“Working hard helps, but you also need luck, in wine as in horse racing”: Marcel Van Poecke talks

Those who work essentially “under the open sky”, as vertically integrated wineries do, overseeing every stage from vineyard to bottle, as well as those who work with animals, can achieve a great deal through research, investment, rigor, professionalism, dedication, and respect. Yet, they can’t control everything. For this reason, despite making every possible effort, a little luck is also required, although hard work can certainly help create the conditions for it. This is the conviction of Marcel Van Poecke, founder and chairman of AtlasInvest, with more than 25 years of experience in the global energy sector, owner of Poggio Antico, one of the most beautiful and highest-altitude wineries in Montalcino, and co-owner of Anda e Bola, a racehorse whose remarkable success has virtually united two “rival districts” of one of the world oldest and most celebrated traditional events, the Palio di Siena. Anda e Bola won the August 2025 Palio for the Valdimontone district, ridden by Giuseppe Zedde, known as Gingillo, and then, exactly one year later in August 2026, secured victory for the Nicchio district, with Giovanni Atzeni, known as Tittia, in the saddle. It is a combination of passions, wine and horses, that is clearly proving successful.
“We have been very lucky, both with horses and with wine. It is a combination of passions and investments in excellence, whether in Brunello di Montalcino or in Anda e Bola. And it is the result of teamwork: what we do in the vineyards and winery here in Montalcino is exactly what we do with Anda e Bola (and our other horses) and with his trainers, Massimo Milani and his family”, Van Poecke told WineNews during a meeting yesterday. On that occasion, together with the estate general manager Pier Giuseppe D’Alessandro, he previewed the acquisition of the neighboring Podere Pian di Moggio. Part of the property will be converted into vineyards, with approximately 4 hectares planned for planting. The project is firmly focused on sustainability, aiming to minimize intervention and respect the environment. The new vineyards will be established on land that has not hosted modern vineyards for the past fifty years and will be recreated starting from vines over 70 years old that are still alive and were discovered on the property. These new vineyards will enrich the holdings of an estate which boasts the highest-altitude vineyard area in Montalcino. Poggio Antico currently cultivates 37 hectares of certified organic vineyards at an average elevation of 550 meters above sea level, reaching peaks of around 620 meters. Almost all of these vineyards are surrounded by another essential asset: 150 hectares of Mediterranean woodland, which covers more than 75% of the estate total surface area. The acquisition also strengthens the historical connection between Poggio Antico, Montalcino, and Siena. Ancient boundary stones bearing the symbol of Siena Santa Maria della Scala hospital were discovered on the Pian di Moggio property and will be the subject of in-depth historical research in the coming months.
This latest investment further demonstrates the confidence and commitment that Marcel Van Poecke, who acquired Poggio Antico in 2017, places in the Montalcino region, which he describes as having “a very supportive social and business community, where everyone works toward positive results. Italy as a whole is the same. We all know there are always many problems, but I believe we are moving in the right direction. I also believe that Brunello di Montalcino is an exceptional wine that still offers good value for money. It is not so expensive as to be out of reach. There may still be room for improvement, but everything follows the rhythm of life: first things rise a little, then they fall, then rise again, then fall again, and rise once more. I don’t believe there is a structural decline. Certainly, everything is becoming more expensive, and people are paying closer attention to their spending, but I believe that in the medium to long term things will stabilize, and we will discover that the economy is stronger than we think today”.
“Obviously, there are many problems in the world, from the war in Ukraine to conflicts in the Middle East, rising fuel costs, and so on, but these challenges will pass. I believe that, in general, we need to reduce volumes somewhat, continue producing ever-better wines, as I believe everyone is striving to do, and this will help us overcome what is currently a more difficult period for the wine industry - still explains Van Poecke - but I am not pessimistic. I am an optimist. We will get through this phase, and the wine business will emerge even stronger than before. This is also thanks to the fact that the image and perception of Italian wine around the world remain extremely strong. As someone who travels constantly for business, I can say that there are fantastic restaurants throughout the world that serve as the foremost ambassadors of Italian wine. When you look at wine lists, Italian wines are generally priced reasonably and offer excellent value for money”.
Marcel Van Poecke therefore has no doubts. As owner of Poggio Antico, one of the prestigious names of Brunello di Montalcino, and of Anda e Bola, the horse that last year brought victory to Valdimontone, celebrated with a special “Palio Edition” Brunello di Montalcino 2021 featuring the district red, yellow, and white colors, and that this year brought long-awaited triumph to the Nicchio district, he has yet another occasion to raise a glass. This latest victory will be celebrated with another special “Palio Edition”, this time a Brunello di Montalcino Riserva 2020, bearing the blue, yellow, and red colors of the district that most recently captured the Palio.
Meanwhile, preparations continue for the construction of Poggio Antico new winery, designed by Marco Casamonti, one of the most renowned architects of our time and the designer, among other projects, of the award-winning Antinori nel Chianti Classico winery, which was named the “World Best Vineyard” in 2022 by the World Best Vineyards competition. The new winery will also embody principles of environmental stewardship and minimal intervention, consistent with the philosophy already described by Casamonti himself: “when you are in an extraordinarily beautiful place like Tuscany, designing a winery means taking a step back. The architect must approach the project with great humility and understand that their role is to enhance what already exists around them. In Tuscany, and particularly in Montalcino, we should not draw attention to ourselves, but instead direct people gaze toward the landscape”. And from Poggio Antico, that landscape unfolds across 180 degrees toward the Tyrrhenian Sea. On the clearest days, the view stretches so far that the eye can even rest upon the distant island of Corsica.