With a name inspired by the old Italian expression meaning “House of Charm,” Casa di Malia pays tribute to the magic of Treviso, one of the storied towns in the Province of Venice in the heart of the Prosecco appellation. The grapes for Casa di Malia all come from Tenuta Divici, a collection of family-owned vineyards, all of which are certified organic. The estate’s commitment to true Italian Prosecco and honest, unfettered viticulture shines through in their wines: elegant, expressive, and, above all, charming.
Wine
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!
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.
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.
B. Kosuge
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.
Domaine Rion
The Rion family history goes back five generations to 1896 in Premeaux and Nuits-Saint-Georges. The Domaine was established in 1955 by Daniel Rion with a mere 2 ha of vines, selling the majority of his wine to negociants until the 1978 vintage. Daniel’s sons Patrice (who departed in 2000), Christophe, Olivier and eventually his daughter Pascale would join him at the winery. As their vineyard holdings grew, Domaine Rion became a standard bearer of old-school vin de gard Burgundy. As Clive Coates puts it: “This is an important domaine. Quality is high and dependable and if I find a ‘house style’ in the wines, a family resemblance, I don’t quibble too much because the wines are clean and fruity and the tannins have become increasingly sophisticated over the years.” Today Jean-Charles, son of Olivier and grandson of Daniel runs the estate. They now manage 6 ha across Chambolle-Musigny, Vosne Romanée, Nuits-Saint-Georges, and the Grand Crus of Clos Vougeot and Échezeaux. The winemaking remains traditional.
Viticulture & Winemaking
Attentive care throughout the year keeps him in his vines and cellar. The harvest is limited to small yields. The grapes are harvested manually followed by rigorous sorting, favoring only the healthiest berries. The vinification takes place in open stainless-steel vats at carefully controlled temperatures throughout the alcoholic fermentation process. Maceration lasts on average from fifteen days to three weeks depending on the appellations and the quality of the vintage. The aging takes place quietly between twelve and eighteen months in oak barrels.