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France

Justin Girardin, Santenay

The Girardin family traces its Burgundian roots back to 1570, with Justin Girardin being the 13th generation. Following studies in Beaune and Bordeaux, and a vintage in Tasmania, Justin returned to the domaine in 2010. He worked alongside his parents, Valérie and Jacques, who had bought the domaine from his uncle, Vincent Girardin, at the same time as Vincent shifted his focus to Meursault.

Jean-Marc Pillot, Chassagne-Montrachet

The Pillot family makes wines with lean, fresh, and complex style. From the nearly 15 hectares of vineyards, the production of white wine is still dominant but almost half of it is dedicated to Pinot noir for the making of red wines, which is unusual for Chassagne-Montrachet.  Jean-Marc Pillot has been working at the estate since 1985 and manages it since 1991. He is now making wines together with his son, Antonin.

Michel Gaunoux, Pommard

Domaine Michel Gaunoux was founded by Alexandre Gaunoux in 1875, and has been owned and managed by the family since then. The name of the estate is a tribute to Michel Gaunoux who passed in 1984. Domaine Michel Gaunoux is a traditional producer in its viticulture and winemaking process. Winemaker Alexandre Gaunoux, the son of Michel, has not changed his winemaking, which his father and grandfather taught, combined with over 140 years of expertise and intelligence.

Jean-Baptiste Boudier, Pernand-Vergelesses

Jean-Baptiste is a young winemaker, with a Diplome National d’Oenologie, who is breaking away from the family estate. He is based in Pernand-Vergelesses, and has 11 appellations in his range and over 6 hectares of vines. He is the fifth generation of winemakers in his family. This exciting domaine shows that genuine greatness can be achieved in humble terroirs when ambition is combined with compassionate intelligence, hard work, and perseverance.  

Domaine du Couvent, Gevrey-Chambertin

The Chéron and Hammel families were joint owners of Domaine des Varoilles, in Gevrey-Chambertin. In 2020, following the retirement of Gilbert Hammel, the majority of the Domaine des Varoilles holdings was absorbed into Philippe Chéron’s Domaine du Couvent. The wines are therefore now labelled as Domaine du Couvent. Philippe Chéron, the man who now oversees Domaine du Couvent, whose father had worked in the Varoilles vines since the 1970s, so there is clearly good knowledge of the terroirs within the family.

Domaine du Banneret, Chateauneuf-du-Pape

A miniscule estate of less than five hectares tracing its origins back to 1405. Jean-Claude, the descendant of the first owner, learned winemaking with his friends Jacques Reynaud and Henri Bonneau, who helped him with his first few vintages. He kept the traditional methods of his ancestors and taught them to his daughter Audrey, who now oversees the domaine. Located on the characteristic galet stone soils, the vineyards are divided into nine parcels with rich biodiversity. At Banneret, farming is organic. Nothing is done in a modern way: the wines are still bottled mainly by pipette and the labels are affixed by hand.

Italy

Campo di Sasso, Bibbona

The project began in 2001 when brothers Lodovico and Piero Antinori, together with their nephew Niccolo’ Marzichi Lenzi (Chief Executive of the company and son of their sister Ilaria), and share-holder Umberto Mannoni. Tenuta Campo di Sasso extends to over 56 hectares and is at a lower altitude than the Biserno estate. The soil is sandier and in terms of microclimate, it is hotter here during the summer months. These conditions are perfect for the cultivation of Syrah and Vermentino, as well as the main Bordeaux varieties.

Ridolfi, Montalcino

The estate’s history traces back to 1290. Three Ridolfi families stem from an ancient Tuscan lineage. The estate was bought in 2011 by Giuseppe Valter Peretti, owner of the Rocchetto estate in Larciano in Chianti. In 2014, Gianni Maccari joined as winemaker after a long time (14 years) working at the esteemed Poggio di Sotto. He is now joined by his son Filippo who has just finished his winemaking and vineyard studies.