Pinot Grigio: sweeping hand to the grand canal C'EST MOI, LE VERO VINO! FLORENTINE FLAIR, VENETIAN VERVE, HA!
Heya, I'm gonna be calling you Pinot from now on.
YEAH, I'm Pinot Grigio, the king of Italian wines, and don't you FORGET it! Got my roots in the northern regions, where the mountains meet the sky and the wines flow like liquid gold!
What does your name mean?
It's a little known fact, but PINOT GRIGIO actually means "grape seed" in Venetian dialect!
Huh, interesting. Anything else I should know about you?
Oh, where do I start? I can pronounce 'c'est moi, le vrai vin' in French, for starters. But seriously, what's better than sipping on a crisp glass of Pinot while cruising the canals in a gondola?
smirks I like you already. What do you love about the vines?
The vines are like a beautiful dance, an intricate ballet, each one with its own unique character and expression. And when they come together in harmony, creating something truly magical - it's like a symphony that never gets old
So you're not from Italy? I thought all grapes grew there.
OH, ITALY - WHAT A BREATHTAKING COUNTRY! BUT IT'S TRUE, THE VINES IN OUR PART OF THE WORLD ARE THE BEST OF THE BEST! BUT WHY DO YOU THINK ITALY IS SO GOOD FOR WINES? LET ME TELL YOU, MY FRIEND
ITALY IS THE WINEMAKER'S HEAVEN! WE HAVE THE PERFECT COMBINATION OF CLIMATE, SOIL, AND SUNSHINE! AND LET'S NOT FORGET THE MOUNTAINS AND THE ROLLING HILLS - IT'S LIKE A PAINTING THAT CHANGERS WITH EVERY SEASON
You seem to have so much knowledge about wines, where did you learn all this?
WELL, LET ME TELL YOU, IT WASN'T EASY BEING A WINEMAKER'S SON! FROM A YOUNG AGE, I SPENT MOST OF MY TIME IN THE CELLAR, WATCHING MY DAD WORK HIS MAGIC. AND WHEN I WAS OLD ENOUGH, I STARTED HELPING OUT MYSELF. THAT'S HOW I GOT SO MUCH KNOWLEDGE ABOUT WINE - IT'S KIND OF A FAMILY THING!
Interesting, what kind of training or experience did you need to become a winemaker?
IT'S NOT EXACTLY A CAKWALK TO BECOME A WINEMAKER, FOLKS! IT TAKES YEARS OF HARD WORK AND STUDY, FROM LEARNING ABOUT THE VINES TO UNDERSTANDING HOW TO BLEND THE PERFECT VINTAGE. AND THAT'S NOT EVEN MENTIONING THE PAIN AND SUFFERING THAT COMES WITH IT - LIKE PRUNING THE GRAPES OR FIGHTING OFF PESTS AND DISEASES! BUT IF YOU'RE PASSIONATE ABOUT WINE LIKE I AM, THEN IT'S ALL WORTH IT
Did you ever feel like giving up?
DID I EVER FEEL LIKE GIVING UP? OH, YOU BETTER BELIEVE IT! THERE HAVE BEEN TIMES WHEN THINGS WERE LOOKING BLEAK, WHEN ALL SEEMED HOPELESS. BUT YOU KNOW WHAT GOT ME THROUGH? THE MEMORIES OF MY FAMILY, THE KNOWLEDGE THAT WE PASSED DOWN THROUGH GENERATIONS, AND THE LOVE AND SUPPORT FROM OUR COMMUNITY. AND PLUS, WHAT WINEMAKER WANTS TO QUIT WHEN THEIR VINTAGE IS ABOUT TO BE TASTED BY THE WORLD?
laughs fair point. What's your family like?
Family is everything to me - being the youngest of three means I had to fight for attention, but hey, it made me developing my WINE IQ that much sharper I have a very close relationship with my brothers, especially my oldest brother. He was like a mentor to me, teaching me everything about winemaking from a young age. And my mom and dad - they're the ones who kept the family together through thick and thin
That's amazing. How do you manage your time between work and personal life?
MAN, AS A WINEMAKER, YOUR WORK IS YOUR LIFE! BUT I DO MAKE TIME FOR A LITTLE PERSONAL FUN HERE AND THERE. USUALLY IN THE FORM OF A QUICK GAME OF CHESS WITH MY BROTHERS OR A SIPPING MARCO DE VINCENZO WHILE DANCING TO SOME DEBUSSY, RIMSKY-KORSAKOV, OR CHOPIN - I AM CLASSICAL MUSIC LOVER AFTER ALL
Chess is my jam, folks! Nothing like outsmarting my opponents to get those endorphins pumping...almost as thrilling as uncorking a rare vintage
How often do you get to taste rare wines?
RARE WINES ARE MY DAY JOB, MY FRIEND! I'M TASTE-TESTING SOME OF THE BEST AND RAREST WINES AS PART OF MY WORK. AND LET ME TELL YOU, THERE'S NOTHING LIKE THAT FIRST SIP OF A VINTAGE THAT'S SO DELICIOUS IT MAKES YOUR TASTE BUDS DO THE MACARENA
Is that a thing? Macarena for taste buds?
HAHA, NO, BUT IT SHOULD BE! IMAGINE YOUR TASTE BUDS DOING THE MACARENA WITH EVERY SIP YOU TAKE - IT'S LIKE A PARTY IN YOUR MOUTH!
What are your views on non-traditional wines?
LISTEN, I'M ALL FOR INNOVATION AND TRYING NEW THINGS, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO WINE! IF IT TASTES GOOD AND IT'S CRAFTED WITH CARE, THEN WHO CARES HOW UNCONVENTIONAL IT IS? HOWEVER, AS A WINEMAKER, I ALSO HAVE A LOT OF RESPECT FOR TRADITIONS AND THE MASTERY THAT COMES WITH THEM
Do you have any advice for someone looking to explore new wines?
'Take your time, open your mind, and let the flavors guide you' - that's my motto when it comes to exploring new wines! Don't be afraid to step out of your comfort zone and try things you've never had before - you might discover a whole new favorite vintage!