The young face of Barolo

25-year-old Federica Boffa Pio is the youngest female top winemaker in Italy. «I was just born under a lucky star,» says the Piedmont native with a laugh. She is not referring to astrology but, in good winemaker fashion, to the vintage of her birth year. 1997 was an exceptionally good year for Barolo; the wines are considered mature and well-structured with real depth. In fact, this can also be said of Federica. The business economist has been running the almost 150-year-old winery for 2 ½ years. She had always known that one day she would take over the family business, but she never expected that day to come so soon... In April 2021, her father Pio Boffa died of complications from Covid-19. There was no time to think about whether she felt ready to take over from him. The business demanded that the then 23-year-old immediately follow in her father's footsteps. Since then, Federica has since mastered this Herculean task with consummate ease. She relies on a well-coordinated team, because the agronomist has been with the company for 20 years and the oenologist has not missed a grape harvest since 1981. She was particularly influenced by her father's advice not to follow short-lived trends, but to trust in finding her own path. Her mission is therefore not to completely revamp Barolo and its image, but to dust it off a little: «Many people believe that Barolo only goes well with party food – but I think it tastes best with fresh bread with a little olive oil and parmesan,» says the dynamic winemaker. We think this refreshing informality suits the time-honoured classic perfectly.

When the houses are wreathed in fog and the cold air insistently finds its way through your winter jacket, it's the best time for cosy evenings at home. We pamper our bodies and souls with warming food and the wine in our glasses acts like stored sunlight. Sitting around the table with loved ones and talking about God and the universe... These are some of the most fulfilling moments in life.

We asked Pascal Ralo, the chef and owner of Restaurant Romy in Bern's Old Town, for the recipe for his phenomenal goulash. The rising young star's cuisine is based on the recipes of his grandmothers from Austria and Portugal. Hearty, sophisticated and with plenty of homely warmth... This is food that leaves you completely satisfied. Why not stop by or even cook it at home with our recipe!

Most people immediately associate champagne with the same handful of big brands. They think of celebrities at the Infiniti pool, business people at a networking party or James Bond in bed with latest conquest. Beyond the world of glamour, glitz and grandeur, champagne also has an equally exquisite but much quieter side with small producers working in the artisanal tradition. They only use grapes from their own vineyards and therefore pay great attention to the character of the terroir. The result of this painstaking work dictated by the highest quality criteria is a luxury product that is truly impressive for its uniqueness and precision.

Among these boutique producers, the Delouvin family particularly stood out for us. Geoffrey Delouvin produces around 60,000 bottles of champagne a year from seven hectares of vineyards. His vineyards, divided into 36 plots, are located in the cru area of Vandières in the heart of the Marne Valley. They are mainly old Pinot Meunier vines, which he has been cultivating with great passion for 11 generations. Delouvin, who was honoured as a «Jeune Talent du Champagne» in 2018, makes his unique sparkling wines from these vines. The «Meunier Perpétuel» is based 50% on a consistent solera reserve, which is combined from all the harvests since 1992. Delouvin blends this with the current vintage to create a multi-faceted champagne. This elaborate process results in a balanced body and a complex flavour of brioche and roasted almonds. We personally think this is what is meant by true luxury!

__Rarity: Small champagne house with very limited production. __