Generations of winegrowers

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Stephen Johnston
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1 Generations of winegrowers

2 The story of the Cottini Family FROM MOTHER EARTH TO SON Ours is a simple story, the story of a passion: that of Carlo Cottini for his land. He started the farm with great commitment and dedication, planting fruit orchards and vineyards in the early twentieth century, The first wine saw the light in From that moment on, the family business concentrated increasingly on growing vines and making wine. In the 1950s, my father Raffaello inherited his skills and knowledge, and worked his land, deciding to dedicate all his energy and resources to winemaking. I too inherited that enthusiasm and made it my life, bringing to bear my own curiosity and aspirations. My wife Annalberta immediately shared my passion for the land and for wine, applying her own gentleness and determination. Our two sons, Mattia and Michele, were naturally born and raised together with the vineyards, the grapes and the wines. They themselves are the fruit of this proud land and of our great love. And their personalities and skills beautifully complement our own.

The story of the Cottini Family foto generazioni di stivali da fare (Alvise) A PASSION CULTIVATED BY 4 GENERATIONS Today Cottini includes a number of brands, with 140 hectares of its own vineyards,

3 The story of the Cottini Family foto generazioni di stivali da fare (Alvise) A PASSION CULTIVATED BY 4 GENERATIONS Today Cottini includes a number of brands, with 140 hectares of its own vineyards, and direct management of another 240 hectares, giving a total production of 4 million bottles a year. The Monte Zovo, Palazzo Maffei, Villa Annaberta, La Sogara and Campos Valzos labels are considered as expressions of excellence both nationally and around the world, as illustrated by the numerous honours their have received. All this would not be possible without another star in our story: Mother Earth. Our relationship with her is continuous, our interaction mutual, our respect profound, our care constant. We love the Earth, and she reciprocates by bringing forth her finest fruits: this is what gives us our commitment to work every day to create quality wines. It is this boundless love that has allowed such a heritage of knowledge and values to prosper, and to be handed down over four generations for almost 100 years. Diego Cottini

The production chain FROM EARTH TO CELLAR 100% COTTINI QUALITY Cottini

the health of the vines to the grapes as they grow in the period

Our wine-making experts keep the wines under constant supervision in

Tests are carried out every hour during bottling and advanced

All this ensures that the wines are absolutely reliable and of superior

4 The production chain FROM EARTH TO CELLAR 100% COTTINI QUALITY Cottini has always been synonymous with quality, because we follow every step of the process. Our production protocols include stringent daily quality tests: from the health of the vines to the grapes as they grow in the period leading up to harvesting, and then in the drying room for raisining. Our wine-making experts keep the wines under constant supervision in the cellar and during ageing. Tests are carried out every hour during bottling and advanced technologies ensure that the result is always perfect. All this ensures that the wines are absolutely reliable and of superior quality. It is therefore with pride and conviction that we can say that every wine is 100% Cottini, for we follow each one every step of the way, from soil to sale, including marketing, logistics and administration.

5 The production chain OUR LAND The particular choice of land for our grapes is by no means arbitrary. The experience we have built up over four generations helps us locate the best soils for our plants. We prefer hilly areas, possibly high up, with ideal exposure to the sun. This is why our vineyards and estates are located in strategic places, with a preference for foothill areas, with unique morphological characteristics and a perfect microclimate. In the estates in the Verona area, the Lessini mountains and Monte Baldo form natural boundaries to the north, and the Verona plains to the south. The land to the east of Verona partly overlaps the areas of Soave DOC, Valpolicella and Durello DOC. To the west of Verona, it is in areas of Garda DOC, Bardolino and Lugana. We have recently acquired the Campos Valzos estate in Gallura, in the extreme north-eastern tip of Sardinia. Our flagship wines here are Vermentino di Gallura and Cannonau. We are happy with the wine-making heritage that we have built up over the years, because it fully reflects our way of thinking.

The production chain OUR VINEYARDS CAPRINO VERONESE THE MONTE ZOVO ESTATE 1965 30,5 ha Uvaggi principali Corvina, Corvinone, Rondinella, Molinara, Cabernet, Pinot Grigio.

6 The production chain OUR VINEYARDS CAPRINO VERONESE THE MONTE ZOVO ESTATE ,5 ha Uvaggi principali Corvina, Corvinone, Rondinella, Molinara, Cabernet, Pinot Grigio. Altitudine m TREGNAGO - VALPOLICELLA THE PALAZZO MAFFEI ESTATE ,4 ha Uvaggi principali Corvina, Corvinone, Rondinella, Molinara. Altitudine m THE FINETTI VINEYARD ,5 ha Uvaggi principali Durella. Altitudine m THE PORCINO VINEYARD ,8 ha Principal varieties Pinot Grigio. Altitude m THE SPIAZZI VINEYARD ,7 ha Principal varieties Sauvigon Blanc, Muller Thurgau. Altitude m THE SAN MARTINO VINEYARD ,5 ha Principal varieties Corvina, Shiraz. Altitude m THE ROCCOLO ESTATE ,6 ha Principal varieties Corvina, Corvinone, Rondinella, Molinara. Altitude m THE LOCALITÀ SOLE VINEYARD ,2 ha Principal varieties Corvina, Corvinone, Rondinella, Molinara. Altitude m THE MACCALÉ VINEYARD ,5 ha Principal varieties Corvina, Conrvinone, Rondinella, Molinara. Altitude m MEZZANE - VALPOLICELLA THE LOCALITÀ PALAZZO VINEYARD ha Principal varieties Corvina, Corvinone, Rondinella, Molinara. Altitude m GALLURA - SARDEGNA THE BERCHIDDA VINEYARD ha Principal varieties Vermentino. Altitude m

The production chain THE FACILITIES All the expertise and skills for the production of different types of wine are to be found on each of our estates and in all our wineries.

The modern winery also welcomes visitors.

Size 5000 m 2 Production Vinification of Bardolino Wines Vinification of IGT Wines Ageing Bottling Quality Control and Analysis Laboratory Administration Central Management Administration Department

7 The production chain THE FACILITIES All the expertise and skills for the production of different types of wine are to be found on each of our estates and in all our wineries. This is how they are organized. CAPRINO VERONESE Acquired in 1965 and now our headquarters, it is located in the Monte Zovo estate, with 50 hectares of vineyards in the Lake Garda area. The modern winery also welcomes visitors. The picturesque setting and the fascinating sense of tradition that reigns among the wooden barrels and bottles laid down to age creates the perfect environment for wine lovers. Size 5000 m 2 Production Vinification of Bardolino Wines Vinification of IGT Wines Ageing Bottling Quality Control and Analysis Laboratory Administration Central Management Administration Department Marketing Department Logistics Main Warehouse SAN PIETRO IN CARIANO In the heart of the Valpolicella area, the winery is also our company s registered office, as well as the focal point of our winemaking activities in this area. Cutting-edge technologies and state-of-the-art facilities mean we can follow the entire process from the vines to full-bodied Amarone, Ripasso, Valpolicella and Recioto wines. Size 2000 m 2 Production Vinification of Valpolicella DOC wines TREGNAGO On top of the mountain that separates the Valle di Illasi from the Valle di Mezzane, our drying room with its natural ventilation is perfect for the grapes selected for raisining. The latest technology and modern facilities allow for systematic control of the temperature and humidity, with automatic opening and closing of the windows. Size 3000 m 2 Production Drying room for raisining Logistics Secondary warehouse

Certification FROM QUALITY TO EXCELLENCE We are never content with just monitoring production and creating quality wines, for our mission is to achieve absolute excellence.

8 Certification FROM QUALITY TO EXCELLENCE We are never content with just monitoring production and creating quality wines, for our mission is to achieve absolute excellence. In practical terms, we have preferred to certify not just the finished product, as most companies do, but the entire production process, since we follow it all the way, from grape to bottle. And this includes marketing, logistics and administration. Just read the label and you can trace the wine back to the actual parcel where the bunches ripened. ISO 9001, BRC and IFS certificates ensure compliance with the most stringent quality and food safety standards, including those imposed by Europe s top supermarket chain operators. These requirements refer to HACCP methods and to the Factory Environmental Standard. For us it means that we are moving in the right direction: that of excellence.

9 Sustainability HARMONY AND RESPECT Our relationship with the Earth is authentic and can only be based on respect. Our vision inspires us to make use of the latest technologies while always keeping eco-sustainability firmly in mind. For many years, we have been using biomass energy both for the boilers and the refrigeration systems in the cellars. And we have also adopted intelligent solutions to minimise power consumption, while also optimising the production process. Our choice of suppliers is also judicious and consistent with our philosophy: certified raw materials, highly skilled staff, and a healthy lifestyle in harmony with the land that is so dear to us and that we do all we can to protect. This is of course helped by being at a good distance from any large towns. Sustainability may be a buzzword, but for us it is a natural choice.

Le certificazioni DALLA QUALITÀ ALL ECCELLENZA DIEGO MICHELE ANNALBERTA MATTIA Non ci accontentiamo di produrre in sicurezza, creando vini di qualità, ma siamo proiettati verso l eccellenza.

dall uva alla bottiglia. Includendo anche commercializzazione, logistica, amministrazione. Basta leggere l etichetta per risalire addirittura alla particella in cui è cresciuto il grappolo.

10 Le certificazioni DALLA QUALITÀ ALL ECCELLENZA DIEGO MICHELE ANNALBERTA MATTIA Non ci accontentiamo di produrre in sicurezza, creando vini di qualità, ma siamo proiettati verso l eccellenza. Concretamente, abbiamo scelto di certificare non solo il prodotto finito, come accade nella maggior parte delle aziende, ma l intera filiera visto che comprendiamo tutto il procedimento produttivo, dall uva alla bottiglia. Includendo anche commercializzazione, logistica, amministrazione. Basta leggere l etichetta per risalire addirittura alla particella in cui è cresciuto il grappolo. Le certificazioni ISO 9001, BRC e IFS assicurano il rispetto degli standard di qualità e sicurezza alimentare più severi, compresi quelli imposti dai principali operatori della Grande Distribuzione in Europa. I requisiti si riferiscono alla metodologia HACCP e al Factory Enviromental Standard. Per noi significano che stiamo procedendo nella giusta direzione: quella dell eccellenza. Key people UNIQUE AND UNITED Behind every choice and initiative there is always the family, each of us with our own area of expertise. My father Diego and my brother Michele mainly look after production, personally following every step from cultivation through to bottling. My mother Annalberta and I deal respectively with marketing, sales of company products and communication on the one hand and administration and general management on the other. Then of course my mother loves cooking, and personally looks after hospitality in the company. We put our hearts into everything we do. And we put our reputations on the line too. Mattia Cottini

The Cottini Brands A FAMILY IN PURSUIT OF EXCELLENCE Our name is linked to five important company brands: Monte Zovo, Palazzo Maffei, Villa Annaberta, La Sogara and Campos Valzos, each with its own

11 The Cottini Brands A FAMILY IN PURSUIT OF EXCELLENCE Our name is linked to five important company brands: Monte Zovo, Palazzo Maffei, Villa Annaberta, La Sogara and Campos Valzos, each with its own individual characteristics, expressing the best of the wines produced in each area. The typical wines of our own and other traditions acquire the particular sensory characteristics of the terrain where they are produced. These characteristics mean that we can direct the various types of wine towards particular targets and changing markets, giving the world a whole range of choices.

The Cottini Brands CREAM RISES TO THE TOP MONTE ZOVO Monte Zovo is produced entirely from grapes from our land, which includes over 140 hectares of vineyards and 25 of woodland in two splendid

12 The Cottini Brands CREAM RISES TO THE TOP MONTE ZOVO Monte Zovo is produced entirely from grapes from our land, which includes over 140 hectares of vineyards and 25 of woodland in two splendid estates, one in Caprino, where the winery is also located, and the other in Tregnago in Val d Illasi, which has the drying room for raisining the grapes. Monte Zovo takes its name from the hill where the modern winery stands, surrounded by our vineyards. Built using the latest technology it is nevertheless in perfect harmony with its surroundings. Sustainability is a fundamental aspect of our philosophy and it finds its highest expression in Monte Zovo. Monte Zovo products are a perfect blend of tradition and innovation, with a soft, gentle character. This deeply loved, unspoilt land is home to truly serious wines, for people who are refined and competent, cultured, committed and connoisseurs of the art of winemaking. We feel we can also be proud of our masterpieces, for many Monte Zovo wines continue to receive some of the top international awards. RED WINES Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG, Amarone della Valpolicella DOC Riserva, Valpolicella Ripasso DOC Superiore, Bardolino DOC, Corvina Rosso IGT Veronese and the exclusive Ca linverno Rosso IGT Veronese, an expression of the family s creativity, and the only one with double raisining, first on the plant and then in the drying room. WHITE WINES Ca linverno Bianco IGT Veneto, Pinot Grigio del Veneto, Lugana Doc and Sauvignon del Veneto IGT.

The Cottini Brands DISCREET ALLURE PALAZZO MAFFEI In the heart of Valpolicella, this ancient estate once belonged to Marquis Maffei, the most illustrious of Veronese families, which gives its name to

13 The Cottini Brands DISCREET ALLURE PALAZZO MAFFEI In the heart of Valpolicella, this ancient estate once belonged to Marquis Maffei, the most illustrious of Veronese families, which gives its name to this authentic collection of ours, with its elegant, aristocratic appeal. For the most demanding and sophisticated connoisseurs, the Palazzo Maffei selection of wines started out as our Cru vineyard of the Palazzo Maffei. Elegance and refinement coupled with quality. On this estate we grow our oldest vines with the best exposure to the sun, so that they can give their very best to the grapes. And to the wines they create. A low-yield policy, using the Guyot system and high-intensity planting per hectare, allows us to achieve the highest quality in this vineyard. Ground-breaking systems then help preserve the varietal characteristics of the grapes all the way from vineyard to bottle, through special processes of drying, fermentation, ageing and bottling. This creates a wine of the very highest quality, which is now acknowledged around the world and at top international competitions. WINES Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG, Valpolicella DOC Superiore Ripasso, Valpolicella DOC, L Inverno Rosso IGT Veronese and Corvina Rosso IGT. In addition to these, there is the Conte di Valle, a further high quality reserve in the Amarone and Valpolicella Superiore Ripasso versions.

14 The Cottini Brands CREATIVITY WITHOUT BORDERS VILLA ANNABERTA Villa Annaberta is an innovative and highly appreciated family brand. We gave it this name in honour of Annalberta wife and mother, but also businesswoman to highlight the importance of the family as a core unit. The wines that bear this label express all our creative potential in a unique, original blend of innovation and tradition, always in the name of the highest quality. Their soft, light bouquets and delicacy make them wines for people who are committed, cultured, curious, open to new ideas, versatile and with a wide range of interests. People with an eye for quality, who love their family and enjoy good food. Just like the lady who has given her name to the range. WINES Amarone DOCG, Valpolicella Ripasso DOC Superiore. Canaja Rosso Veronese IGT, Canaja Bianco del Veneto and Jairo Rosso, Bianco, Rosato are the outcome of Diego s inspired intuition.

The Cottini Brands CLASSIC SIMPLICITY LA SOGARA This selection of wines takes its name from soghe, a word in the dialect of Verona for the ropes used to tie bundles of wood to be taken away from the

15 The Cottini Brands CLASSIC SIMPLICITY LA SOGARA This selection of wines takes its name from soghe, a word in the dialect of Verona for the ropes used to tie bundles of wood to be taken away from the vineyard. The presence of these characteristic bundles first inspired nonno Carlo, when talking with the labourers, to apply this colloquial name to the place, which has always been devoted to the production of classic Veronese wines. Over the years the name La Sogara was thus adopted by the whole family, and not only, forever designating the area of the vineyard. The tradition of this vineyard, which is so closely bound to the memory of the founder of our family, continues in the cultivation of grapes for a classic, no-frills selection of wines created from grape to bottle. Simple, fresh wines that maintain intact all their traditional authenticity, and ideal for enjoyment in good company. La Sogara epitomises the classic wines of our tradition, dedicated to those looking for a reassuring wine of good quality, to be enjoyed on any occasion. WINES Bardolino DOC, Bardolino DOC Chiaretto, Soave DOC, Custoza DOC, Garganega Garda DOC, Corvina Garda DOC.

16 I Brand Cottini A MEDITERRANEAN HEART CAMPOS VALZOS The scents of the maquis, the colours of the sea, the appeal of an area full of enchantment and rich in a history that is etched into the stones of the Nuraghe. 30 years ago Diego and Annalberta landed in Sardinia on their honeymoon. Bewitched by the charm of Gallura and by the Mediterranean way of life, they always return whenever they feel the lure of this land, which is now a second home for all of us in the Cottini family. Our love for these places and for Vermentino led us to purchase 20 hectares of vineyards in the Berchidda area. The name Campos Valzos, which means field of value in Sardinian, reflects the uniqueness and rarity of this land, for it is bordered by a stream, an invaluable resource in an area characterised by drought. This marvel of nature has led to a prestigious Vermentino di Gallura DOCG and Cannonau for sophisticated people of great culture and a love of fine wines. For explorers of taste in all its forms, eager to track down the rarest gems. Like those they find in every bottle of Campos Valzos. WINES Vermentino di Gallura DOCG and Cannonau di Sardegna DOC.

18 COTTINI Spa Via Maestri del Lavoro 7 I San Pietro in Cariano VR Design: Clab Comunicazione Photos: Alvise Barsanti, Lidia Costantini Printed by Redaprint

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