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Food production needs to be increased, and it needs to be done sustainably. At Sprout Stack, we grow the highest quality vegetables, while minimising the impact on the environment. We use a combination of the latest technologies available to achieve maximum freshness, taste and nutrition. Because we grow indoors, we can precisely control every aspect of the growing environment, resulting in consistent great quality and shorter growing cycle. Perfect growing conditions also allow us to grow without the use of any pesticides or GMO varieties. We use energy efficient LED lights to provide our crops with the ideal light recipe year round, so there is no seasonality or cloudy days. An automated irrigation system makes sure our plants don’t get thirsty and have all the nutrients they require to thrive. The best part is that we use 95% less water than traditional growing systems. Our farms are modular and can be placed closer to you, reducing the food miles and keeping a smaller carbon footprint.

I am 56 years old and love life ! and am engaged to a wonderful man and we have been together for 9 years. I have 1 son who lives in Houston, Texas with his lovely wife and my 2 beautiful grandchildren. I have 1 sister who is sadly disabled. She has Motor Neuron Disease and is paralysed from the neck down. She has had this debilitating illness since 1998. I care very deeply for her and continue to walk this hard, painful journey with her. I would love to one day open up a strung of Care Homes called Mandy in honour of her. Watching your disabled sister struggle every day has been heartbreaking but through this I have learnt the art of caring, giving and kindness. To be able to help and be there for those less fortunate than you is a heartwarming experience and exceptionally rewarding. My passion is travelling – I absolutely LOVE IT ! My sport is Golf and because I have such an adventurous, extrovert personality I also love a lot of other things like Boating, Fishing, Cooking, Drinking wine and socialising. The list is so long because I am always willing to try new things and experience new places. I am an extrovert in personality and love bringing out the best in people. My profession at the moment is a Key accounts Manager for a Surgical Equipment company. I have been with them for 14 years. I have vast experience in Sales and Customer service and represent my company by calling on all Hospitals – Private and Provincial – throughout the entire Eastern Cape. I work with doctor’s in theatre and am skilled in the sale of Medical Equipment for Trauma, Gynie, Urology, General Surgery, Cardiology, Neurology, Gastro-Enterology, Ultrasound etc. Prior to being a Surgical Rep I was a Medical Rep for 20 years calling on General Practioners, Pharmacists and Physicians selling Pharmaceutical Drugs. I also have experience in the setting up of Vaccine Clinics and GIT Units. My passion is service and looking after my customers. I love to make a difference in everything that I do and work hard. I love to make people smile ! I am a great organiser and get things done. I am very loyal in business and in my private life and am committed to whatever I sign up for. You will always be able to rely on me. I would say that I am a Spiritual person. I have a genuine passion for seeking out the truth of all things. and placing myself on a sacred path of self discovery. I learn every day and try to live my life with a curious, grateful heart. I believe we can all be kind if we want to be and we can all make a difference in someone’s life if we want to. I want to make a difference in the world ! I know I can.

Umgibe is a story of Ma’ Joye who was diagnosed with cancer in 2014 as a result she could not work to provide food for her family. She decided to grow organic vegetables in her backyard. Unfortunately, the chickens ate all her vegetables, needless to say she was devastated, but as a woman she had to come up with a solution. She innovated a growing system that enabled her to grow vegetables using diversified plastic bags from going to the landfills as growing bags. Armed with his solution, Umgibe provided the much-needed protection from the chickens, but it did not end there, it saved water and fed the family as well as neighbors who started buying the surplus produce. Before long, Ma Joye was teaching other community members to grow nutritious vegetables. The story that began with pain has now paved the way for the hundreds of families. A platform was born where poor communities started growing vegetables to feed themselves and collectively sell their surplus produce. Umgibe is the rope of hope that pulls unemployed and underserved communities up. Umgibe Farming Organics is a carbon-saving, ecological, organic, income-generating vegetable-growing system which provides a platform to market vegetables grown by grassroots farmers in South Africa. They are 100% black-owned Level 1 B-BBEE. Umgibe believe in delivering products that are organically grown, provide balanced nutrition and does not harm the environment and are reasonably priced for affordability.

The Madumbi story is rooted in the gift of giving. 20 years ago, Andre Fox (our founder) and Patrick Deal partnered with Timbavati Game Reserve to assist local Shangaan communities as they attempted to create a protected elephant corridor. The challenge was to achieve this sustainably through agriculture. On the successful completion of the pilot project, Andre and Patrick were given a gift of locally grown potatoes, known as madumbes… and Madumbi Sustainable Agriculture was born. With humble beginnings at its heart, Madumbi has remained dedicated to its mission of driving sustainable agricultural solutions across South Eastern Africa. This is our gift to future generations across the continent; a future with complicated environmental and social challenges. By contributing – from seed to fork – towards the sustainable delivery of toxin-free, nutrient-dense food to all our tables, Madumbi hopes to form a part of the innovative solutions required for sustainable food production.

Steeped in history, ReedValley was established on one of the oldest farms in the Mossel Bay district and now boasts a selection of export wines. First owned by the Muller family, the homestead built in 1826 remains as a testimony of time, still holding its own as a destination where superior experiences are not the exception, but the rule. During the 1800s, the farm was known as an oasis to weary travelers going east, and it often served as a gathering place for the early settlers. This bountifulness is still reflected today at ReedValley where hospitality and unparalleled experiences are a way of life. ReedValley offers a unique wine tasting experience in the heart of the world-famous Garden Route. At our venue, you can sample our exclusive EdenValley wine range that we expertly pair with local produce. Cosy up in front of our oversized fireplace on cold days, or soak up the sun on our expansive lawn during the summer months. A kids’ play area will keep the little ones entertained for hours while mom and dad enjoy a glass of our world-famous EdenValley wine. We also offer two unique dining experiences The Succulent Eatery - Award-winning Chef Michelle de Jager's The Succulent Eatery, fittingly set within a succulent nursery, has mouth-watering options for the entire family. Then you have The Boma. You can also experience an authentic bush inspired forest restaurant, which is perfect for larger groups, weddings and events.

Garden Of Eden Berries is the largest exporter of strawberries within South Africa. Through our in-house plug plant nursery PHC, we cultivate top quality plants for ourselves and growers alike. We take pride in producing exceptional berries. Our in-house team of horticulturists, scientists, PhD and BSc scholars enable us to produce an exceptional product from seedling to berry. Growing strawberries requires a very scientific approach. Our nutritional specialists assess and measure fruit quality in regard to colour, firmness and taste on a daily basis to ensure good plant health and top production performance. When it comes to producing great strawberries, plant quality is of utmost importance. Did you know that Growers have to replant all their strawberry fields on an annual basis and is therefore a crucial part of their business? Fertile soil contains an optimal balance of macro and micro-nutrients together with microbial life to ensure bioavailability to the plant. Together with optimal photosynthesis levels results in large, flavoursome, and nutritious berries.

La Tenuta San Guido prende il nome da San Guido della Gherardesca vissuto nel XIII secolo. Si trova sulla costa Etrusca tra Livorno e Grosseto, nella Maremma resa celebre dai versi di Giosuè Carducci e si estende per 13 chilometri dal mare fin dietro le colline. Racchiude al suo interno tre eccellenze: il Sassicaia, la Razza Dormello Olgiata nei cavalli purosangue e il Rifugio Faunistico Padule di Bolgheri, primo in Italia. Negli anni venti, studente a Pisa, Mario Incisa della Rocchetta sognava di creare un vino di razza. Il suo ideale, come per l'aristocrazia dell'epoca, era il Bordeaux. Così lo descrive in una lettera a Veronelli del 11/6/1974. ”…l’origine dell’esperimento risale agli anni tra il 1921 e il 1925, quando, studente a Pisa e spesso ospite dei Duchi Salviati a Migliarino, avevo bevuto un vino prodotto da una loro vigna sul monte di Vecchiano che aveva lo stesso inconfondibile “bouquet” di un vecchio Bordeaux da me appena assaggiato più che bevuto, (perché a 14 anni non mi si permetteva di bere vino) prima del 1915, a casa di mio nonno Chigi.” Essendosi stabilito con sua moglie Clarice nella Tenuta San Guido sulla costa Tirrenica, sperimentò alcuni vitigni francesi (le cui barbatelle aveva recuperato dalla tenuta dei Duchi Salviati a Migliarino, e non dalla Francia) e concluse che il Cabernet aveva "il bouquet che ricercavo". Nessuno aveva mai pensato di fare un vino "bordolese" in Maremma, una zona sconosciuta sotto il punto di vista vinicolo. La decisione di piantare questa varietà nella Tenuta San Guido fu in parte dovuta alla somiglianza che egli aveva notato tra questa zona della Toscana e Graves, a Bordeaux. Graves vuole dire ghiaia, per il terreno sassoso che distingue la zona, proprio come Sassicaia, in Toscana, denomina una zona con le stesse caratteristiche. Dal 1948 al 1967, il Sassicaia rimase dominio strettamente privato, e fu bevuto solo nella Tenuta. Ogni anno, poche casse venivano messe a invecchiare nella cantina di Castiglioncello. Il marchese ben presto si rese conto che invecchiando il vino migliorava considerabilmente. Come spesso accade con i vini di grande levatura, quelli che prima erano considerati difetti, col tempo si trasformarono in virtù. Ora amici e parenti incitavano Mario Incisa ad approfondire i suoi esperimenti e perfezionare il suo stile di vinificazione rivoluzionario per quella zona. L'annata del 1968 fu la prima ad essere messa sul mercato, con un'accoglienza degna di un Premier Cru Bordolese. Negli anni seguenti la cantina venne trasferita in locali a temperatura controllata, tini d'acciaio rimpiazzarono i tini di legno per la fermentazione, e le barriques francesi vennero introdotte per l'invecchiamento. Sono i punti cardinali della Tenuta e ne segnano anche geograficamente il territorio: il Padule verso il mare, il centro allenamento in pianura ed i vigneti che arrivano fino a quasi 400 metri tra la macchia sulle colline. Una situazione ideale perché con 2.500 ettari a disposizione è stato possibile trovare i 75 ettari più vocati per il Sassicaia. Così eccezionali da meritare una D.O.C tutta loro (D.O.C. Bolgheri Sassicaia) che è l’unica in Italia ad essere inclusa interamente in una proprietà.

We're the innovative, national campaign working to make global poverty a focus of U.S. foreign policy. The Borgen Project is a Seattle-based nonprofit organization that combats global poverty by advocating for a refocus of U.S. political attention and funding toward programs that improve conditions for the world’s poor. Our purpose is to inform, engage, and mobilize the public to encourage U.S. Congress to support legislation that benefits the global economy. Every year, the world loses 0.3% of its fertile soil due to erosion and mismanagement. On the surface, this may not seem like much, but it means that over the past 100 years, the earth has lost 30% of its fertile soil, and this number will continue to grow, leading to more food insecurity globally. This erosion is due to over-farming land and the increased use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides. However, around the world, farmers and agricultural departments have begun to practice sustainable farming, a practice where farmers rotate crops to let the soil regain its nutrients while also supplementing it with animal manure instead of chemical fertilizer. As a result, the soil should remain in a natural state so that it is able to be useful for years to come. Here is some information about regenerative farming in South Africa. In South Africa, regenerative farming has become essential to the agricultural model because the country has suffered irregularity in its rainy season, as well as a lack of crops that can actually survive in the region. Farmers began the movement amongst their own community, and it gradually grew to receive national attention. Their model concentrates heavily on planting as many native crops as possible and avoiding non-native crops that require large amounts of water. Other regions of the world tend to choose crops that provide the soil with specific benefits. However, South African farmers learned that rotating native crops that did not necessarily have the same benefits was easier because they required less water. At the end of 2019, the Western Cape Department of Agriculture began two larger studies; one to examine the feasibility of regenerative farming, and the other to monitor its effects. These studies help to bolster regenerative farming in South Africa and have provided insight into how the process specifically works in South Africa since the climate is arid. So far, many of these studies have concluded that in South Africa, the secrets to regenerative farming are increasing biodiversity, using native crops and using manure from local animal farms.

Ceretto is a wine producer in Piedmont, making top-quality Barolo and Barbaresco. It was founded by Ricardo Ceretto in 1930 and is famous for being a pioneer of the trend toward single-vineyard Barolo wines. Nebbiolo is the key grape variety, but Ceretto also make wines from Dolcetto, Barbera, Arneis and Moscato. Riccardo Ceretto, who did not own any vineyards, produced wine from grapes he purchased. The turning point came when his sons Bruno and Marcello joined the business, with their innovative thinking for the time: the importance of the land. Though this seems obvious today, memories of the poverty of rural life in the Langhe region - described so well by Beppe Fenoglio in his novel “La Malora” (“Ruin”) - were still fresh, and Riccardo was reluctant to invest in purchasing land. In the 1960s, Bruno and Marcello started mapping out the land that produced the best wines, and buying the vineyards. They would never leave the region again. Blangè is the white side of Piedmontese wines; a product that defined an era, revolutionizing Langhe winemaking that was previously devoted exclusively to red grapes. The most famous Blangè a Langhe Doc Arneis is the product of a highly distinctive region, the Roero, and a desire to improve varietal recognition, as well as drinking pleasure. Blangè combines sustainable practices in the vineyard with a modern take. Fruit and minerality, aromatics and balanced freshness, coexist in this white wine that has made enjoyment and versatility its trademark. Blangè is the white side of Piedmontese wines; a product that defined an era, revolutionizing Langhe winemaking that was previously devoted exclusively to red grapes. Dolcetto d'Alba Doc is the product of a highly distinctive region, the Roero, and a desire to improve varietal recognition, as well as drinking pleasure. Blangè combines sustainable practices in the vineyard with a modern take. Fruit and minerality, aromatics and balanced freshness, coexist in this white wine that has made enjoyment and versatility its trademark. Down to Barolo Docg and Barolo Chianato.

Join us as we escape the rat race of South East England and settle into farm life in Central Portugal. We are Ken & Gina and we started the OKportugal Youtube channel back in 2019 when we decided to leave the hustle and bustle of the UK for a quieter life on a farm in Central Portugal. We now live on an amazing 3.5 hectare farm along with our cats, Nanook & Mecho and our two dogs, DogDog and Mimosa. Our journey began back in the UK, in September 2019, where we sold our house, packed all of our belongings and drove across Europe to Portugal in our campervan Bob along with our animals. We moved into a lovely rental house, high up in the Serra da Estrela mountains, meeting many friendly and generous locals and spent the next few months searching for our dream farm. In December 2019 we moved into our dream farm during Portugal's worst storm in a decade. We have had many trials and tribulations along the way and have documented them all in our Sunday weekly vlogs for our subscribers to enjoy.

Groot Constantia. South Africa’s oldest wine-producing farm, continuing to produce legendary wine since 1685. Groot Constantia is an important part of World Wine Heritage and a world-class international tourism destination, capturing the rich and diverse heritage of South Africa, to deliver a unique cultural, social and historical experience, to locals and tourists alike. Delivering world-class, quality wines, sensory encounters and special experiences, it is an iconic example of the preservation of South African culture and heritage in the wine industry. It is still, after a history of more than 300 years, a fully operational farm and one of South Africa’s most visited tourist attractions where a wide range of quality estate wines are created and sold (Seven days a week). With a variety of other attractions, including the remarkable restaurants & museums, a visit to Groot Constantia becomes an unforgettable experience. Groot Constantia had many different owners and consequently the Estate has also been divided a few times. Groot Constantia’s rich history shows how one man’s love of wine established South Africa’s first wine farm more than 330 years ago and how those 891 morgen of land formed the origins of the commercial South African wine industry, with Emperors and Kings such as Frederick the Great of Prussia and Louis Phillipe (King of the French) buying ‘Constantia Wyn’ at auctions across Europe. South Africa’s oldest wine became so renowned it appears in Jane Austen’s novel ‘Sense and Sensibility’ as a cure for a broken heart, and is drunk to lift a character’s spirit in ‘The Mystery of Edwin Drood’ by Charles Dickens. Perhaps it even soothed Napoleon, as it was served during his exile on the island of Saint Helena. Groot Constantia is situated on aesthetic Cape Peninsula overlooking False Bay. The vineyards are tucked in the steep valley on the eastern side of Table Mountain.

Meerendal Wine Estate is a family owned vineyard situated in the Western Cape. The hills of Meerendal rise above the flat surrounding Durbanville landscape, with an almost endless variety of slopes, soil types and microclimates. This makes it possible to grow a wide range of classic cultivars with equal success. Meerendal is a family run and owned vineyard with a history that started in 1714 when 60,000 vines were planted on the farm. For over 300 years, a tradition of producing quality wines has developed Meerendal into one of South Africa’s flagship wine estates. Thys Smit, is our passionate and dynamic winemaker. Thys holds a BSc in molecular biology and biotechnology from the University of Stellenbosch. He was nominated as a finalist for the 2019 Diners Club Young Winemaker of the year award.

Martini e Rossi captures the spark that set two men on a lifelong quest to make their stamp on Italian culture. Alessandro Martini - a spirited entrepreneur with a global vision - and Luigi Rossi - a creative muse whose botanical fragrances would lure noses along Turin’s via Dora Grossa. The year was 1863 when their newfound partnership was manifested in their first vermouth: the Martini e Rossi "Rosso". This original blend remains the same to this day, a famous brand all over the world. Our artisans of today are 8th generation Martini e Rossi masters. Each following in the footsteps of their predecessors. All dedicated craftsmen and custodians of Martini e Rossi’s quality and integrity. The only three people worldwide to know Mr. Rossi’s original recipe. Originally from a village just outside our home of Pessione, and a student of the world-renowned Scuola Enologica di Alba, where many MARTINI & ROSSI® experts have honed their craft. After 18 years of training, Musso succeeds the 30-year tenure of former master blender, Luciano Boero. MARTINI & ROSSI®’s original recipe remains guarded under lock and key. Our masters know it only by scent and taste. Over 500 botanical samples pass under Ivano’s nose each year, and only the combined experience of himself and Beppe can maintain Luigi Rossi’s legacy. Our first love. The original Martini e Rossi, conjured under the inspired nose of Luigi Rossi. Since the sun-blushed days of 1863, a devoted selection of regional herbs are at its heart, and natural caramel imparts its rich scarlet hue. An icon di Italia. Martini e Rossi and Rosso and Tonic, Created in the 1970s to modernize Luigi Rossi’s original recipe into a refreshing long drink. Aromatic herbs spring to life with the addition of sparkling tonic water, while an orange wheel enlivens its fruited notes of lemon and raspberry.

The Cape’s first farm, established in 1682, has come a long way from its humble beginnings. Just 20 minutes from the bustling heart of the Mother City, Steenberg feels miles from the world. Steenberg Farm boasts the 5-Star Steenberg Hotel, with 24 rooms encapsulating the dictum of understated luxury, offering spectacular views and discreet, personalised service. The original Manor House has been lovingly restored and declared a Provincial Heritage Site. Here, the legendary elegance and traditions of the 17th century blend harmoniously with the most refined comforts and conveniences of our modern age. A diverse dining destination with two restaurants is complemented by a tasting of award-winning wines at the Tasting Room. A visually spectacular and technically challenging 18-hole golf course features as part of the beautiful scenery at Steenberg Farm. Steenberg remained the property of the Louw family until 1990 when it was purchased by J.C.I (Johannesburg Consolidated Investments), and re-developed into the glorious vineyard and hotel it is today. Graham Beck bought Steenberg Hotel and Steenberg Winery in April 2005. Steenberg Hotel has since flourished into a complete luxury destination, with two fine restaurants, an award-winning winery, a championship 18-hole golf course, illustrious private homes and a world-class spa set amongst the estate’s astounding natural landscape.

As the oldest wine-producing region in the Southern Hemisphere, Constantia’s uninterrupted history of wine making stretches back over 300 years. Constantia Uitsig is located in what can be described as the "Cradle of winemaking" in the Cape and has a long history, being part of the first wine producing estate in South Africa, dating back to the mid-1600s. Constantia Uitsig means "Constantia View" and is named this for its unique position in the valley, nestled between the east-facing slopes of Constantiaberg and False Bay, creating endless stretches of beautiful vineyards and mountains that surround the farm. Its unique position means that its vines benefit from the cool sea breezes, providing natural acidity and brilliant ageing ability, as well as Cape Town’s Mediterranean climate, with its rainy winters and long, dry summers. This position has made for the perfect grape growing conditions, with vines rooted in 200-million-year-old, well composed, well-drained granite with a high clay content, ensuring excellent water retention.

Quality and consistency is paramount at Eagles’ Nest. Our unique terroir, combined with passionate attention to detail in the vineyards, yields fruit that is crafted into wines which are the epitome of elegance, finesse and complexity. Eagles’ Nest was originally a section of Groot Constantia, the wine supplier to European nobility, established by Simon van der Stel in the late 1600s. Eagles’ Nest’s history reveals that it operated as a commercial farm producing export fruit, as well as vegetables for the local market, up until the 1960s. Over time the farm has had a number of owners, since 1984 it has been in the control of the Mylrea family. Following a devastating mountain fire in 2000 which destroyed all of the natural fynbos vegetation and Protea plants, as well as approximately 95% of the forestation, it was decided to move the focus of the farm to wine. Whilst the Constantia Valley is most famous for white wines, it was felt that Eagles’ Nest, with its unique terroir within the valley, would be more suited to red wines. With its East, West and North facing slopes, it is the steepest commercially farmed land in the Cape region, if not in all of South Africa. The land is located 10.5 km from the warm False Bay coastline and is in the direct path of the summer trade wines. Along with the planting of vineyards, it was a priority to re-establish the natural fynbos on the estate. On the mountain 25 000 Silver Tree seeds were planted as well as thousands of proteas, ferns and other fynbos indigenous to the area. Eagles’ Nest now proudly houses one of the largest Silver Tree plantations in South Africa. We were very careful to select only seeds and plants that were indigenous to the region and that would thrive in the Constantia Mountains. The majority of seeds and plants were sourced from Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens. The lower vineyards are at around 150 m above sea level with the highest at approximately 400 m above sea level. Average rain fall is approximately 1100 mm to 1200 mm per annum. The total farm area is 38.4 hectares, with approximately 12 hectares are under vine. The vines will produce around 100 tons, as the steep slopes allow for a higher than normal vine density per hectare. Quality driven and a true reflection of our unique terroir. The maturation strategy for the red wine is to age one third in new wood, one third in second fill barrels and one third in third fill barrels for around 18 months. The wine will further bottle mature for 12 to 18 months before release. The maturation regime relating to the Viognier is to focus on freshness, with second, third fill and larger 500litre barrels used.

Cinzano vermouths date back to 1757 and the Turin herbal shop of two brothers, Giovanni Giacomo and Carlo Stefano Cinzano, who created a new "vermouth rosso" (red vermouth) using "aromatic plants from the Italian Alps in a [still-secret] recipe combining 35 ingredients (including marjoram, thyme, and yarrow)". A global Italian icon, propelled from the hills of Piedmont to a world-class brand by the entrepreneurial determination of its founding fathers; each drop of Cinzano vermouth and sparkling wine is infused with nearly three centuries of determination and willpower to achieve the very best in quality and taste. As suppliers to the Royal Court, Cinzano was entrusted with the challenge and finally, in the mid-1800s, their Spumante (sparkling wine) was born, expanding the business into the production of sparkling wine. Santa Vittoria d’Alba became the heart of the Cinzano world and the business was ready to evolve from a local storefront to a global brand. Developing its communications strategy in line with the Belle Époque’s aesthetic, Cinzano adopted new mediums and techniques the era had to offer, from posters and postcards, to ads in media titles such as Telegrafo magazine, a prominent Italian daily newspaper at the time. Only the greatest Italian brands could afford to work with artists and illustrators and Cinzano was no exception, leading from the front. Bold in their style, Enrico and his brother, Emiliano, collaborated with the most daring artists of the time, allowing the brand to evolve alongside popular culture. The Cinzano heirs continued their work with innovative inspiration and achieved such great commercial success that they were asked by the Savoy monarchs to offer their expertise to produce Italy’s first Sparkling Wine, upon the success of the incredibly popular French champagne that dominated the wine export market across the globe. The result: the birth of the Cinzano sparkling wines. A global Italian icon, propelled from the hills of Piedmont to a world-class brand.

This beautiful farm on the east-facing slopes of the magnificent Constantiaberg and barely 12 km from False Bay, originally formed part of the Constantia Estate, which was founded by Simon van der Stel, the first Governor of the new Dutch colony at the tip of Africa. First sold as a 200 morgen subdivision to Cornelis Brink in 1773, Buitenverwachting changed hands all too often. And yet it flourished as a wine farm, due mainly to the 90 000 vines planted in 1825 by Ryk Arnoldus Cloete, brother of the famous Hendrik Cloete of Constantia. From 1866, the fortunes of Buitenverwachting were inextricably linked to those of the Louw and Lategan families. One of the most colourful characters was Oom Danie Lategan, whose trademark was the freshly picked camelia he wore on his lapel every day. It was his daughter, Olivia Lategan, who was to forge the link between the Lategans and the Louws. Born at Buitenverwachting, she returned as mistress of the farm when she married George Louw. Imbued with a sense of history, the Mueller family has retraced the roots of Buitenverwachting. The farm was lovingly restored to its former glory, while extensive planting of the most selected of cultivars was initiated. The result was a maiden grape harvest of 100 tonnes - the first harvest the farm had seen in 30 years. An historic achievement that lived up to its name: Buitenverwachting - "Beyond Expectation".

The story of the Vinchio and Vaglio winery is a love story where the inhabitants of these two villages transformed a difficult and poor, inarable land with slopes so steep that some local sayings proved true: “S’ot dròca la colassion, it la treuvi pì!” (if you drop your breakfast, you won’t find it again!) or “S’ot dròca ël bertin, ot toca curije drera fin ant la val” (if your hat blows off in the wind, you’ll need to run down to the end of the valley to get it”). This area with its steep slopes and overhanging vineyards at the edge of the woods has been tended and “tamed” to dramatic effort, where every single drop of the “Ruby of Vinchio” (Barbera wine) equates to thousands of drops (and certainly not an exaggeration!) of farmers’ sweat. However, the vineyards have never failed to reward their hard work. These vine rows, in fact, repay the industrious farmers with grapes of rare and exceptional quality. The sun usually shines all day on these hills, there is seldom hoarfrost or fog and no shadow. Great wines grow on these hills. The Rules of the Association stipulate that the President and the Vice-President must come from Vinchio and Vaglio Serra, respectively. This is because of an old rivalry between the two villages, which only ended thanks to the hard work of our company and their willingness to promote the local area. Over time, the animosity between these two offices has turned into a solid working relationship and the strong administrative background of both our President and Vice-President has undeniably played an important role in achieving this result. They have both been mayors of their hometowns. Lorenzo Giordano (of Vinchio) and Cristiano Fornaro (of Vaglio) both are keen oenophiles and, in particular, great connoisseurs of Barbera, though still appreciating the sparkling wines such as Alta Langa. The wines tell the story of the terroir and selected vineyards they come from and reflect uniquely the excellence which has built the reputation of Vinchio Vaglio, Vigne Vecchie, Laudana and Sei Vigne Insynthesis. The Barbera wines are projects that have brought our Barbera to the highest quality levels, thanks to small planting plots that are more than 50 years old. Albarossa, Grignolino, Ruché, Nebbiolo, Freisa, Bonarda, Arneis are all indigenous grapes of this range. Distinctive wines which express the intrinsic value of the territory.

Prunotto is located in Alba, in the heart of The Langhe, halfway between Barbaresco and Barolo, on the southeast side of the Tanaro River on a gentle hillside surrounded by vineyards stretching throughout The Langhe and Roero. Cantina Sociale "Ai Vini delle Langhe", a winemaking co-op, was incorporated in 1904 in the city council room of Serralunga's Town Hall presided by Mr. Giacomo Oddero, a notary public and a youthful Alfredo Prunotto as a witness. Among those present at the ceremony were prominent citizens who made important contributions to the history of Alba and the surrounding communities, as well as many small local producers. In the middle of the predicaments of World War that created seroius problems, Alfredo Prunotto met and married Luigina. Together they decided to take over the "Ai Vini delle Langhe" co-op and gave it their name. Their dedication and passion soon made the winery famous and it began exporting Barolo and Barbaresco all over the globe: first to South America and then to The United States, two markets that had recently opened to foreign trade. Prunotto was one of the few companies that believed in this commercial strategy. The Antinori family first became involved with the Prunotto winery in 1989 initially handling distribution and then in 1994, when the Colla brothers decided to retire, they took over production upholding the excellent quality standards that Alfredo Prunotto successfully achieved. The winery's production philosophy, always extremely attentive to details and deeply passionate about wine, brought Prunotto and the Antinori family together to face a new challenge: to explore and develop the potential of this new terroir where both local and international varieties can express the area's remarkable territorial identity. Prunotto’s vineyards extend over an area of approximately 65 hectares (161 acres) in the territories of The Langhe and Monferrato and are subdivided into smaller parcels of land and single vineyards where great red wines are produced. Respectful of regional traditions, white wines are also crafted such as Moscato d’Asti and Arneis as well as an innovative rosé and two brands of grappa, one from Barolo Bussia and one from Barbera d’Asti Costamiòle.