David Lopez Quincoces and Francesco Meda charged with defining the new ‘creative vision’ of the Grumello del Monte-based company: debut during Milan Design Week That of Alias is a story that spans an exceptional season of Italian design In 1972 the great exhibition Italy: the new domestic landscape had brought the country’s creative scene to international attention The years immediately following had been one of exponential growth It was in this context of extraordinary ferment that a company was founded in Grumello del Monte (Bergamo) that proposed itself as ‘other’ and that had a profound cultural reflection behind it The first official presentation took place in the Milan gallery of Giò Marconi where works by Alberto Burri and Lucio Fontana were exhibited Among the first products were the Broomstick series by Vico Magistretti and the Spaghetti chair (now part of the permanent collection of the MoMA in New York) by Giandomenico Belotti full of pieces that have entered the history of design It was the season of pieces such as Mario Botta’s Seconda chair Collaborations with international designers took shape: Jasper Morrison Alias entered the orbit of other prestigious brands and groups under the leadership of Beat Zaugg – owner and managing director – it announces the entry of two brilliant designers with the task of providing a new ‘creative vision’ The first episode of this new course will be presented during Milano Design Week that goes back to the brand’s origins: the stylised silhouette of a cowboy on horseback (the name Alias is that of a character from Sam Peckinpah’s western Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid) a series of almost abstract images of the most famous pieces in the catalogue Looking forward to the new chapter in this story The largest diffusion magazine in the luxury & design world Privacy Policy(function (w,d) {var loader = function () {var s = d.createElement("script") tag = d.getElementsByTagName("script")[0]; s.src="https://cdn.iubenda.com/iubenda.js"; tag.parentNode.insertBefore(s,tag);}; if(w.addEventListener){w.addEventListener("load" false);}else if(w.attachEvent){w.attachEvent("onload" loader);}else{w.onload = loader;}})(window How has such an ancient wine region become silent and are the wines any good today I decided to take a trip to Barra (the ancient name of Bergamo) where during the Roman period luscious vines surrounded the city the Lombards were intensely involved with wine making here and original documents also show the importance of the wine industry between the 12th and the 15th century A lot of local varieties are mentioned in those documents: Vernacce while by the 1700’s other varieties such as Schiava Merera and Moscatella had become the most important varieties all of this changed around the mid 1800’s – and it you are thinking this was because of the vine’s most dangerous nemesis Obviously the nasty bug killed a lot of vines but the biggest enemy for the vineyards in Bergamo was the mulberry tree which started to replace more and more vineyards documents state that Bergamo Alta had 20,000 inhabitants 1,300 hectares of vines and 90 osterie (restaurants) as a land register shows the city and its surrounding had around 1,100 hectares planted with these varieties are the two only indigenous red varieties left For while the silk industry was becoming the new business opportunity a new era for wine started when Prince Gonzaga del Carretto brought a new French variety called ‘Burdinì’ aka Cabernet Sauvignon to the region in 1850 This was the start of Bergamo’s Bordeaux-style blend which would become its signature while France might have given Bergamo its new vines Bergamo gave France and the rest of the wine world an amazing and very important innovation made a revolutionary scientific discovery that would change the history of vineyard treatments: the ability of copper ion to stop the germination of spores in downy mildew this discovery translated into the famous ‘Bordeaux mixture’ – a mixture of copper sulphate and quicklime used as a fungicide the region became one of the country’s most important engines of the new economy And although Italy still didn’t have an appellation system in 1962 wine maker Carlo Zadra gave birth to the first new Bordeaux blend at the cooperative winery San Paolo d’Argon it was made from Cabernet Sauvignon from the Calvario hills and Merlot from Torre dei Roveri area The wine was an immediate success and led most farmers to plant Bordeaux varieties and later the creation of the new appellation Valcalepio DOC (Merlot 40% – 75% – Cabernet Sauvignon 25% – 60%) the area has acquired the appellations of Colleoni DOC which is customarily used by those producers who want to work with different percentages of varieties in their wines The only question that remains is: are the wines any good I had the opportunity to try the wines from a dozen wineries going back to 1978 and although some were over-the-top extractive reds The borders of the appellation are the Prealps Orobie to the North with Valtellina and Alpi Retiche further north bringing some serious cold winds and mountain climatic conditions Viticulture takes place between 200 and 600m above sea level around five valleys stretching for about 45 kilometres On the eastern side is the border of the appellation with Lake Iseo (behind the lake is the famous Franciacorta sparkling wine region) where the vineyards are on a more sandstone-based soil with traces of calcareous and marl composition The wines tend to be well-structured and fine the vineyards tend to be more mountainous with a marl/schist rocky soil producing more red fruit driven and reactive style reds The total hectares are around 700 with 60% of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon plus other white and red varieties including the Moscato di Scanzo for the homonymous sweet DOCG appellation the following are some of the most representative of the different styles there is a group of wines which show the vibrant red fruit and mineral quality of a cool climate region which Valcalepio actually is In this group I found wines with a higher degree of transparency as a result with more sense of place: the voice of terroir I think is louder when there’s less forced concentration of the fruit On the other hand there’s a group of wines with a rounder bigger and more voluminous attitude given either by withering (just like in the case of Amarone) These wines seem to be destined to a larger crowd and of course with a more commercial and palate-pleasing attitude the prior group Clearly there’s an identity crisis which isn’t about to be cleared up soon because in the wine world any decision taken usually shows the result only after a few years My feeling though is that the ‘transparent driven’ producers seems to be more convinced of the avenue they have chosen while the majority of the ‘bigger and bolder’ producers are less sure – even if most of them might like to tune down the withering they are afraid of how the market would react to a change in style It is going to take some time before the wines of Bergamo will be able to have an en primeur event with bottles all from the same vintage and with a similar production code but choosing a common avenue is the only way forward to create a strong and united blueberries and cedar wood with an iodine whiff and an uplifting hint of suede lather The palate of this Merlot/Cabernet Sauvignon is agile vibrant with so much salinity and a juicy energy which delivers more flavours of oranges wild roses and a contrasted slightly scratchy but uplifting Neil Young “Dead man” guitar strumming with a very much alive finish A beautiful property under new ownership – Angelo and Daniele Gotti – and an MD who is also one of Italy’s leading expert on agroforestry I tasted all the wines all the way up to 2021 and the consistency is overwhelming The palate is balsamic with sweet roots and cardamom incense and tobacco with a delicious earthy and umeboshi finish for this light bodied (only 12%) and old school Bordeaux blend The wines come from a tiny five hectares estate next to a monastery that was built in 1079 today Angelo is one of the believers in Franconia to bring that indigenous refreshing character to the Bergamo Bordeaux blend This is a more extractive style with a lot of prunes and ripe black fruit and a very body builder like character The palate is reflecting the aromas on the nose A small winery owned by the Gavazzini Family near Grumello del Monte with 3.5 hectares is working hard on highlighting not only Valcalepio wines but also Moscato di Scanzo vinified sweet 40% Cabernet Sauvignon aged for 18 months in barriques On the palate the wine flies like Perseus with its winged sandals delivering a massive amount of vibrant and super drinkable juicy freshness of propolis 16 different parcels located on a marl-based soil Two hectares only run with a lot of dedication and a garage-wine cellar where never a hint of new oak is present in the wines Cabernet based blend with some Merlot and a dash of Petit Verdot A very extractive and overripe style of nose reminiscent o prunes The palate is absolutely reflecting the nose the balsamic and menthol character of the wine and a sweet rich finish A family run winery solely dedicated to wine making for generations The idea here is to get the Cabernet Sauvignon macerate a little longer to get an extra level of ripeness almost to obtain more glycerol Hints of tea and orange with some blackberries A very densely structure and powerful red despite the very rainy vintage A beautiful winery built under the mountain in the calcareous-marl soil which takes locally the name of  ‘Sass del Luna’ (the moon stone) dried in the loft for over a month and 5% Pinot Noir Light tannic structure for this ‘petite wine‘ of the Tenuta Le Corne Less ambitions then the top of the line but with a great reactiveness and supple red fruit some gun flint style minerality and lovely balsamic and menthol and cherries flavours on the finish A 30 ha estate mainly with Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon which are vinified separately in what probably -has to be- the most modern state of the art cellar fin Valcalepio very black driven fruit and prunes style nose with a hint of liquorice and a touch of balsamic edge and a residual sugar which makes the wine pretty approachable despite the big structure Late harvest style Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot with a modern vinification in inox 3 years fining in the steel tanks and over a year of French and American oak barrels The vines are cultivated in the historical Torre dei Roveri site Deep purple colour and “deep purple” hard rock attitude Tobacco and leather with a green and black pepper note and some blue flowers Powerful and rich but also with a good juicy edge From 2.5 ha on Sarnico sandstone soil this explosive wine is produced by a  talented young wine maker who’s started only in 2018 Kudos for the passion and the already promising results smoky and slightly toasted notes of coffee Powerful structure and mature fruit for this full bodied wine packed with prunes and Christmas pudding notes on the finish The estate comprises 2.5ha of very old vineyards on a very steep slope at the foothills of the cold Monte Misma Sandstone and clay soil and a relatively cooler climate could be the reason why the grapes dry 20 days in the cellar before the fermentation The nose is an explosion of wild strawberry with some pepperiness and a lot of rebury crush and a delightful minerality a crispy finish From the higher altitudes of the far west Pontida area this vegan friendly and family run winery is one to watch as seems very determined to focus on the purest fruit of the area We are using cookies to give you the best experience on our website You can find out more about which cookies we are using or switch them off in settings This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings we will not be able to save your preferences This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again Thanks to its technical knowledge and experience of cold forming INOX-VITI® is able to provide a quality range of special bolts and components in a wide variety of specialist materials Established in 1964 by Enrico and Bruno Cattinori INOX‑VITI® initially started as a small warehouse producing stainless steel screws and bolts in Grumello del Monte (Bergamo) The family-owned Italian company has steadily developed its experience and expertise so that it can now deliver a comprehensive service of technical and commercial support throughout the entire production process – supplying quality products on short lead times INOX-VITI has developed a particular competence in producing a selection of screws and bolts All of which it is able to provide as a high-quality product range that is available in a variety of materials steel for use in high temperature environments alloys with high corrosion resistance properties as well as special alloys such as AISI 316Ti “As a business we have built a reputation within the market as an experienced supplier of special items in a variety of stainless steel markets,” explains Ivana Cattinori “We have done this thanks to our ability to produce a wide range of products – enabling us to establish long-lasting partnerships with key companies across Europe.” permits the creation of a wide range of standard and special products – produced quickly and efficiently with comparable lead teams INOX-VITI is able to produce screws up to a maximum length of 200mm; bolts and studs from M3 – M24; and threaded rods and bars up to M30 In addition to its special products and machines the company also has professional staff that are trained and qualified to offer customers solutions that utilise advanced techniques and information – making INOX-VITI a reliable partner “We can provide customers with a wide range of specialist materials for all their product needs and our excellent customer service department and distribution performance ensures we deliver a first-class service,” mentions Ivana “At INOX-VITI we have always paid great attention to new technologies and have also equipped ourselves with an efficient laboratory – including equipment for both chemical analysis of raw materials and for the controlled inspection of finished products.” “Over the last 50 years we have gained a great knowledge in fixing systems materials and production processes,” explains Enrica Cattinori “Thanks to the technical competence we have achieved we can follow the customer right from the start of the project - providing them with a targeted support to choose the most suitable product for the specific requests.” Enrica continues: “We believe that the best solution is found in sharing the functional needs of the project together which allows us to optimise production costs and meet quality standards That is why we have invested heavily on an integrated production model aimed at continuous improvement; the introduction of important changes in production processes; eliminating waste and losses; as well as involving all employees in continuous improvement We are also applying for new certifications that will enable us to gain further business.” This is underlined by INOX-VITI recently achieving the IATF 16949 certification for the automotive sector and EN 15048-1 for structural bolts “We are very proud to have received these certifications as it underlines our commitment to the highest quality in every part of our business,” concludes Ivana “Our wealth of experience of more than 50 years; our accredited performance; and our production capabilities; enable us to reach new and exciting goals We will continue to focus on new business opportunities and look to succeed in cold stamping even more new materials.” www.inoxviti.it Will joined Fastener + Fixing Magazine in 2007 and over the last 15 years has experienced every facet of the fastener sector - interviewing key figures within the industry and visiting leading companies and exhibitions around the globe. Will manages the content strategy across all platforms and is the guardian for the high editorial standards that the Magazine is renowned. Hike the hills The hills surrounding Lake Iseo offer a fantastic variety of hiking trails for people of all skill levels Walk the paths along the shore to better appreciate its clear waters and natural beauty or pick a more strenuous trail like the Punta Almana which culminates with glorious views of the Monte Isola (the largest lake island in the country) the rising alps and the waters of the lake Siviano, Monte Isola | © Alessandro Vecchi/WikiCommons There are about 1,800 people who live here Sights include several churches built between the 15th and 17th centuries that contain frescoes Montecampione | © Michele Scaffidi/WikiCommons A visit to Lake Iseo is not complete without trying some of the local fare particularly the fish that comes straight from the lake Head to Clusane for the most authentic lake food experience; the town that lays claim to being the tinca capital of these parts Ferry on Iseo | © Jon Shave/Flickr Take a ferry ride Ferries are constantly criss-crossing their way across the waters here going to and from the various towns on the shores of the lake A trip from one side to the other can take up to three hours depending on the number of stops along the way And while a ferry ride may not be the most efficient method of travel Overlooking the village of Grumello del Monte in between Bergamo and Lake Iseo this castle dates all the way back to the Middle Ages knights’ hall and cellar all remain from the original structure and are open for exploration there is also a winery that produces about 100,000 bottles each year Sign up to our newsletter to save up to $800 on our unique trips See privacy policy Riserva Naturale Torbiere del Sebino | ©nucce/WikiCommons Experience nature Just off the southern tip of Lake Iseo lies the Riserva Naturale Torbiere del Sebino This wetland is protected as an important area for biodiversity in the Po Valley of Lombardy as there are a number of endangered plants and animals that live here A hiking trail around the reserve allows visitors to explore the nature of this stretch Tadini Academy | © Maksim/WikiCommons Enjoy some art The Tadini Academy Gallery was built between 1821 and 1826 to display the art collection of Count Luigi Tadini The gallery represents one of the oldest collections in all of Lombardy Highlighting the museum’s collection is the sculpture work by the Venetian Antonio Canova Lake Iseo at dusk | © Paolo Ghilardi/WikiCommons/Public Domain Tour the lake by bike Mountain bikers can climb up through the forests to some of the higher altitudes nearby For the complete Lake Iseo cycling experience follow the ‘Giro del Lago’ itinerary: a 40-mile adventure around the entire lake that usually takes about four hours to complete Then head over to the area known as La Spiaggetta The perfect spot to relax after a long day of touring Lake Iseo La Spiaggetta is a grassy beach area that is free and open to the public there is a small bar to grab a refreshing drink and a snack while enjoying the beautiful view of the lake Jonathan has lived in Capitol Hill going on eight years After studying psychology and Italian as an undergraduate at the University of Richmond he spent several years working at an ophthalmology practice in DC An interest in all things Italian led him to return to school to pursue an MA in Italian Studies at Georgetown University Jonathan has had the opportunity to study in the beautiful towns of Perugia and Ferrara and travel extensively throughout Italy See & Do The Best Hiking Trails in Italy Guides & Tips The Best European Cities to Visit in August See & Do The Best European Cities to Visit in Autumn Guides & Tips The Best European Cities to Visit in December See & Do The Best European Cities to Visit in October See & Do The Best European Cities to Visit in Summer Guides & Tips This Is Europe's Ultimate Road Trip See & Do The Best European Cities to Visit in June Guides & Tips The Best European Cities to Visit in November Guides & Tips A Guide to the 5 Most Dazzling Views in Catania See & Do The Best European Cities to Visit in September See & Do The Best European Cities to Visit in July US: +1 (678) 967 4965 | UK: +44 (0)1630 35000 tripssupport@theculturetrip.com © Copyright 2025 The Culture Trip Ltd On the other hand, the team that has been chasing the final play-offs all season long is Villa Valle, which currently occupies the fifth position, the last one that allows for the playoffs, with a four-point advantage over Mestre. Sgrò's team will receive the visit of a tough rival like Luparense, but can find the strength and conviction to win the victory that could decisively bring the post-season play-offs closer.