Aprés Ski

Davino is highly regarded as one of Romania’s top wineries, praised for its work with Eastern European native grapes. Founded in 1997 by Dan Balaban, Davino was only the third private winery in the aftermath of the 1989 revolution. Winemaker Bogdan Costachescu, at Davino since 1998, champions low-intervention winemaking and sustainability, with full organic conversion of the winery expected by 2028. Master of Wine Caroline Gilby calls Davino “Romania’s wine aristocracy,” with its wines consistently used as reference samples by top universities.

Château de Tiregand, nestled in the Pécharmant appellation in South West France, boasts a rich history that stretches back to the 16th century. Originally celebrated for its white varieties cultivated from the vine material of Château d’Yquem, a devastating frost in 1956 prompted François de Saint-Exupéry—relative of renowned World War II pilot and author of The Little Prince—to introduce red varietals. In 2022, Christophe Piat acquired the estate and, alongside his family, embarked on a journey to convert it to organic farming.

Nestled in the rolling hills of Friuli’s Rosazzo subzone, Ronco delle Betulle has been crafting organic wines since its founding in 1967 by Giovanbattista Adami. Now led by Ivana Adami and her son Simone Sechi, the estate spans 12 hectares of terraced vineyards dedicated to native varieties like Friulano, Ribolla Gialla, and the rare Pignolo. With a deep respect for tradition and nature, the winery eschews chemicals, opting for sustainable, artisanal methods that honor the land’s rich history, rooted in the ancient Abbey of Rosazzo.

Founded by Stanko Polanič, Marof seeks to showcase the untapped potential of Slovenia’s Prekmurje region. Winemaker Uroš Valcl brings his passion for honest, terroir-driven wines, shaped by his upbringing in his family’s vineyard. Situated on a historic aristocratic estate, Marof employs minimal intervention winemaking, focusing on blends with native and international varieties. Their wines, known for structure and ageability are only released after years of careful maturation.

Cave Spring was founded in 1973 by John Pennachetti Sr., who transformed an abandoned orchard on the Niagara Escarpment into a vineyard. With remarkable foresight, he planted Riesling and Chardonnay at a time when their potential was largely overlooked in Canada. Beyond producing exceptional wines, Cave Spring has played a pivotal role in advancing the Canadian wine industry; John Sr.'s son Len co-founded the Vintners Quality Alliance (VQA) and Cave Spring became the first winery to achieve the Sustainable Winegrowing Ontario credential.

The vision for Fausti was conceived in 1997 when Cristina Fausti envisioned an organic, modern winery to complement her family’s Marche vineyard. She partnered with esteemed winemaker Domenico D’Angelo, who shares her reverence for the land and celebrates the principles of biodiversity y in the vineyard. Nestled in Fermo, a region steeped in viticultural history, Fausti’s vineyards are marked by a medieval tower—once owned by the Matteucci counts—symbolizing the area’s rich grape-growing heritage.