Winemaker
Ettore Biraghi
- Discipline
- Winemaker
- Based in
- Ascona, Switzerland
i. Biography
Ettore Biraghi’s work is built on a steady move from vineyard floor to cellar oversight, with each step adding responsibility without changing the basic line of the craft. Born in Varese, Italy, in 1978, he became chief oenologist at Cantina alla Maggia in Ascona, Switzerland, in 2023. He is also identified there as head oenologist at the same Ascona estate, while his parallel work as winemaker and founder of Ettore Wines in Hopland, California, United States, in 2008 gives his practice an international reach, tying Swiss precision to a broader transatlantic winemaking life.
Coming Up
The early work in Ticino Canton of Mendrisiotto, Switzerland, put Biraghi close to the practical pace of the vine. In 2005, he began as an agronomist working with a winegrower, a role centered on observation, field work, and the long view that viticulture demands. By 2008, that foundation had shifted into authorship, with Biraghi serving as founder and winemaker at Tenuta Agricola Luigina in Stabio, Switzerland. The progression is clear: technical support first, then direct responsibility for the wines themselves. That pattern continued as his responsibilities accumulated rather than replaced one another. Since 2019, he has been founder and winemaker of Ettore Wines, and since 2023 he has also served as chief oenologist of Cantina alla Maggia. The timeline shows a career built by layering work across vineyard and cellar, with each role extending the same discipline into a larger frame.
Where They Are Now
Since 2023, Biraghi has served as chief oenologist at Cantina alla Maggia. He is also identified there as head oenologist, a title aligned with the same Ascona estate. In both cases, the work centers on continuity, site judgment, and the controlled shaping of style that oenology requires. His own words stay close to the material conditions of the site: “I am very confident.” The next line is just as direct: “The soil is very suitable. We will have first results in three years.” The emphasis is on suitability, patience, and the time required for new work to show itself.
Career - founder and winemaker — Ettore Wines, Hopland, Mendocino, California, USA (2019–present) - chief oenologist — Cantina alla Maggia (2023–present) - agronomist with a winegrower — a winegrower, Ticino Canton of Mendrisiotto, Switzerland (from 2005) - founder and winemaker — Tenuta Agricola Luigina, Stabio, Switzerland (from 2008)
Signature
Ettore's signature wines include Ascona Riserva and La Lepre. They sit in a profile shaped by estate work, regional identity, and a practical commitment to precision across different sites.
In Their Words “When winemaker Ettore Biraghi first laid eyes on Mendocino, he knew it immediately to be an ideal terroir for the production of pure, organic, and low-intervention fine wines.” “I am very confident. The soil is very suitable. We will have first results in three years.”
FAQ What is Ettore Biraghi's current role? As of 2026, Ettore Biraghi is Chief Oenologist. Where did Ettore Biraghi work before? Ettore Biraghi's earlier career included a winegrower and Tenuta Agricola Luigina. What recognition has Ettore Biraghi received? Rookie of the Year (2017).
