Caribbean Producers Jamaica (CPJ) partnered once again with MoDA Market to introduce both its new line of Fantinel Tenuta Sant’Helena wines and the winery’s suave CEO Marco Fantinel.

The winery began in 1969 in north-east Italy, just outside of Venice, and is now one of the region’s most prominent brands for quality wines. In recent years, the winery has partnered with R&B legend Mary J Blige for her Sun Goddess brand, which features a curated collection of limited-edition wines. Fantinel believes the Jamaican market is ready for a brand like his.

“The market is really growing, and wine culture is growing here. I would say the market is getting more and more premium. I have seen amazing resorts, and so many new projects, huge investments, so I believe this will become an important market for premium wines and people travelling around the world who want to drink amazing wines. I came personally to strengthen the presence and meet some of the buyers,” Fantinel said.

While it was the introduction of the Fantinel Tenuta Sant’Helena label, the winery has had a longstanding relationship with CPJ, which carries over 500 wine brands.

“We’ve been representing Fantinel for around 18 years, and CPJ is currently on a path to elevate its wine brands. In 2023, we spent a lot of time travelling to meet our vendors post-COVID. I went to see Marco and he showed me his new wines which we ended up bringing in this year. And, because Marco has taken the time to come and visit Jamaica, we decided that MoDA would be the right kind of event to showcase these particular wines,” said Thomas Tyler, CPJ CEO.

As Tyler revealed, CPJ put together a tour around the island for the Italian vigneron, including an intimate soirée at Kingston’s own buzo Osteria Italiana, and an equally exclusive night of dining with stemware at Half-Moon’s multi-award-winning Delmar Restaurant.

“People often buy wines from these big companies whose key players are so far removed from the consumer. This is a chance for clients to actually meet the winemaker and build a connection with the brand which adds even more value to an already well-priced wine,” Tyler said, noting that the direct-sourcing partnership with Fantinel allows CPJ to deliver top-tier, chemical-free, sustainably farmed, single-vineyard wine at value to the discerning Jamaican consumer.

The new Fantinel label was well-received by MoDA Market’s specially invited guests, who tipped their glasses throughout the evening as they shopped the fine artisan wares and eagerly slipped into pieces from the evening’s featured collections, highlighting the fact that Fantinel wasn’t the only famed foreigner of the moment.

CPJ also catered the event’s fare, which came in the form of a charcuterie board, neatly presented in individually packaged boxes, offering a meat lover’s option that featured CPJ ham, salmon and cheeses, and a vegetarian option with cheeses and fruits. CPJ Category Manager for Foods Zayditu Howe stated that the brand chose the chic set-up to complement the event’s haute atmosphere.

“We know where we are. It’s MoDA Market; it’s Locale. So we wanted to bring an aesthetic that matched the brands and also highlight some organic and healthy options as the boutique also focuses on holistic wellness and beauty,” Howe said, referencing Locale’s in-house medical spa, The DB Glow, which afforded MoDA Market shoppers La Boîte Beauté (The Beauty Box): express facials and glam make-overs.