Education
Welcome to episode 2215 of the Italian Wine Podcast, and episode 174 of Wine, Food & Travel with Marc Millon. Marc’s guest today is Mario Fontana of the Cascina Fontana winery in the Langhe region of Piedmont in northwest Italy. Mario Fontana has been named Winemaker of the Year 2025 by Gambero Rosso.
In this episode, they talk about the history of the winery, sustainable viticulture and winemaking techniques used by the estate, their flagship wines and some of the unexpected food and wine pairings.
More about today’s guest:
Mario Fontana together with his wife Luisa and sons Edoardo and Vasco are the proprietors of Cascina Fontana which comprises 5 hectares (about 12.5 acres) of estate vineyards dedicated exclusively to the cultivation of the classic grape varieties of Le Langhe: dolcetto, barbera and nebbiolo. Mario’s vineyards are located in the best zones of production in the commune of Castiglione Falletto (vigna Valletti, cru Mariondino, vigna Villero/cru Villero e vigna del Pozzo); La Morra (vigna Gallinotto/cru Giachini); and Sinio (vigna del Castello).
Cascina Fontana is a wholly traditional wine estate that respects and follows the culture, traditions and history of Le Langhe. Mario himself personally oversees the entire cycle of production, from the tending of the vineyards to the making of the wines, taking the greatest and most meticulous care at every stage of the process.
Connect
Website: https://www.cascinafontana.com/language/en-US/Home
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cascina_fontana/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Cascina-Fontana-vini/100063535721637/
More about the host Marc Millon:
Marc Millon, VIA Italian Wine Ambassador 2021, has been travelling, eating, drinking, learning and writing about wine, food and travel for nearly 40 years. Born in Mexico, with a mother from Hawaii via Korea and an anthropologist father from New York via Paris, he was weaned on exotic and delicious foods. Marc and his photographer wife Kim are the authors of 14 books including a pioneering series of illustrated wine-food-travel books: The Wine Roads of Europe, The Wine Roads of France, The Wine Roads of Italy (Premio Barbi Colombini), and The Wine Roads of Spain. Other titles include The Wine and Food of Europe, The Food Lovers’ Companion Italy, The Food Lovers’ Companion France, Wine, a global history. Marc regularly lectures and hosts gastronomic cultural tours to Italy and France with Martin Randall Travel, the UK’s leading cultural travel specialist. He has also been the host of the ‘Wine, food and travel with Marc Millon’ series on the Italian Wine Podcast since 2021. When not on the road Marc lives on the River Exe in Devon, England.
Connect:
Website:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marc-millon-50868624/
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/Marc_Millon
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Until next time, Cin Cin!
Thanks for listening! This show is all about food and wine pairings, and traveling through Italy with Marc. Join him on this food, wine and cultural journey!