Founded in 1885, Francesco Trussoni, a master distiller from Gallo d’Alba, began the story of the Montanaro when he created the first single-grape grappa—Grappa di Barolo. In 1922, the distillery was taken over by Mario Montanaro, his wife Angela Trussoni, and their son Giuseppe. With this new generation came rigorous attention to detail including the innovative introduction of steam distillation, providing a slow, linear process for optimal control in flavor extraction rarely seen in Italy at the time. By 2000, Giuseppe Montanaro, now eighty and without direct heirs, decided to sell Montanaro Distillery to a group of Piedmontese business people from the agriculture, wine, and spirits fields. Today, thanks to its carefully stewarded growth and commitment to traditional distillation methods, the Montanaro Distillery places itself among the top players in the world of fine Italian spirits.
New Jersey
Domaine Des Combats
With deep ties to the north of the Drôme since the 17th century, the Combat family has been an integral part of Mercurol for generations, shaping its history and landscape through their devotion to working the land. Today, their legacy lives on through Domaine des Combat, situated in the esteemed Crozes-Hermitage appellation. These wines artfully combine tradition and modernism, harnessing the immense potential of Syrah, Marsanne, and Roussanne grape varieties, as well as the diverse terroir of the Rhône Valley. Guided by a dynamic team, Domaine des Combat embraces both time-honored techniques and innovative approaches, crafting wines that beautifully express the family’s heritage and the region’s dynamic spirit. Experience the captivating flavors that emerge from this harmonious blend of tradition and innovation, as Domaine des Combat invites you on a sensory journey through the Rhône Valley’s rich terroir.
Cooper’s Daughter
Woman-owned and family-operated, Cooper’s Daughter sources foraged and farmed Hudson Valley ingredients to make seasonal, small-batch spirits. On the farm, the apple orchards and walnut groves produce vodka, whiskey, and bourbon that are infused with local botanicals. Barrels are handmade on-site to age bourbon and whiskey. The property is part of the historic Jacob Rutsen van Rensselaer House and Mill complex with a distillery and cooperage circa 1805.
Chiara Pinot Noir
Chiara Pinot Noir is a winery in the Pfalz region of Germany that produces exceptional Pinot Noir wines using traditional winemaking techniques. The winery carefully selects the finest grapes from the region’s vineyards and uses eco-friendly practices to preserve the natural beauty of the land. Chiara Pinot Noir’s commitment to quality, sustainability, and tradition makes it a standout in the world of winemaking, and its wines are renowned for their velvety texture, bold flavors, and long, lingering finish.
Château Monbousquet
Château Monbousquet is a property in Saint-Émilion particularly known for its lush, ripe, modern-styled wines. Long regarded as an underachiever, quality has increased greatly in the past quarter century and the wines are now some of the best in the region. Since 2006, Monbousquet has been ranked as a Grand Cru Classé.
The estate comprises 32 hectares (79 acres) with all but a small parcel planted to red varieties. Proportionally, the vineyard is made up of 60 percent Merlot, 30 percent Cabernet Franc and 10 percent Cabernet Sauvignon.
As with Cheval Blanc and Figeac, the soils are largely gravelly, which suits the high proportion of Cabernets. The vineyard was completely re-drained in 1993 when Gérard Perse purchased the property.
Cerbaia
Cerbaia is a family-owned company that produces wines from some of Montalcino’s finest vineyards, with their Brunello being a true representation of a unique and distinct area. The company was started in 1978 by agronomist Fabio Pellegrini, who saw the potential of his land to produce wines of exceptional finesse and complexity. The Cerbaia company has 12 hectares of land, with 4.5 hectares of Brunello grapes located on the hill of Montosoli, one of the most favorable terroirs for Sangiovese in Montalcino. Elena, Fabio’s daughter, left her career in finance in 2014 to join the family business and carry on her father’s philosophy of making wine with minimal intervention and sustainable practices in their vineyards and products. Today, Cerbaia produces 18,000 bottles of Brunello per year, with their wines being a unique combination of a highly suited land, a traditional winemaking philosophy, and the energy of a young winemaker. The wines that emerge from Cerbaia’s vineyards truly represent the authentic terroir of Montalcino.