Federico Curtaz was born in the Val d’Aosta region of Italy. His mother’s family were farmers (cattle and vineyards) in Piemonte which is where Curtaz has spent most of his life. He graduated as an agronomist in Asti where he later taught. In 1983 he met Angelo Gaja with whom he collaborated for 15 years as an agronomist, also consulting elsewhere. He was part of a project on Etna, Sicily but in 2015 produced wines under his own eponymously-named winery from rented and managed vineyards. These are near Noto (Nero d’Avola); on the eastern slopes of the Etna, near Milo (Carricante) on the southern slopes, and  near Biancavilla).