⁄uerciabella
As Querciabella approaches its 39th year of winemaking s p e c i a l i s sin u e Tuscany, it is deeply gratifying to see our estate fulfill a purpose – which is expressed in every way we interact with the world. While it is a great privilege to produce wines on some of the world’s finest terroirs, doing so according to genuine A Year in Review convictions is a special triumph. Looking back on the most memorable moments of 2012, the core values that are integral to Querciabella shine through. We would like to share these highlights with you, and wish our wonderful friends and partners the very best in the year ahead. Happy Holidays!
2012 2013
â „uerciabella dec 2012
January
February
Ethics
Identity
March
April
Quality
Engagement
May
June
Gastronomy
Expansion
December 2012
Querciabella – A Year in Review As Querciabella approaches its 39th year of winemaking in Tuscany, it is deeply gratifying to see our estate fulfill a purpose – which is expressed in every way we interact with the world. While it is a great privilege to produce wines on some of the world’s finest terroirs, doing so according to genuine convictions is a special triumph. Looking back on the most memorable moments of 2012, the core values that are integral to Querciabella shine through. We would like to share these highlights with you, and wish our wonderful friends and partners the very best in the year ahead. Happy Holidays! January—Querciabella partners with Stella McCartney in New York for Soho boutique inauguration. What better way to prove that luxury and style can be done with ethics in mind? This star-studded event saw the likes of Anna Wintour, Naomi Watts and Liv Tyler sipping on Querciabella vegan biodynamic wines while being shown around Stella’s stunning new flagship store by the cruelty-free designer herself. February—Querciabella Chianti Classico, 100% Sangiovese, unveiled in Florence at annual Consortium preview tasting. The entire winery team attended this annual event at historic Leopolda Station as Querciabella Chianti Classico 2010, our first monovarietal Sangiovese, took the honor of Best in Show among over 120 DOCGs from the same vintage. What people liked most about our new release was its pure expression of grape variety and unmistakably regional identity. March—Querciabella launches UK partnership with Armit Wines. As a traditionally significant export market, Great Britain has long been one of the most prestigious showcases for Querciabella wines. The opportunity to join Armit Wines’ unparalleled Italian fine wine portfolio was one of the true high points of 2012, a welcome move that allows our winery to make a resounding statement about quality alongside the most formidable selection of Italian producers represented in the UK. April—Roberto Lasorte visits trade and consumers in Stockholm. More than a standard market visit, this was an unprecedented occasion for direct engagement between Querciabella’s CEO Roberto Lasorte and Swedish stakeholders – over a glass of wine. This highly successful fine wine tasting – organized by Querciabella’s exclusive importer in Sweden Prime Wine Group – took place at the Moderna Museet, which houses Stockholm’s finest collection of modern art. May—Sebastiano Cossia Castiglioni hosts vegetarian gala in Florence. James Suckling’s highly publicized Divino Tuscany wine event featured Querciabella among the region’s most renowned producers. To celebrate this exclusive affair in quintessential Querciabella style, winery owner Sebastiano Cossia Castiglioni hosted a magnificent sixteen-course vegetarian gala for a group of illustrious international guests at Florence’s historic Palazzo Capponi – proving that passion for gastronomy has a place in an ecologically conscious lifestyle. June—Querciabella launches biodynamic conversion project on 25 hectares in San Polo in Rosso, Gaiole in Chianti. This expansion effort underscores Sebastiano Cossia Castiglioni’s commit-
About Querciabella Founded in 1974, Querciabella enjoys the acclaim of the world’s most discriminating critics and consumers for wines such as Camartina, Batàr, Palafreno and Querciabella Chianti Classico. In its uncompromising pursuit of quality, sustainability and authenticity, Querciabella has continually honed its approach to biodynamic viticulture for over a decade. With vineyards located throughout Tuscany’s Chianti Classico and Maremma areas, Querciabella exemplifies the mindful preservation of tradition through forward-thinking, albeit completely natural, winemaking. For the latest winery news and updates, join Querciabella on Twitter and Facebook.
July
August
Milestones
Dialogue
September
October
Consistency
Lifestyle
November
December
Ambassadorship
Prestige
ment to the environment and to world-class winemaking in the Chianti Classico zone. Part of an ongoing effort to showcase the numerous distinct terroir styles that exist within the area, the San Polo in Rosso project was conceived to specifically produce benchmark Sangiovese, including one of Querciabella’s future single-vineyard crus. July—Mongrana uncorked as house wine by the Four Seasons Mumbai. Our Indian distributor Wine Park put the spotlight on Querciabella with a series of sumptuous dinners and tastings in New Delhi and Mumbai. Becoming the Four Seasons’ house pour with Mongrana 2009 was an exciting milestone for our winery in this blossoming wine market. August—Stephanie Cuadra visits the Republic of Armenia. In a symbolic gesture of homage to over 6,000 years of viticultural history, winery Communications Director Stephanie Cuadra held Querciabella’s first tasting on Armenian soil. The momentous occasion, hosted with the support of the Italian Embassy in Yerevan, was no small diplomatic affair as Italian Ambassador Bruno Scapini opened the embassy and his private residence to over eighty distinguished guests. Armenian dignitaries, foreign ambassadors, local producers and the press came together on this extraordinary evening dedicated to dialogue, cultural exchange and the appreciation of fine wine. September—JancisRobinson.com publishes unprecedented vertical tastings of Camartina and Batàr. Vertical tastings of our Supertuscan duo Camartina and Batàr are no frequent occurrence, which is why when Jancis Robinson’s Italian wine specialist Walter Speller sits down to write about 15 and 16 vintages respectively, Querciabella lovers take note. The release of Mr Speller’s detailed tasting notes and scores, which take readers all the way back to 1991, are a testament to the merits of qualitative consistency in winemaking. October—Villa d’Este features Querciabella in Wine & Truffles Tour. When one of the Leading Hotels of the World partners with Tuscany’s leading biodynamic producer of fine wine, the world-class lifestyle experience born is nothing short of extraordinary. This year’s Villa D’Este/Villa La Massa Wine & Truffles Tour took 12 distinguished international guests on an autumn epicurean adventure that included a special stopover at Querciabella for a private winery tour and estate lunch created expressly for the occasion by award-winning Tuscan chef Filippo Saporito of La Leggenda dei Frati. November—Giorgio Fragiacomo returns to Moscow for annual masterclass tasting. Querciabella’s export director Giorgio Fragiacomo of International Fine Wine Traders, a WSET diploma holder and biodynamic expert, has a passion for his work and an unsurpassable flair for passing his enthusiasm on to others. Giorgio’s masterclass tasting of the full Querciabella range for the Muscovite sommelier elite – which took place last month at the iconic National Hotel overlooking Red Square and the Kremlin –exemplified our commitment to ongoing education and to promoting strong ambassadorship throughout the winery’s worldwide distribution network. December— Camartina is featured in historic Italian fine wine offering at Acker Merral & Condit’s year-end auction in Hong Kong. Every great year should end on a high note and 2012 hit that note in grand style for Querciabella in Hong Kong, where an exclusive offering of critically acclaimed Camartina 2004 was showcased and sold at auction by Acker Merral & Condit. This landmark Italian fine wine sale set the stage for the Great Wines of Italy lot hand-selected by James Suckling following his prestige Italian wine event – also featuring Querciabella – co-hosted by Hong Kong Tatler, Asia’s leading luxury lifestyle magazine.
Stephanie Cuadra Direttore Comunicazione & Marketing +39 02 7487 3106 stc@querciabella.com www.querciabella.com