History

A man with a vision. The Mercandelli family have made wine at Cabanon since 1909. Originally, we supplied a loyal clientele of restaurants, hotels and bars in the vicinity. Generations of their customers obviously enjoyed what we produced in our small corner of the Oltrepo Pavese wine area. In the 1960s, however, Giovanni Mercandelli brought a new vision to the family business. Blending a deep knowledge of wine with an equal understanding of wine making itself, he founded Fattoria Cabanon. Giovanni reorganised Cabanon’s vineyards in meticulous detail. He brought together traditional wine making principles, premium wine grapes and modern viticulture techniques. He knew that, by doing this, he could create wines of remarkable character. Their character has become the trademark of Fattoria Cabanon.

Like father, like daughter. Giovanni Mercandelli died in early 2003. But the inspiration and passion with which he imbued Cabanon continue undiminished. Because in his daughter, Elena, he had a kindred spirit. Elena started working with her father when she was 14 years old. She studied wine making at the prestigious schools of Trentino and the University of Bordeaux. Besides being one of Italy’s first female wine makers, she became the country’s youngest wine maker. With the knowledge and creativity that her father passed on to her, she displayed a remarkable maturity at an early age. Working beside her father for 25 years, creating premium wines and excellent vintages, literally cultivating and fermenting new ideas, Elena gained the most thorough understanding of Giovanni’s vision. In her, he saw the future of Cabanon.