Ep. 2272 Alberto Rivera interviews Giovanna Neri of Col di Lamo | Clubhouse Ambassadors’ Corner

I saw the sunset in Montecino, and they are beautiful. I was so surprised because I have never seen so beautiful sunsets in my lives, and for you that do spend your life there, looking maybe in your in the building, in your house, in in the winery, seeing two scholars must be amazing. Look at you. Yeah. I think that I am very lucky to leave it here. Welcome to the special clubhouse session of the Italian wine podcast. Listen in as members of the Italian wine community engage in fascinating conversations about contemporary wine topics. If you enjoyed the show, please consider donating through italian wine podcast dot com, and remember to subscribe and rate the Italian wine podcast wherever you get your pods. Hello, and welcome to Clubhouse, the Ambassador's Corner. My name is Carla Navagnolo, and today I'm pleased to welcome Alberto Rivera Rivera, and his guest, Giovanni, from Coldilamo. Welcome, everybody. Thank you, Carla. For those of you who may not know him yet, Alberto worked as a diplomat in Tokyo, and as a United Nations mandate to promote the sustainable development goals within Chihuahua's regional policies, After the COVID nineteen outbreak, he decided to take his passion for wine to a professional level. In doing so, he completed the WSTT level two award in wines, became an Italian wine instructor. And last year, he also earned the title of Italian wine Ambassador. Today, he is a one professional wine educator and consultant based in Chihuahua, Mexico. So Alberto, as you were talking Tuscany today, how did you discover a called Delamo wines? Well, I was fortunate to be invited by the consortium of Bernelo de Montalcino to attend Beneno to Brunello two thousand twenty four. And during the event, Giovanni, hosts a dinner at Her winery called Elamo. Where I had the opportunity to discover not only her wines, but also, to meet her and really enjoy, beautiful evening with her and some alongside fellow Italian wine ambassadors. Got it. Sounds lovely. So why did you decide to invite Giovanni here with us today? Basically, because she's a woman full with energy her her history, was flowing to my heart. Like, I really get connected with her. So I really wanted to promote her, like, to to have this interview with her because, she's amazing. You will see that she's really a beautiful person. And if you taste her wines, you will see, why I'm saying this Amazing. One last question. What are the learning objectives that we should expect from this interview? Yeah. Sure. Well, we will delve into Devon's journey from Link an Italian attorney to becoming a remarkable winemaker in Multi Tina. This transition is a key to guiding our conversation as it allows us to explore the role of woman in the Italian wine industry. Particularly in Tuscany region that is deeply traditional. We will also reflect on how wine can become an integral part of one one's life evoking memories and fostering a deeper appreciation of our time. Amazing. So looking forward to hearing your conversation, I'm gonna pass the mic to you so you can properly introduce your guests. Have fun. Thank you, Karla. Thank you for having us. Chow Jovana. How are you? Fine. Thanks. Very fine. I am in front of Val Dorza, my heel, so I am very happy. Oh, wow. Well, Val Dorza is beautiful. Yes. It's very, very beautiful. Well, I'm going to read, Giovanni. And then after that, I will going to ask you a question. So, Giovanni Eddie, it's, it's Giovanni. What makes her state's wine so special is Giovanni's ability to express in her wines that all consuming love that only a woman, a mother, feels for her children. Giovanni has a degree in law, but also inherited her father's love of wine and has become a highly successful and sought after one maker. Jovana's unique coach, is now supported by that of her daughter Deleta. The great enthusiasm commitment and dedication have made called Elamo, one of the most dynamic predefined wines of the Montalcino area. So with that, I want to ask you, Giovanni, who is Giovanni Neti? What's called Elamo? My story is very beautiful. And, especially for the woman, not for the men, because when they started this kind of a job, this kind of job was considered for the for men, not for women, for tradition, Italian tradition, So when I start, I find, a lot of difficulty, but, really, I would like to realize in dream. So, I I have a lot of difficulty for the relation from the bank because sometime they ask me, or, please, you can speak about her husband, but, really now, I am happy. So when I start was a a division because, my father in nineteen seventy one, by this, Farmark, and the one that that, give him more to my brother than to me, but this is a convention. It's not a lock. And, I work, for some year with my brother. And after I decide to seek my little thirty percent, and I give also the name called Delamo, like, I give, the name to my daughter to delete. So the first time are are very, very strong. But, now I am, I am very happy because, I think if the woman never, broken the the tradition or the convention, they cannot go on. So now I am very proud for this. Yep. Yeah. You shall be proud of your work and dedication to your wines, to your winery, and and to your life, to your family. It's really amazing what you have done in, in your life in these years. So, Joanna, just tell it Karlie Lamo at the time when woman in leader in leadership roles in the wine industry were very far less common. Can you share what that experience was like for you? Yes. I thought when I started my business, there there were still very few women in the world in this world. And those of you still had the marginal role. But, I think that the so sometime when you ask the same collaboration, it's more difficult. And if you are a woman, you have to demonstrate the double of, of a man because I asked the you more. When I started, was it twenty one year ago. So now it's just a little bit of change, I think. There are a lot of women that work, and they make this kind of a job, but, really, twenty one year ago, you were able to to demonstrate the table that are, of the thing that are asked to to women. So, are are very strong. I think that all these, I think, I have a lot of a passion. I I I love my my job, so when I decide also the color and the the label of my of my wine is all different because, for instance, my label, there is a woman profile, because, I I should like I would like it that all the person understand that that I've broken a convention. And after I chose the color orange, because in front of me, also now there is the eel of a valdors and the in all the arborist. So you can see some lines that are orange. And the the orange in this area, you can see in the end, in sunset, and also in early in the morning. So, like, you see Like, you you can see. And after it's, like, the life that, when they start a day and the finish a day. So, when they decide, also, this label or the person sent me that, I am crazy because orange is not the color for a label of a brunel because they prefer, brown and dark, or blue. And, also, the woman profile is not good because, it's too simply Instead now, I have to wait a twenty year, but it's a very you can recognize called Delamo. And, I think that in the life of you, you have to believe it to the dream and also to be just a little bit too crazy. And follow what do you think? Not to follow the market. So twenty one year ago, when I chose this kind of job, and I chose also the call or the label. Maybe that I am crazy, but, I follow my heart. Right. Uh-huh. Now all all the same, all the a lot of persons in here. Oh, no, John. That your brand is very nice, but really when I started. No person believe so. I can say only that, I am very happy to have follow the fashion and not to the market. Yeah. Of course. Colilamo can be right now recognized as a trademark right now because everyone knows about your label. Yeah. They know about your colors, the face of the woman, they know about you. So someone saw your label, for example, the United States, Mexico, Canada, they know about who is the wine or who is the person, behind that label producing the wine. So that's that's really important, and and it's a great work that you did since twenty years ago. So that's really beautiful congratulations on that on that. So Okay. So on that, what were the biggest challenges you faced on two years and how did you overcome them? I I have a lot, I think, but, if your job you love your job, you never work, I think. So I find some difficulty, but really, sometime, I wanted to kill it to me, but really the day after I get up. So when you believe really in a thinker, you you you can make what you want. For me, is, like a dream to realize that this kind of job, but and it's not all the things are pink the first time. But really, if I I am sure that all the person that need really, something, they can arrive. They can arrive. Although if there are some sense, some moments that are not good. But they think that, is more important, are not at the moment that is not good, but when you get stopped from this moment? Yeah. Yeah. Of course. How how has Kaldilamo evolved since you first, started? Are there any defining moments that shaped, and the winery, identity, the tape, how was Colidama twenty years ago, and how is, Colidama now. For example, I don't know, deriving of of someone or exactly defining moments that changed your winery My firstbornella was in two thousand and three, producing one seller of one of my friends. After, I make also the window garage that is very fashion now, it's very cool. And, I think that the moment that, I started really to have an identity was when I chose the label. But, really, when I built this cell, in two thousand and fourteen. So I have to make a step by step, and, from, garage, I I arrived in one seller that is, very new. And, it's very modern. It's different to the other one. I don't, use the, all the stone, or the brick, but it's only cement and the glass. I think that my identity, is really, come from the label and the count from my winery. Yeah. Actually, your your winery in the building, it's so beautiful. Thank you very much. And you're welcome, and thank you for hosting us. Is different, like the owner. Yeah. So, yeah, it's so beautiful, actually. Yeah. I I I will come back someday to VCU on summer just to see, sunset on that terrace did you show us? No. Yes. But we can have a p r in my terrace. Oh, okay. So I waited for you always. So you can see the color. Because the rally, also, the the brunel, the crew that I dedicated to Gillette, that I don't produce. It year, but only the very beautiful things that you like. I make every serve. And then the color of, Gillette, I don't invent it, but I I see the the sky. I see the sky, the color suggest me the sky. So the sky that I see when the, I decided this kind of label dedicated to my daughter, was the and, evening that there is the orange orange in the sky. And, there are some, also, liner of violet. And that this is the label because I think that the nature can can suggest that you all. Yeah. I saw the sunset in Montecino, and they are beautiful. I was so surprised because I have never seen so beautiful sunsets in my lives. And for you that do you spend your life there, looking maybe in your in the building, in your house, in in the winery, seeing these colors must be amazing. Look at you. Yes. I think that, I am very lucky to live here. It's an area where I always come back. So often, I have to leave because I have to to sell the wine. To find some guest customer. But when they come back, this is my home. The area is my home. Not in my sleep, but the rally is the this area because, think that I live I am very lucky because I live where I I always dream to live. So I am lucky. Yeah. That's true. Yes. Well, the next question is is Bruno de Montalcino. It's a prestigious appylation with deep traditions. How did you balance innovation with respecting its heritage? Is is best, don't follow the trend. But, it's better if you are an, an interpreter of your So the innovation can be because, in this moment of resistance, the the weather is different is that ten years that you have to understand, like, to work your soil, to use the new technical. But, really, I I don't, I don't want, I I don't believe in the the trend. I prefer that this it's very important that you interpret your terroir. So is this the the the the really evolution? Because, is the the terroir that after give your bank the terroir in the way that that give you your branches and after your kind of wine, this kind of area will be conserved because, I think that is so beautiful. And also, you can have an expression of it. You are wine, and you are the world that is unique enroll up the water? Yeah. Actually, Montalcino, wineries, consortium, are, protecting the area to preserve for future generations. And not only to produce wine, but but to preserve for future generations to enjoy, how life it it is, in Montana or this part of Siena, you know, food, wind, live people, on and it's so beautiful. It's it's really a heritage of life. In fact, it's oil patrimonious, we cannot beat, anything. We can, we can make a lot of things because, belong to all over the world. So I find that, ever to remain. So because, it's, like, once upon a time. It's the store because it's also an area that is very, very poor. So, there is not a train and there is not a very beautiful road. So, no person are interested to to come here. So we have enough factory. We have not, nothing. And and remain like once upon a time. So and the disease, they think that is more beautiful because, you come here and, you are in the natural, but, You don't just eat anything. Only three vine and sun moon starts. Yeah. You can enjoy, the, the forest and the vine the small vineyards, and then maybe go go. I don't know if you can hunt for a la catcha. Yes. Only in some months. Oh. It's not possible because we are full up of John deer. That is a problem for our grape, while the order that, are very big problem There are only some months that we can, kill at the demo. But the other, it's impossible when there is a very beautiful network. Is that good that you have also the end one? Oh, okay. I I didn't know that. What's one lesson you have learned from the wine world that has also influenced your personal life? Indeed. Because I have, when they started this kind of a job, I understand that I I must have a lot of respect to the natto. So I am my family is in Bio that is, I take this certification a lot of, a year ago because, I learn not to respect them all. And, I I I I want to say that all the person ever to respect the matter in all over the world because we belong to this world. We are we are a part of this world. Yeah. Of course. The only way to keep our our world and earth alive is to respect our nature. Yes. And I know Deleta, your daughter, it's next to you. So now, she's, like, maybe getting into the business, or she's already in. Your daughter is now stepping in into the wine industry or into the the winery? What kind of wine industry do you hope he finds now comparing to the wine industry you find it, when you started? That love, a lot of my job. So I have one only do that, and to make this kind of a job with a lot of a patient. I I work a lot for this, the last twenty one year. And I have a one only daughter. So I hope that they they can be the next woman of, of a cold dilemma. But I hope that they have a passion. Because like I said before, who have a lot of passion in the job? Never worked. Did you perceive, any or now? Did you perceive more support in the files of wine industry? Maybe in onologies, degrees, or wine industry, wine positions, in wineries, something like that. But I think that all the woman, I fall all the woman. The woman that the work now is very different, can give us some lesson. You can, understand something. All the word that the woman is, evolving. Are all an example for me, especially the woman that are, strong that, I have a child that, I have a call to her that, as a a a character that is very strong. That believe in the dream that take the children of their life, once upon a time, it's not so. They cannot decide that they don't study. They don't evolve. But, now I see, that is that there is a very big evolution in the woman. And I love all the woman when they see that they go on in the world. And they give her also any data that is different. Now there is need not, superior, or inferior, not woman or man. But really, I think that the woman, until, not a lot of the other girlfriend, not to study cannot work, free. So now that they can, the idea are more new. And I am, enjoy when I see that, they evolve and, are an example also for me. And I hope that also I, in my little experience, I hope to be, an example for the the younger woman that I want to start this kind of a job. And, that is not a lot of time no matter what's considered more for men. And, I find that that, also, if there are a lot of woman, really, there is some idea that is, not putting You're happy to to see the the evolution of the woman. So I have to learn to to all to all the don't to tell the woman that, are strong, are intelligent, study, a lot, go to the university, make a job, now start to to become a boss. So it's very beautiful. This is experience for me. Yeah. Of course. It is so beautiful to see a woman in any filed, in any kind of, industry. For example, for me, it's always, a pleasure to see my, for example, colleagues in the wine industry or even, when I my colleagues in politics or diplomats, doing amazing things. I was so happy for them, so it's amazing to to be, like, happy for woman to practice, in Spanish. I don't know if it's the same translation in Italian or English, but we called when a woman, crossed the line, it's called they broke the glass filling. When a woman, for example, gets a promotion, for example, as a CEO or in a company where never never has been a woman as a CEO or a president or something because Yes. But we do, because then we cross the form of this crystal shoes, though, but in Dorella, to the roof or so. So I think that it's beautiful, this thing. Also, if I think that, like, once upon a time, for a woman, it's just a little bit also now. Difficult and the word ask it more to ask than to demand. In this moment, there is a very beautiful revolution. Yeah. So you were speaking beef before about dreams. And following steps. So what did, and just said also that, some girls and women are starting, and maybe some girls are restarting, I don't know, terminology or beauty killer. So what advice will you give to young woman looking to follow in your in your footsteps? To open a winery. I think that is very important that they the fact that they believe, today, dream. So when you enter in my cellar, there is, this label called the label where there is a right make of your life a dream and, a dream reality. So they have to be very strong. And doctor, they have to learn a lot of things because we never arrive. There is never an end. So They have to learn, a lot of things to read the book, to go in the field to see, like, we can, we can, like, like, our diviner or in the cellar and see, like, we make the wine. And, with a lot of book, make, some, lesson. But, because, never you learn all. So you always ever to learn something. And I think that it is more important that for me, for the woman that, ever to make a this job, to be curious. Yeah. Of course. Being courteous is something that we always had to had because we never stopped learning. Yeah. Last one last question of this lack of questions. So after being any female mentors or maybe any female role models in one who have inspired you along your journey? I think that like I said before, so all, the Walmart for me are mentored. Especially the intelligent woman. I like very much. So I think that, is not one only mentor, but, only woman that, want gone and that they want to realize the dream, and, all the day get up and, go to work are are mentored for me. Yeah. Now we are passing to some family and personal memories are related to wine, and to serve questions that I think a little bit, wine often carries deep family connections. So do you have, a special memory of wine with your, I don't know, with your family, your father that maybe shaped, your passion about, make wine? Yes. Because my father, and the same history of me, because, he make another job and after when they came here in nineteen seventy one, he started to love the desire. And so stop the job and I started to make, wine. So I make the same thing, because, I started for liar and, for CR. When that, I stopped this kind of job, and I started this new I find that that sometime in the history of my father and mine is very similar. And the depression, I think that, I see in, also in, I see my father because, when they stop the the old job, he'll love a very much and he'll love a very much of this area and that, he'll make the same patient that I make now to build a pharma. So the same. And, also, if I make another job, so I think that I have a history that is very similar island grandfather And, also, we have the same name. In fact, Giovanni, Giovanni, because once upon a time, the woman have to be the name of the first. Oh, wow. I didn't know that love the name of Yes. Our grandfather or grandmother, but usually, the the son, they do it, have the name of the father of the mother or grandfather or grandmother. Yeah. It's really interesting to know that. Well, speaking, I don't remember that you share, the history about, your father that he that he had a factor in the area of Montalchino. So, if you could open a bottle of any vintage from Coldilamo with your father today. Which one it will be and why? So I think that, will be the first year that I produced, Bernelo, that was two thousand and three. It's not a very beautiful vintage because it's very, very odd. When they present in two thousand and eight, there was also the scandal. But, really, I should like to open this vintage because from this vintage, just started my dream. From this vintage, after two thousand and four, I produced in two thousand and three, produced in this trailer, over one of my friend, two thousand and four. I have to to to to little house near my house at the Tarrban, and I had some grape and, in this little barn, I produced the wine after I take her the garage, after so. It's at the start of my history. So Or so if it's not a very beautiful vintage, why not? Sometimes from the difficulty, we have a very big opportunity. I think. Yeah. Yeah. Of course, Gerald. I think he is so proud of you because two thousand three, your first first vintage was really, like, amazing. That's a good choice, actually. Yes. But when the, for instance, two thousand and three, was the season that the weather is not so good. And that there is also the scandal, I I I thought that if, in this moment is was very, very difficult. So I realized that if I can make it, now I can make it all the future. Yeah. Well, you did it. Look at you now. You did it well. Let's talk about food and wine and pairings about maybe, you know, that I love food. What's your favorite traditional Tuscan food and wine pairing? My traditional Tuscan food I love very much. I can't say too. They are fishy. We were while board with a glass of brunello, but I like very much all to tie a line with a trap roll. Because in San Diego, that is a little area, little little villager here, they produce the, trap, no. White travel. So it's very, very good. With a glass of a brunel, I find that that, is very good. So this two kind of a dish, I like a lot. Oh, wow. I mean that's typical of guitar. Well, I mean, I I didn't know about truffles in Tuscany. It's difficult because, if you want to find that you have to to visit the called Delamo in November, but, really, there are and are very, very good. I always take, because, I have, my pusher that go in the forest to to look for and are very, very good. Yes. This is an area where we produce also travel. Well, I'm I am booking my flights to Florence on November. Yeah. But you you you have it to come before and after also November before because if you want to see this sunset in the Terrace in the Oh. You're where It's all the yl are green, and there are very beautiful, I know, orange. You have it to come spring or autumn. So you have it to come to time. Okay. Fantastic. Okay. So I know because of the winery and the work you do promoting your wines all over the world, so you traveled a lot. What will be an international pairing or an international dish to pair your wines. Yes. There is the perfect for me relation between, barbecue. American barbecue with olive oil, but ever to be tossed in olive oil, please. Sir. A very big deal with the Okay. And good. And good. And good. The area of Brunoo de Montal Chino? What are your quotes for the future of Brunoo de Montal Chino as a region? And there are any friends or challenges that maybe are excited or concerned to you. But I hope that, this area is the history of history and also of a beauty diversity. I would like that to remain to I hope that is, the app for all the excellent that we have in Italy. I think, but was, it's central the center of, for all the talent that we have, so, beautiful area, beauty, diversity, beautiful, also beautiful history because we have a lot of village that are all our materials. There is not a disco. There is not a shopper, but really, is the is the very cultural, area. Yeah. Of course. This is the last questions. If you could send one message to the global wine community about Italian wine or Tus wine or about Montecino wine, what will it be? I should like that, we are more a team because I think that Italy is a nation that is unique. And, because it's a very rich of history and also it's very rich of a kind, of a bunch. It is very rich of a kind of wine. Each division have a different kind of, bunchies. So and these give a different kind of wine that you find only in, in our vision, in Italian region. So, I should like that, we become a more team And, because I, I, I find that that, Italy is a very beautiful country. We've, a lot of things that you have. To discover the dish that, very, have a, very big relation with the wine that, you eat, but not only mental pain, but all in the area. So, I should like that, all, the persons, a young person will be proud of this and, realize that we are very, very likely. And, if we become a team, we can also, better make a communication, and because I think that the world, every time this stand that that we we have a lot of thinking in this in this winter country. Yeah. I can relate to that. Italy is huge. It's a small country compared to other countries. To wine, it's huge. So many grape varieties, so many epilations, so many different wines, even within one population, storage, in culture, in food, is hard, for example, if you go to Tuscany or Sicily or Sardinia, you need three months to visit that region because there is so many things to see, to taste, to eat, to see it is so beautiful. Is the is the really very beautiful? I think that you want to see the history of all of Europe you have to come in Italy and you see all kind of history that, leave the European people. And also, because our weather, because of the sun, because we are near to the sea. So also our weather, I think that give us a lot of a kind of a grape that you find on only Italy? Yeah. Of course. Blinds from the alps to the penang to the beaches. It is diverse. Brees. Yes. Yeah. And the this is the thing that is more beautiful. Yeah. Of course. It is so beautiful. Yes. I think. Yes. I think that on this positive note, we can end the episode, knowing that an appreciating Italy's variety, richness, heritage, culture, history, everything. I really wanna thank Joanna for being with us today. I think her passion and her knowledge and her energy has been felt throughout the entire interview. And I also wanna thank Alberto for bringing such a great that's a great guest and being such a great host. So thank you, everybody. It's been it's been amazing. Thank you. Thank you for that. And thank you, Giovanni. Thank you, Alberto. Thank you, Alberto. Thank you, Carla. Sorry for my English. It was amazing. Don't No. I've been up with you, but The I tried. Don't don't be sorry for real. That's it. I'm sorry, but we are running out of time, so I have to close the room now. But thank you so much again. Don't. Listen to the Italian one podcast wherever you get your podcasts. We're on SoundCloud Apple Podcasts, Spotify, HimalIFM, and more. Don't forget to subscribe and rate the show. If you enjoy listening, please consider donating through Italian wine podcast dot com. Any amount helps cover equipment, production, and publication costs. Until next time. Chichi.