Arguably Valtellina’s most iconic producer, Casa Vinicola Nino Negri was founded in 1897 and owns 31 hectares of vineyards across the most prestigious of the Valtellina Superiore D.O.C.G. subzones: Inferno, Sassella, Grumello and Fracia, a monopole vineyard located in the Valgella subzone. The winery is based in Chiuro, in the old fifteenth-century Castello Quadrio. Due to the extremely steep hillsides, Nino Negri’s estate is characterised by terracing to allow cultivation of the land. All vineyard work, including vineyard management and harvest is done entirely by hand along the terraces supported by a myriad of age- old dry stonewalls, a symbol of this valley.

In 1931, 70 growers joined forces to create a cooperative called Destra Tagliamento. Today, known as Viticultori Friulani La Delizia with 500 growers and 2,000 hectares of vineyards throughout the Friuli plain with the renowned Friuli Grave and Prosecco DOC areas. Historically dedicated to viticulture, these areas produce wines with a strong identity and character.

Especially renowned for its single-vineyard wines, Marchesi di Barolo is the home cellar to Barolo wine. After five generations in the wine business, today Marchesi di Barolo is represented by the Abbona family: Anna and Ernesto, together with their children Valentina and Davide. Their mission has always been to marry tradition and evolution by combining ancient winemaking techniques with the ability to present Barolo in a contemporary way.

Tenimenti Ca’ Bianca occupies an area of over 24 hectares in a single plot, set around its cellars, and the central viewpoint offers a stunning panorama. Its surrounding lands have a strong winemaking history, formed thirteen million years ago in the Miocene period, on the sandy bed of a quite shallow ancient sea. The estate grows a selection of Dolcetto, Gavi, Moscato, and Brachetto, as well as three different types of Barbera, a local varietal which is part of the DOC Barbera d’Asti designation.

Formed in 1907 Kellerei St Pauls is a cooperative which today has over 200 members. Lying protected on the south side of the Alps and enjoying 1800 hours of sunshine a year, well aired by the downdraught from the Mendel range and benefitting from a high diurnal range, their vineyards are well-positioned to deliver consistently high-quality grapes. Their vineyards are predominantly managed by hand, and every stage of production benefits from modern, energy-efficient machinery.

With many of the historic Valpolicella producers residing on the western side of the denomination. Tenuta Sant’Antonio was founded in 1989 by four brothers: Armando, Tiziano, Paolo and Massimo Castagnedi, on the eastern side. Whilst initially this decision defied the status quo, today, several exciting and innovative producers have joined Tenuta Sant’Antonio in calling this area their home. The company has excelled in recent years, producing critically acclaimed Soave, Valpolicella and Amarone, alongside an innovative range of wines under the SCAIA brand.