Meet the Team: An Interview with Matteo Altare – General Manager of Castell’in Villa and Senior Consultant for The Wine Partners
This month we sat down with Matteo Altare — the man behind the Custom Wine Sessions and one of the guiding minds at The Wine Partners. Originally from Alba, Matteo brings deep technical knowledge, a poetic view of wine, and a lifetime of vineyard experience to the team. We caught up with him between a vineyard walk and a barrel tasting in Tuscany.
TWP: Where did your journey with wine begin?
Matteo: I was born in Alba, one of those rare places where wine isn’t just present — it’s everywhere. It’s part of the culture, the conversations, even people’s identity So wine was never something I chose later. It felt more like a language I always knew how to speak, even before I fully understood it.
TWP: You studied Viticulture and Enology, but also taught and worked in unique places. How did that shape you?
Matteo: Yes, I completed both my bachelor’s and master’s degrees at the University of Turin. My thesis focused on spontaneous fermentation using non-Saccharomyces yeasts — a deep dive into complexity and detail. But teaching changed me in a different way. I taught Wine Chemistry, Viticulture, and even led agriculture classes in the prison of Alba. That was one of the most human and powerful experiences of my life. Wine teaches patience, attention, and care — values that matter everywhere, whether in a cellar or a classroom.
TWP: From Barbaresco to Tuscany — what’s been the biggest change in your winemaking journey?
Matteo: The places are different — soil, climate, grapes, the overall energy. But the deeper values are the same. In Piedmont, I worked with historic wineries like Cantina del Pino, Produttori del Barbaresco, and Cantina del Glicine. Now, at Castell’in Villa, I’m lucky to be part of a place with deep roots and a lot of creative freedom. I think the biggest change is that I’ve learned to listen more — to the vineyard, to people, and to the wine itself.
TWP: You’ll be leading the Custom Wine Sessions at Castell’in Villa for The Wine Partners. What makes them special?
Matteo: I love that they’re not just a tour or a tasting — they’re moments of creation. People come together, roll up their sleeves, and make real decisions that shape a real wine. We talk, we try things, we sometimes disagree — like any good team. It’s a hands-on experience that stays with you. And the wine that comes from it carries that story.
TWP: What do you hope people feel when they share a bottle you helped create?
Matteo: I hope they slow down. I hope they notice what’s in the glass — but also who’s sitting next to them. Wine has the power to quiet the noise of the world, especially when we feel helpless in front of certain things. When the wine is good — and shared with the right people — there’s a quiet kind of magic in that moment. Conflicts disappear.
TWP: And finally — what does wine mean to you, personally?
Matteo: In a world that moves fast and tries to simplify everything, wine stays complex. It’s a living language, made of people, places, and time. I still believe that opening a bottle and sharing it is one of the most genuine things we can do. With wine in front of us, there are no enemies left.
