Leone Alato expands its portfolio

Veneto-based wine group Le Tenute Del Leone Alato has struck three new distribution deals with estates in Champagne, Montalcino and Salento.

So far in 2023, Leone Alato has made three key winery partnerships, following on from those established in early 2022 with Dettori (Sardinia) and Fiorentino (also Salento).

Maison Burtin in Épernay dates back to 1933. Founder Gaston Burtin also served as [resident of the Syndicat des Négociants en Vins de Champagne for eight years. Since 2006, Maison Burtin has been part of Lanson-BCC, a group made up of eight family-run Champagne houses, including Champagne Lanson, Philipponnat and Boizel.

Northern Montalcino’s Agricola Pinino was one of the first estates to be listed in the register of Brunello producers in 1950. In 2003, long-time friends and colleagues Andrea Gamon, from Austria, and Max Hernandez, from Spain, acquired the winery.

Masseria Li Veli was founded in Salento, Puglia in the late 19th century. In 1999, it was acquired by a group of investors led by the historic Tuscan winery Avignonesi, and nine years after that Li Veli was entirely acquired by brothers Edoardo and Alfredo Falvo.

This trio of acquisitions means that Leone Alato will be the exclusive distributor of Masseria Li Veli, the exclusive distributor of Agricola Pinino in Italy and in other countries, and that of Maison Burton in Italy.

Leone Alato chief commercial officer Francesco Domini said of the acquisition of Maison Burtin and Agricola Pinino: “[It] is the continuation of a strategic course that began last year with Tenute Dettori in Sardinia and Cantine Fiorentino in Puglia. For us, these partnerships aim to expand our offer with products from highly-suitable wine areas where we are still not yet present.
This is an opportunity to open new sales channels and overall increase visibility. In particular, we are ecstatic for the partnership with Maison Burtin which is part of a leading group in the world of Champagne (Lanson-BCC). We feel especially close to their style and philosophy, and we are very excited to help them promote their brand in the Italian market, which is seen as highly strategic.”

Speaking of the later acquisition of Masseria Li Veli, Domini added: “This further step in our distribution project allows us to expand our portfolio and open it towards premium and super premium segments, a move that is perfectly in line with the strategic development that Leone Alato started in 2021.”

“We want to create a portfolio that involves between 5 to 6 distribution partners, representing 20% of the group’s total turnover,” Domini continued. “The main objective is to work on a multi-regional structure rather than being a mere distributor in order to reserve proper attention to all brands, in full respect of each label’s individual identity, and to reach the desired value, which is Leone Alato’s ultimate goal.”