Roberto was born in the village of Tuenno in Trentino-Alto Adige, a mountainous region in northern Italy. Coming from a long line of farmers, his family owned apple orchards and when he was young, Roberto worked alongside his father on the land. He developed a farmer's sensibilities through his early experiences, and to this day he is a registered fruit grower in Italy and continues to oversee his family's apple orchards.

The world of competition ski boots is steeped in craftsmanship; each pair is handcrafted, custom-made to fit the racers' feet perfectly and tailored to their individual racing style. Throughout his impressive 37-year career, Roberto has worked closely with Lange's engineers to innovate materials, modify hardware and create moulds, with the aim of taking ski boot performance to new heights. He is credited as co-designer, alongside Rossignol/Lange, of a registered patent for the very first carbon ski boot. Roberto is also the brilliant mind behind the metallic gold ski boots worn by legendary Italian skier Alberto Tomba in honour of his two gold medals at the 1988 Calgary Olympics. The icing on the cake is that over the years, Roberto has collaborated with the famous Italian design agency Pininfarina, known for designing Ferrari, to create visually stunning designs that attract attention and admiration.

During his racing career, Roberto created boots for Alberto Tomba, and the two became good friends and often travelled together. Tomba's well-known appreciation for fine wines was rewarded with invitations to visit the world's best wineries, and Roberto accompanied him on these visits. Between 1990 and 1998, they visited the vineyards of Chateau Mouton Rothschild, Chateau Margaux, Chateau Lafite Rothschild and Chateau Lynch Bages in Bordeaux, Domaine de la Romanee-Conti in Burgundy, Ornellaia in Tuscany and Santa Rita in Chile. In California, they were welcomed at Opus One, Beringer, Shafer, Mondavi and Atlas Peak. Roberto attributes his introduction to different styles of winemaking around the world and his passion for fine wines to his friendship with Alberto Tomba.

Roberto had long cherished the dream of combining his passion for wine with his admiration for classic Bordeaux wines. Inspired by his love for these prestigious wines and his desire to experiment with the art of winemaking, he decided to embark on a new challenge: creating Super Tuscans in the heart of Tuscany.

In 1998, Roberto became a partner in an up-and-coming Tuscan winery called Duca, but in 2003 he decided to go his own way and establish his own winery. He was convinced that the unique soil and terrain of Tuscany offered the perfect terroir for producing high-quality wines with a modern twist. After extensive research along the Etruscan coast of Tuscany, he discovered a plot of land called Urlari, characterised by its elevated position, abundant sunshine and fertile, unspoilt soil. In 2004, he purchased this piece of land and named his winery Azienda Agricola Urlari, in homage to its unique location.

Although at first glance, making competition ski boots and producing premium wines may seem to have little in common, Roberto sees the similarities in the need for precision and attention to detail. He brings the same passion for innovation and perfection that is crucial in manufacturing world-class ski boots to his wines, striving for consistency and excellence in every glass.

Roberto and Jean-Philippe met in July 2008, when they spent time together tasting some of the world's finest wines. During this encounter, they discovered a shared passion for a specific style of wine: powerful and intense, with exceptional complexity and perfect balance. Although Roberto had to convince Jean-Philippe to use his expertise outside France – something Jean-Philippe had never done before – it was the unique qualities of the vineyard and the potential for innovation that ultimately won him over.

Jean-Philippe, born and raised in Bordeaux, holds a master's degree in biology from the University of Bordeaux. With over 20 years of experience on Michel Rolland's team, he is recognised as an authority on St. Emilion wines. His excellence is evident in the fact that over 40% of his wines are ‘Grand Cru Classé’, including the prestigious Chateau Angelus, a Premier Grand Cru.

Roberto Cristoforetti is also active in Trentino under the Michel Christò label. His love for Champagne inspired him to make his own Trentodoc. At an altitude of 600 metres, where the grapes benefit from cool mountain air and plenty of sunshine, he produces an elegant sparkling wine from Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. The result? A refined, fresh bubble with character – an Italian ode to the Champagne style, but with its own mountain soul.

Trentodoc may be less well known than Champagne, but for connoisseurs it is a real gem. This refined sparkling wine comes from Trentino, in northern Italy, and is made in exactly the same way as Champagne – using the traditional method, with the second fermentation taking place in the bottle. What makes Trentodoc unique is the mountain climate: cool nights, plenty of sunshine and clean air ensure lively acids, elegant aromas and a fresh, mineral style.

Fun facts about Trentodoc:

First in Italy: Trentodoc was Italy's very first méthode traditionnelle sparkling wine, dating back to 1902.

Altitude makes the difference: The vineyards are often located between 400 and 800 metres above sea level – perfect for fresh acidity and finesse.

Small production, high quality: There are only about 60 producers making Trentodoc, which ensures a lot of attention and craftsmanship per bottle.

Chardonnay & Pinot Noir: The classic grape varieties from Champagne are also used here – with an Italian twist.