4 references have obtained the highest recognition for wines and grappas which is awarded every year by the Italian Sommelier Foundation: Grappa Fuoriclasse Leon 7 Years Reserve, Grappa Fuoriclasse Leon 3 Years Reserve, Grappa Riserva Aged in Cherry Barrique and Riserva 5 Years Aged in cherry barriques. Grappa Fuoriclasse Leon 7 Anni Riserva also won the prestigious gold medal at the Spirits Selection of the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles.
Flattering successes supported by the latest turnover data which see the Venetian distillery in constant growth, confirming that grappa is ready to compete on aging with other great spirits such as whisky, cognac and Armagnac.
In fact, in the first 8 months of the year, the grappa market recorded a decline of 4%, but the Castagner brand grew by 5%. «The low brackets are losing more than the medium-high brackets - declares the founder and CEO of the company, Roberto Castagner -. I'm talking about large-scale retail trade (GDO), while HORECA (Hotel, Restaurant and Café) is growing. I believe that this year we will have a 25-30% increase in customers. And from 10 thousand public establishments, our goal will be to reach 15 thousand customers always guided by the same motto: "Cling to Excellence".
Strengthened by these results, the Castagner Distillery presents two new references: a grappa aged 23 years and an exclusive Amarone grappa.
Produced in just 749 examples, "Castagner Riserva 23 years" will be in wine shops from mid-November. It is the fruit of the vision of a champion of distillation like Roberto Castagner and is a grappa celebrating his entrepreneurial journey.
Pampered like a child, it represents a piece of history of the Treviso entrepreneur. «In these 23 years I have tasted it month by month - says Roberto Castagner - following its evolution. “Castagner Riserva 23 anni” represents for me much more than a grappa, it is in fact the symbol of a journey made of dreams, passion and foresight». “Castagner Riserva 23 years” is also a way to better understand the Castagner style. «You must have seen us just 23 years ago - continues the master distiller - today this grappa meets the tastes of the modern consumer. That idea of elegance, of enveloping softness, is what the spirits connoisseur is looking for, and it corresponds exactly to my style."
Castagner has always believed that the flagship distillate could establish itself on international markets. For this reason, since the birth of his company, he has invested in the concept of grappa as an Italian ritual: he created a barrique cellar which today has around 3,000 barriques, demonstrating great foresight in a context in which (mid-90s) the grappa consumed was for 90% white. The objective has always been to transform grappa into a modern, high quality product and the numbers are proving him right.
Starting from mid-November "Castagner Riserva 23 Anni" will be the protagonist of a series of evenings in collaboration with the best customers to taste, together with the master distiller, the grappa that is the symbol of its history.
Another new product from Castagner is the “Mia Amarone” grappa. Produced in just 987 examples, it is the result of a secret blend with the best selections of Amarone grappa from Roberto Castagner's personal reserve.
«In “Mia Amarone” - concludes Castagner - I chose the small barrels of Amarone grappa which over the years have best expressed, in my vision, the perfect profile of this noble Docg. The result was a cuvée of Amarone reserve grappa that I feel is particularly mine and that I created to dedicate, to great Amarone enthusiasts like me, a selection of the best that I have been able to distil over the years from this extraordinary Veronese cru."
