Italian Wine

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.    

Meet the Team: An Interview with Francesco Altare – PhD Student, Sustainable Viticulture and Senior Consultant for The Wine Partners TWP: Francesco, tell us a bit about what you’re researching right now in your PhD. I’m studying how certain plant pathogens (especially Plasmopara viticola, the one responsible for downy mildew in grapevines) develop resistance to fungicides. Alone, this disease can wipe out up to 75% of a harvest if left unmanaged. What makes this research urgent is the pace at which these pathogens are adapting: year after year, we’re seeing more cases of reduced fungicide efficacy, making it harder to protect vines effectively. At the same time, climate change is making organic viticulture more fragile—weather extremes are pushing natural disease control methods to their limits. That’s why digging deep into the biology of resistance matters so much: it’s about staying one step ahead, designing smarter, more resilient strategies to keep vineyards healthy and sustainable in a rapidly changing world. TWP: What led you down this path—how did your studies and work experiences shape your approach?I studied Viticulture and Enology both at undergraduate and master’s level, and I’ve always worked closely with wine—from the vineyard to the cellar. Over time, I felt a strong pull toward understanding the science behind the problems we often just “work around” in practice. Working in organic and biodynamic wineries made me realize that sustainability isn’t a trend, it’s a mindset. That shaped how I see my role: not just as a researcher, but as someone who connects academic knowledge to real-world viticulture. TWP: Why did you decide to join The Wine Partners?Because it doesn’t feel performative—it feels honest. When Mauricio and I met and he pitched me the idea and made the invitation I knew it was going to be a successful endevour and I wanted to be part of it. Too often, wine communities revolve around status or aesthetics. The Wine Partners feels like a return to roots: sharing knowledge, ideas, and passion without pretension. I love that it brings people into the places where wine actually happens—vineyards, cellars, conversations. That’s the kind of space I want to be part of and I am happy to be on the the team. TWP: What do you hope to contribute to the project?In addition to the more obvious part which is connecting Members and Wineries and helping execute the plan, I want to bring clarity to the scientific side of wine—not through lectures or technical manuals, but by making it relatable. People don’t need to be scientists to understand how downy mildew works or why a certain decision in the vineyard affects the wine’s soul. If I can help bridge that gap, I think we can cultivate not just better-informed drinkers, but also a generation that respects and protects the ecosystems behind every bottle.  

ETNA ON TOUR – A Resounding Success! Curated by The Wine Partners, the ETNA ON TOUR events in Miami, Orlando, and NY/CT were nothing short of extraordinary! Through a series of exclusive private dinners led by our Chapter Leaders, we unveiled 12 exceptional Etna wines in a masterclass-style tasting to an audience of 70 Members and select Guests—including some of the most influential wine buyers and collectors. While the majority of attendees were Brazilians living in the U.S., we also welcomed wine lovers from Argentina, France, England, Australia, South Africa, and Italy, creating a truly international gathering. What stood out? Despite their deep appreciation for fine wines and strong connections with distributors and importers, only five attendees had prior knowledge of Etna’s hidden treasures. This underscores the immense opportunity to introduce more undiscovered Italian gems to our community. Coming Next: Beyond Barolo Next season, we’re taking a deep dive Beyond Barolo—exploring Piedmont’s finest Nebbiolo and native grape varieties. While many wine lovers recognize Barolo, few can name more than a handful of producers, despite 500+ winemakers in the Barolo MGA alone. Piedmont also offers exceptional Nebbiolo from other MGAs, and when we expand into native grapes, the journey becomes even more thrilling. About The Wine Partners The Wine Partners is a private, invitation-only membership club with limited availability, designed for wine lovers who seek exclusive, bespoke experiences beyond the ordinary. We specialize in uncovering Italy’s hidden wine gems, curating inner-circle events, and even offering custom winemaking opportunities. With a growing waiting list for future events, we’re just getting started! Our next milestone is reaching 500 active Members, as we expand Chapters in Lisbon, Texas, and Singapore. Plus, mark your calendars, other events are coming! With Members across four Chapters and expanding, The Wine Partners connects the world’s most passionate wine lovers with the industry’s finest talents.

Linguaglossa, Etna – North, Sicily, Nov 2024 I was one of the 20 IWAs selected by VIA for the November edition of the Gita Scolastica, a themed field trip focused (not only) on Etna. During six days of immersion, we tasted around 200 wines in ten masterclasses and eleven winery visits. The IWAs came from the USA, Canada, England, the Netherlands, South Africa, Kazakhstan, Hong Kong, Singapore, China, Japan, Mexico, and Brazil. Renowned journalists participated, such as Marco Sciarrini (Cronache di Gusto), Alicia Dorey (Le Figaro), and James Button (Decanter), along with the celebrated presence of Pietro Russo MW. The Vinitaly International Academy (VIA) is the certification course of Vinitaly, known for its annual fair in Verona. VIA has set the gold standard for Italian wine certification, and in nearly ten years of the program, it has created an engaged community of 1,400 students, of whom 421 are certified Italian Wine Ambassadors (IWAs) from 50 countries—only nine of whom are Brazilian. VIA offers courses in various locations beyond Verona. Kazakhstan just hosted the latest edition of the course. Who knows, perhaps we will soon have a VIA edition in São Paulo. Stevie Kim, Managing Partner of Vinitaly, aims to strengthen the Italian wine community beyond the fair, encouraging social media presence, the creation of educational content, events, and partnerships. The certification is constantly updated, reflecting the evolution of Italian wine and highlighting its more than 350 native grape varieties. While many wine-producing regions around the world are undergoing renewal, this is especially evident in Italy, where thousands of family wineries have brought surprising quality wines to the market using lesser-known indigenous grapes—aligning with new market trends. I summarize here the major themes discussed during this Gita, as the wealth of content would not fit into just one article. Contemporary Wines: Your Next Wine A recurring theme was the impact of climate change and consumption trends. Pietro Russo MW highlighted the generational shift in consumption habits, with “Parker-style” wines (robust wines with excessive oak exposure) losing popularity among younger generations. Additionally, climate change presents further challenges in production, with extreme weather events becoming more frequent. Studies confirm that we are already 1.1°C above historical averages, affecting, for example, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay in Burgundy—grapes that produce some of the most beloved wines from the region. Some grape varieties are benefiting from these changes, such as Garnacha (which Spain has been working with extensively), Cinsault, and Gamay (in Jura and the Loire Valley in France). Pietro, affirming that Italy is well-positioned to lead the movement toward contemporary wines, presented examples from Freisa (Piedmont), Frappato (Sicily), Schiava (Alto Adige), and Cannonau (the Sardinian name for Garnacha), along with Valpolicella (Veneto), Nebbiolo (Piedmont), and Sangiovese (Tuscany). All were vinified with less oak influence, minimal intervention, and greater authenticity of origin. The freshness of these contemporary wines is impressive. Alicia Dorey led the most controversial masterclass. She explained that her fellow countrymen (the British) have been moving away from lower-quality wines and are unwilling to pay the prices that international buyers offer for Burgundy, Bordeaux, and Champagne. There has been strong price volatility in the art and luxury markets, including wines. The French have been seeking novelties, such as Crémants (sparkling wines made using the traditional method in France but outside Champagne), and have revived interest in Aligoté and Gamay wines. We tasted several wines from the “New” Burgundy in a “contemporary” style, interestingly produced by foreign winemakers like the Japanese Seiichi Saito. She praised the Benedictine monks who created the terroir system—now copied worldwide—stating that “they knew what they were doing.” Unfortunately, the climate of that time no longer exists. It remains to be seen whether adaptation will be possible, as producers are finding it increasingly difficult to maintain traditional standards in these areas. Coincidentally, I have found high-quality Italian “cousins” of classic-method wines in Etna, Alta Langa, and Oltrepò Pavese that are worth trying. #protip Etna’s Unique Wines Finally, throughout the Gita, among numerous other activities, we had the opportunity to explore several wines from Etna, some vinified from century-old pre-phylloxera vines—true gems. We learned that each Contrada (vineyard area) has its own characteristics (I already have my favorite, Santo Spirito), influenced by elevation, wind, geographic position, and soil—shaped by numerous lava flows over centuries, the most recent in the 1980s. We explored various winemaking techniques, using different containers such as fiberglass, amphora, and cement, as well as the impact of Signora Etna’s seismic activity on wine aging, which requires additional precautions during vinification to prevent disruptions to the aging process. From Nerello Mascalese, we tasted some very interesting sparkling wines and Rosatos, which, by the way, are my favorites for Brazil’s climate. Lastly, we assessed the aging potential of Etna’s white wines made from Carricante and Catarratto grapes through vertical tastings, including wines over ten years old. Etna is one of those places that every wine lover should visit. I began this journey seeking to break away from routine, and in Italy, I have found enough material for years of fieldwork. This was my second trip to Etna just this year, and I am already planning the next one. It has been a great pleasure to discover these wines and the people who make this world thrive. I suggest you make some room in your wine cellar for these wonderful wines—you won’t regret it. Mauricio de Chiaro (IWA) is a partner at b2us.co, a venture-building company, and co-founder of The Wine Partners, a club that connects engaged wine lovers with small producers. Mauricio traveled at the invitation of VIA.

🍷 Meet the Founder: An Interview with Mauricio Peccinini de Chiaro At The Wine Partners, our mission is simple: to bring people closer to the soul of winemaking. But behind that mission is a story—one rooted in passion, travel, and a deep respect for craftsmanship. We sat down with our founder, Mauricio Peccinini de Chiaro, to learn more about what inspired him to create The Wine Partners, what makes this club different, and why Italy plays such a central role in the journey. 🌱 What inspired you to create The Wine Partners? Mauricio:It really started with a simple idea: I wanted to bring people closer to the heart and soul of winemaking. I’ve spent years traveling through top wine-producing regions around the world and getting to know passionate, small-scale producers who live and breathe their craft—but most wine lovers never get to meet them. I saw an opportunity to bridge that gap and create something that wasn’t just about buying bottles, but about real connection and shared experiences. That’s how The Wine Partners was born: out of a desire to offer access to the people, places, and stories behind the wine. “We’re not just selling wine. We’re building bridges between curious wine lovers and the people behind the bottles.” 🍇 How is this club different from a traditional wine club? Mauricio:The Wine Partners is not a typical subscription club. We’re not just curating wines—we’re building a community that participates in the life of the winemaker. Our members get backstage access to wineries, the chance to meet producers in person, and even the opportunity to make their own barrel of wine. It’s also a B2B2C model, which means wineries remain in control of their wine, pricing, and storytelling. We act as true partners, not middlemen. That’s why we’re called The Wine Partners—because everyone involved becomes part of something deeper, more personal, and more collaborative. As a wine lover, I understand the ecosystem is full of competent people—importers, journalists, influencers, sommeliers—but I felt the need for a closer experience. I wanted to taste every indigenous grape, learn winemaking techniques, and help producers tell their stories. Our members don’t receive a “wine of the month.” They choose what they want to buy. There’s no minimum commitment. Every semester, we select a theme and curate wines and experiences around it—offering different price ranges and knowledge levels. For example, our next semester is “Barolo & Beyond.” I lived four months in Piedmont and discovered that while most wine lovers know just a few Barolo producers, there are over 500 in the DOCG—and many are still under the radar. Piedmont also offers so much more: Nebbiolo from Roero and Gattinara, Alta Langa sparkling wines, Erbaluce, Timorasso… Of course, this level of curatorship takes hard work, and I couldn’t do it alone. I’ve found an amazing team who help me bring this vision to life. So, we are bringing a curatorship that encompass different perspectives and levels of knowledge, not just mine. We have a team in Europe, in America, in South America and in Asia, respecting every cultural difference and learning from each other. It’s been an amazing personal journey that I want to extend to all members. “This isn’t a wine subscription. It’s a community, a continuous masterclass, and sometimes even a personal cellar.” 🇮🇹 Why focus on Italy? Mauricio:The global wine world is experiencing an exciting surge in quality—but I found in Italy not only exceptional wines, but also warm hospitality and passionate producers who wanted to help make this vision real. Italy holds a special place in my heart. It’s where I first fell in love with wine—not just as a drink, but as a cultural expression. Every village has its own grape, its own history, its own way of doing things. Many of the boutique producers we work with are still deeply connected to the land and to their family traditions. That authenticity is what we want our members to experience firsthand. While we plan to expand to other regions in the future, there is so much richness in Italy that we’ll be happily busy here for a while. “In Italy, wine isn’t made—it’s lived.” 📚 Tell us about the IWA Certification—what is it and why does it matter? Mauricio:The Italian Wine Ambassador (IWA) certification is awarded by the Vinitaly International Academy, and it’s one of the most respected wine education programs in the world—especially focused on Italian wine. I pursued it to deepen my own knowledge and to ensure The Wine Partners is built on a solid foundation of expertise. It signals to both our members and producers that we are here to represent Italian wine with depth, accuracy, and respect. It also connects me to an inspiring international community. Today, we are around 450 certified IWAs across 52 countries—and many of them have become collaborators, helping us create even better experiences for our members. “The IWA isn’t just a title—it’s a commitment to sharing Italy’s wine heritage with integrity.” ✨ Join Us on This Journey The Wine Partners is more than a wine club—it’s a gateway to a richer, more connected wine culture. One that values collaboration, curiosity, and craftsmanship. Whether you’re a wine lover, collector, or boutique producer, there’s a seat for you at our table. 👉 Ready to become a Partner? Learn more here