundant sunlight provide Masseria Altemura with very favourable conditions for grape growing. In addition, this innovative and swiftly evolving domaine benefits from the sea breezes and the nutrient-rich deep red soil that characterizes much of the Region of Puglia.

Here Baroque influences blend perfectly with Oriental elegance. The estate’s main ally is the sun, which rises everyday to bless the vineyards and makes Masseria Altemura mirror the true spirit of Puglia today.

Grand and dignified, St. Michael-Eppan Winery has been enthroned in the center of South Tyrol's most important wine-growing community for over a century. In 1907, the 340 winemaking families that form the backbone of the winery joined forces to create St. Michael-Eppan Winery. Their great passion is the wine with which they have been associated for generations. Offering knowledge, tradition and passion, each individual contributes to the fact that the winery is blessed with outstanding grapes, which are processed in the cellars with meticulous attention to detail and a great deal of skill.

Today, the winery has 355 hectares of vineyard and 2.5 million bottles production every year, it has become worldwide renowned. In the year of 2000, it was awarded as the best Italian winery by I Vini d'Italia, the Gambero Rosso and Slow Food wine guide. Meanwhile, Mr. Hans Terzer, Master winemaker, famous oenologist and forerunner of South Tyrolean white wines, was named as one of the best 10 Master winemakers in the world.

W. & J. Graham's was founded in Oporto, Portugal
in 1820 and is owned by the Symington family,
producers of Port since the 19th century. In 2007,
WINE ENTHUSIAST Magazine selected the Symington
family as "The Best European Winery". The company's
supreme reputation is the direct result of the personal commitment and dedication that only a family business can bring to the finest of Port wines. Today six members of the fourth generation of the Symington family work in the company, personally managing all aspects of winemaking from vineyards to the final bottling.

Based on the Mosel wine region in Germany, Egon
Müller Scharzhof produces the most sought after
Rieslings in the world. "The quality of a wine is 100%
made in the vineyard. In the cellar it is not possible to
arrive even at 101% but it is no small achievement to
be able to bring the full potential of the grapes into the bottle." This favorite saying of the late Egon Müller III is still as true as it ever was. They believe in the quality and the potential of vineyards to produce the finest grapes and do everything to enhance this potential.

Founded in 1947, Nik Weis – St. Urbans Hof has become one of the most important and classic wineries in the Mosel region. Since 2000, the Riesling winery is member of Germany’s renowned VDP (Association of German Quality Wine Estates). The approximately 45 hectares of vineyards stretch for around 60 km along the Mosel and Saar rivers and are cultivaed in a traditional manner in harmony with nature. Five of the prestigious individual crus, in which world-class Rieslings grow, are classified as Wines from great Sites (VDP. Grosse Lage). The wines are fermented exclusively with indigenous yeasts.

As a legendary estate, Vega-Sicilia set its sights on
another legendary name, a vineyard known as Oremus, which had produced the first Aszú wine in 1650. Vega-Sicilia purchased the estate after the break up of the Hungarian state monopoly in 1993. A state-of-the-art winery, rediscovered by Vega-Sicilia´s meticulous work, with a single and noble aim: producing the best wines following the last centuries' traditions.
Later, other renowned companies entered Tokay
territory making the effort of Vega-Sicilia worthwhile.