Our history....
As a Brit, fed up of grey skies and trying to organise a BBQ weeks in advance, I always wondered just how difficult it would be to start a new life abroad in a country or region where Englis isn't spoken?
Im a great believer that you make your own way in life but sometimes certain events create a situation that changes your whole life, you find you are faced at a crossroads and you have to choose a certain direction. Well that's kinda how it went and after what seemed like a life in a depreciating industry of high street retail in fashion we found ourselves with a young family on a journey to the unknown!
Becoming parents life became incredibly different for the right reasons and whilst you become more risk averse to financial battles in life, we found decisive decisions upon us at that particular point in time. That's exactly where we found our situation. For the needs of not only us but more importantly our children. We were introduced to a new word that is hugely misunderstood, "Autism", hence we had decided to go to Italy and pursue a family way of life, with great cuisine, great weather and a family hub at the core.
We sold every UK asset and purchased this then run down Villa and wine estate in the wild mountainous Abruzzo region of Italy. We set ourselves a goal to create this dream of moving to Italy and making wine.
We were fortunate to sell our home just before the financial crises at the time and arrived here in Italy in Dec 2008 with a then 2 year old son and his newborn sister and whilst our journey probably started here it probably with hindsight may have started back in 1999 where we produced our first 100 litres of wine with friends in the garage of a Welsh country home. That first experience probably led us to pursue this new life in the heart of Italy's Wine Country.
Zero language skills and a lack of farming experience, what on earth were we doing, at 38 years old with a history of retail, seemed crazy and it was. . At the beginning much of our craft had been self taught and often youtube editorials on vine pruning was common on a regular autumn evening, However, from the vineyards to the cellar we have been fortunate to learn and collaborate with a friendly bunch whom have worked this craft for generations, and Whilst I believe they actually felt sorry for us at first these collaborations continue as we go from strength to strength and grow from a once crop share enterprise into a boutique wine producer.
In wine producing terms we are at an early stage of our business's development, yet we continue to learn and to return this estates wine making past to its present day using organic methods. We farm, manage and sell organic produce of the highest quality, whilst retaining a limited selection to produce our own vintages. The dream is still ongoing, and if I had thought in 1999 in that garage in Machen that we would be here right now, with two beautiful children and a lifestyle we currently have, I wouldn't believe it.
We are now a fully CERTIFIED ORGANIC AZIENDA and focused on high quality production. Being a small producer we are free to make instant decisions without the need to chase high volume sales. A luxury that allows us time to produce excellent produce and to abide by our goal, which is to supply, introduce, discover and support products that meet uncompromising standards. .
Im a great believer that you make your own way in life but sometimes certain events create a situation that changes your whole life, you find you are faced at a crossroads and you have to choose a certain direction. Well that's kinda how it went and after what seemed like a life in a depreciating industry of high street retail in fashion we found ourselves with a young family on a journey to the unknown!
Becoming parents life became incredibly different for the right reasons and whilst you become more risk averse to financial battles in life, we found decisive decisions upon us at that particular point in time. That's exactly where we found our situation. For the needs of not only us but more importantly our children. We were introduced to a new word that is hugely misunderstood, "Autism", hence we had decided to go to Italy and pursue a family way of life, with great cuisine, great weather and a family hub at the core.
We sold every UK asset and purchased this then run down Villa and wine estate in the wild mountainous Abruzzo region of Italy. We set ourselves a goal to create this dream of moving to Italy and making wine.
We were fortunate to sell our home just before the financial crises at the time and arrived here in Italy in Dec 2008 with a then 2 year old son and his newborn sister and whilst our journey probably started here it probably with hindsight may have started back in 1999 where we produced our first 100 litres of wine with friends in the garage of a Welsh country home. That first experience probably led us to pursue this new life in the heart of Italy's Wine Country.
Zero language skills and a lack of farming experience, what on earth were we doing, at 38 years old with a history of retail, seemed crazy and it was. . At the beginning much of our craft had been self taught and often youtube editorials on vine pruning was common on a regular autumn evening, However, from the vineyards to the cellar we have been fortunate to learn and collaborate with a friendly bunch whom have worked this craft for generations, and Whilst I believe they actually felt sorry for us at first these collaborations continue as we go from strength to strength and grow from a once crop share enterprise into a boutique wine producer.
In wine producing terms we are at an early stage of our business's development, yet we continue to learn and to return this estates wine making past to its present day using organic methods. We farm, manage and sell organic produce of the highest quality, whilst retaining a limited selection to produce our own vintages. The dream is still ongoing, and if I had thought in 1999 in that garage in Machen that we would be here right now, with two beautiful children and a lifestyle we currently have, I wouldn't believe it.
We are now a fully CERTIFIED ORGANIC AZIENDA and focused on high quality production. Being a small producer we are free to make instant decisions without the need to chase high volume sales. A luxury that allows us time to produce excellent produce and to abide by our goal, which is to supply, introduce, discover and support products that meet uncompromising standards. .