Owner and winemaker Byron Kosuge spent the first fifteen years of his winemaking career in Saintsbury in Carneros. His time there established him as a Pinot Noir and Chardonnay specialist. After leaving Saintsbury in 2001, Byron assumed winemaking duties for several small projects, including Miura Vineyards – where he still consults – McIntyre Vineyard and Aiena Wines.
His own label, B. Kosuge Wines focuses on Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Gamay from several different sites in the Sonoma Cast and Carneros. These are elegant, artisanal wines that showcase California terroir in a classic, yet unique way.
New Jersey
Cantina di Lana
Cantina di Lana is a 200-year old estate based in the Veneto, traditionally known for its production of wool (“lana” in Italian). The estate began growing grapes in the mid-19th century and is now known for high quality table wines sourced both from their property and throughout Italy. Cantina di Lana is a tribute to the reputation that comes from being Italian-made. In the Middle ages, lana – or wool – production thrived in Italy thanks to their advanced methods and has since been known as some of the finest wool in the world. When it comes to wine, there are few places that do well-made wines quite like Italy. Just like the comfort of your Italian wool coat, Cantina di Lana reminds us that the true common thread in luxury is dependability.
CARUSOMININI
Located on Sicily’s western-most coast near the town of Marsala, Caruso & Minini boasts a history that harks back to the late 1800’s when Antonio Caruso bought the company to grow grapes for the nearby Marsala factories. The company was passed through subsequent generations until Nino Caruso finally decided to begin making and bottling his own wine in the mid 1900’s. In 2004, Stefano Caruso joined forces with Mario Minini of Lombardy to launch the present-day winery, producing wines from indigenous Sicilian varietals such as Catarratto, Nero d’Avola, Frappato, Inzolia, and Nerello Mascalese. Today, Stefano’s daughter Giovanna works closely with her father to head up this historic winery.
The winery now boasts 120 hectares at 200-400 meters above sea level, including 5 hectares that are farmed organically and dedicated to Giovanna Caruso’s BIO project. Located 20 kilometers from the sea, the area is cooled by strong winds, yet is far enough from them to avoid any potential damage. The area, which was under water millions of years ago, is characterized by its alluvial soil, rich in water and organic substances. Most notable are the large stones called cuti in local dialect. The softball-sized cuti not only impart a distinct minerality on the grapes grown in them, but also soak up heat from the sun which they transfer to the vines, allowing for an earlier ripening of the grapes thus making harvest possible at a stage which will allow for higher acidity in the wines.
ARIE
Arietta, an ultra-premium Napa winery specializing in limited production Bordeaux-style blends, is owned by wine specialist and auctioneer Fritz Hatton and his wife Caren. One of America’s most celebrated winemakers, Andy Erickson, crafts the Arietta wines from carefully chosen blocks in the cooler climates of Napa Valley. The Arietta wine portfolio currently consists of four red wines—H Block Hudson, Variation One, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Quartet—and one white wine, On The White Keys. The Hattons founded Arietta in 1996 in partnership with winemaker John Kongsgaard and his wife Maggy. The partnership was born of a shared passion for fine wine and classical music. The vinous inspiration for Arietta was an extraordinary 2.3 acre block of Cabernet Franc on the Hudson Ranch in Napa/Carneros. The fruit from this block of Cabernet Franc serves as the core of the Arietta Red Wine H Block Hudson Vineyards.
The Arietta project grew with the selection of additional superb blocks of Merlot and Syrah on the Hudson Ranch, which made possible the addition of two wines to the Arietta portfolio: Arietta Red Wine Variation One, an innovative blend of Merlot and Syrah, and Arietta Merlot Hudson Vineyards, produced only in selected vintages. Arietta’s label features the manuscript of Beethoven’s Arietta movement from his last Piano Sonata, Opus 111, written long after the composer had lost his hearing. Opus 111 is one of the most transporting and revolutionary pieces of music ever composed. Serene yet complex, rich yet ethereal, Beethoven’s Arietta provides an inspirational model for great winemaking.
Sounds of the Past Resonate with Arietta Wines – Napa Valley Register, September 2016
Poderi Aldo Conterno
Poderi Aldo Conterno belongs to an elite group of historical Barolo producers who have truly shaped the history of winemaking in the Langhe.
The essential resource the Wine Atlas of the Langhe writes: “Gran Bussia is universally acknowledged as one of the finest interpretations of Barolo. Created in 1970 from a selection of the estate’s best grapes, Gran Bussia – released only in the best vintages – has shown how it is possible to achieve a perfect marriage of aromas and flavor with unhurried cellaring. Recent tastings of all the vintages have confirmed the staying power of the wine, which exalts the majestic nose of Nebbiolo while offering a palate that becomes increasingly velvety with the passing years.”
The story of Poderi Aldo Conterno is a tale of great passion for winemaking that winds back through the generations and crosses international borders. It starts in the 19th century, when the forefathers of Aldo Conterno emigrated to Argentina. After only a few years they went back to Italy to the small family farm and winery in Monforte d’Alba where they returned to producing the local wine. With their return, the Conterno family increased the production of wine, to be sold in casks not only in Piedmont and Liguria but as far away as the Americas, thanks to a relative who had stayed out in Argentina. At this time, the Conternos felt the need to create a superior Barolo, to be produced exclusively in the best vintages, which saw long vinification periods and was extremely ageworthy. In the 1920s, the first Barolo Riserva was bottled. At the end of the ’30s, the business was handed over to son Giacomo, who continued his father’s tradition with commitment and foresight, while teaching the business to his sons Giovanni and Aldo.
In the mid-’50s, Aldo set out for the United States, hoping to establish a winemaking business in California, with the help of an uncle who lived there. Upon his return to the family business in Italy around 1961, father Giacomo handed over the winery to his sons: it was a thriving and prestigious business, recognized throughout most of the country. Yet, the five-year experience in the United States had kindled within Aldo a desire to establish a business of his own. After working for a considerable time alongside his brother, Aldo bought the “Favot” farm, founding the estate “Poderi Aldo Conterno” in 1969.
The farmhouse is situated in the Bussia hamlet, a section of the Monforte d’Alba village. At present, the farm comprises about 25 hectares of vineyards considered to be some of the very best plots in all of the Langhe. At an altitude of about 400 meters above sea level, the terrain is oriented south-southwest and is composed of gray-brown compact layers of sandy soil alternating with white and bluish calcareous marls, rich with calcium carbonate and iron. All fruit is strictly hand harvested in mid-October. Fermentation occurs in temperature-controlled stainless-steel tanks. The estate’s four Barolos are vinified in the same manner: they are all fermented in horizontal fermenters, “which are different from the more violent rotary fermenters” according to Conterno. Fermentation and maceration lasts 2-3 weeks, depending on the vintage. The wines are then aged exclusively in Slavonian-oak casks ranging from 25 to 75 hectoliters, which are changed every 15-18 years. Selected yeasts are never used. The wines are remarkably approachable and tend to show a lot of sweet fruit in their youths as well as notes of spices and vanilla. These are very clean and polished wines of great elegance. All the other wines are aged in French-oak barriques.
Club 44
Since the turn of the 20th century, the Côte d’Azur has been the quintessential traveler’s destination. From the beach side resorts of Saint Tropez to the cobblestone streets of Nice and Cannes, the French Riviera continues to give travelers a sense of quaint nostalgia. Inspired by the dreamy imagery of travel’s “golden age,” Club 44 instantly transports you to those care-free days of summer, to those days when shoes were optional and the toughest decision was what to drink with lunch.
Club 44 Rosé was brought to life through a close collaboration between Massanois Imports and Domaine Bagrau. Situated in the heart of the Coteaux d’Aix en Provence AOP, Bagrau was the ideal partner to launch this exciting project with. Dozens of tank samples from different parcels were blended and tasted until our common goal was reached – a harmonious wine that we universally loved and were proud to share with our customers. We truly hope you enjoy Club 44 as much as we do!