Alessandro Cellai is the head winemaker of the four DCC estates, but also the overall head of the company as managing director and general manager. Alessandro studied oenology at the Istituto Tecnico of Siena and chemistry at the University of Florence. He is also a doctor in agrarian studies honoris causa. When Paolo Panerai chose him for Castellare di Castellina he was 28 years old, with a great passion for viticulture and oenology passed down from his farming grandfather. Alessandro immediately agreed with the decision taken by the owners of the new Castellare winery – inaugurated just a year after his arrival – to follow tradition and a philosophy of not making wine with mixed blends of indigenous and international grape varieties. By appointing him as his successor Tachis enabled him to benefit from his own experience, acquired through 50 years of harvests that led to the Renaissance of Italian oenology. Alessandro, who before the age of 40 was named best young winemaker for four years in a row in Canada and other countries, personally oversees exports to the major overseas markets, from the US to Russia.