Originally from Tuscany, Ferragamo has lived in New York for the past 35 years and still holds his position as chairman of the family business in the US. But wine is his passion. “It’s similar in that it’s in the same [luxury] arena. But in the fashion business, you have to think of new things every six months, while [with wine], you have to think 20 years back and 10 forward,” says Ferragamo. “In Castiglion del Bosco, we have to keep the wine in the cellar for five years before we can release it. So, it is a completely different state of mind. But it’s great because it’s a product from the land, and a product from the land is something you have a lot of pride in.” When Ferragamo first arrived at the estate, there were five people working in the fields. Today, he employs a staff of 220. “And behind these 220 people, there are 220 families,” he says, adding that this human aspect is the achievement he is most proud of in the venture. Winemaking, explains Ferragamo, is an art. “It is a little bit like luxury products — the work that goes into a $3 bottle of wine is not what goes into a $50 bottle of wine. The latter requires so much more tender loving care; there’s so much more that we do in the fields, cellar, everything.” When it comes to Italian wines, there’s a lot more education required, he says. “Italian wines [were introduced] later in this part of the world. French, South American and Australian wines have had a bit of a head start here and [are more visible]. So, we need to show how great Italian wines are, and also how great they are in relation to their price. Italian wines are the best value out there.”
The DOG edition, ready for the Lunar New Year in February, comes in an extremely limited quantity of just 488 bottles. The label is designed by artist Li Fu Yuan. Eyeing exponential growth in Asia We are with Ferragamo at a private wine pairing luncheon for the media at 28Wilkie. The set-up and décor at the establishment are exquisite, befitting the $1,455 price tag of each bottle of The Zodiac Limited Edition: DOG we are about to taste. Celebrated as one of the finest expressions of the Montalcino terroir, the Zodiac collection was launched in 2013 as a nod to Asia. Renowned Chinese artists are commissioned to produce an exclusive design for the label of each limited--edition series, inspired by the Chinese zodiac. The DOG edition, ready for the Lunar New Year in February, comes in an extremely limited quantity of just 488 bottles. The label is designed by artist Li Fu Yuan.
Vineyards of Montalcino and Riparbella
Located northwest of Montalcino, an Italian town in Tuscany famous for its Brunello di Montalcino wine, Castiglion del Bosco sits on land ideal for growing Sangiovese grapes, from which all its wines are exclusively made. The grounds’ rocky, nutrient-poor soils are perfect for yielding wines of superb structure and complexity. The estate’s 2,000ha are largely occupied by dense woods of holm, oak and beech, as well as meadows and organically farmed crops. There are two distinct growing sections, each differing in soil and weather conditions: the 20ha Gauggiole vineyard and the 42ha Capanna. “Sangiovese grapes are very tough. They grow well in very few places and Tuscany is one of them. The high altitude and minerals [in the soil] make our wines unique,” says Massimo Ferragamo, youngest son of Salvatore Ferragamo. The company also owns a 10ha vineyard called Prima Pietra in Riparbella, close to the Bolgheri wine area on the Tuscan coast. The vines face the Tyrrhenian Sea at about 450m above sea level in an almost pristine environment, enjoying abundant sun and ventilation, while the iron-rich, rocky soils ensure the wine varietals flourish in this terroir.