Winery stories: Giorgio Alessi interview

Winery stories: Giorgio Alessi interview

Winery stories: Giorgio Alessi interview

03/04/2015

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Hello Giorgio, and thank you for the interview! So, starting... from the start: How and when the Enoteca was born? - Giorgio - In the good old times... I was... well, younger! I had the idea even before than Pinchiorri! Then when did you start business? - Giorgio - my father, Napolino and Paride, his brother, had a warehouse in Via de' Neri. They could sell lots of different things (you could mix different commodities at that time): Linetti grease, Paglieri perfumery, but also biscuits, treats, chocolate... We came to Via delle Oche, in the early '50s, but in a different shop, not as big as the current one. We decided to market confectionery and bonbonnières (lots of! Marriage was still quite a popular institution, not like nowadays...). He gets emotional with these memories ...  We had a bit of bottles as well, but the shop was tiny. In the '70 we relocated to the current premises: such a big place! The cellar is huge, there is a lot of space: the Enoteca Alessi, the winery, was finally born! And it was a great success immediately!  When did you start working with your father? - Giorgio - I started while I was still at school, then full time just after secondary school. How old are you, Giorgio? - Giorgio - ... I am 80! The Enoteca is in Florence city centre, so close to one of the most beautiful squares in the world: how the customers changed year after year? And how the work changed? - Giorgio - we started with the bonbonnières, working at home too, we worked so hard! Then selling treats, chocolate, candies, then wines. So many changes, but we are still here... (giggling...). A thought, a feeling, about your long life working in the winery... - Giorgio - My thoughts? More concerns that feelings! You only live once and you have to live the best that you can! And remember that your freedom ends where mine starts, and vice versa. We know you love arts, you like paintings, sculptures, and that you are a collector; What is that unites art and wine? - Giorgio - The wine is an expression of art! Think of nature, how much "art" that is! And I am sure that the wine gives us as deep feelings as art! A poem, a verse, a quote; many times we find one of them written on a label, which tells us something about life. On many labels there are paintings, prints, sometimes made just for the bottle! When you taste a wine, don't stop to perfumes and flavors, go further, to the feelings... Don't stop them. I love arts and the wine is good for your soul as arts can be... Do you have a favorite wine? Or vine? - Giorgio - no, I haven't a favorite wine! I should say the Sangiovese is my favorite grape, but I do not know, I have other vines that I like a lot... But you know, really, I do not know! If I think of the Nebbiolo, if I think of the Nero d'Avola, if I think of Montepulciano and Aglianico, not to mention small productions of vines almost disappeared... However Nebbiolo is remarkable in all its expressions. I feel lucky to work in this world, and I mean it! What has changed since when Napolino and Paride started the business? - Giorgio - everything is more complicated now, they were easier times:  for administration, for sales, now you have to cope with tons of paperwork, you can barely work! Ask him! (and he nods to Massimo, his son, the third generation of Enoteca Alessi...).