This story begins over 30 years ago. Back then, I was 8 years old and, like every summer, I spent a few weeks at my maternal grandmother's country house in Podio. It’s a small hamlet in the plains between Bene Vagienna and Monforte, where my grandmother Maria was born, the daughter of brick manufacturers and a teacher by profession. I still remember her meticulous grooming: her signature red lipstick, a string of pearls around her neck, and a matching handbag and hat whenever she went out.
My grandmother Maria had strict rules and little patience, so after lunch at noon, it was mandatory to take a nap. For me, it felt like punishment, and I was bored to death; I would have preferred to go back to playing in the garden. But when that torture finally ended after a couple of hours, my grandmother would rise to prepare what she called ‘La Birra del Podio.’ She would send me to fetch the engraved whiskey glasses from the cupboard while she mixed ice, soda, and Vermouth. At just 8 years old, I was included in this ritual and allowed to drink it! I loved it: the sweet, fresh flavor mingled with the bitterness of the wormwood. I would hold the glass in my hands, savoring it in small sips to make it last longer!
In the following years, Vermouth fell out of fashion, and for various reasons, I stopped drinking it. That was until a few years ago when I received a bottle as a gift. When I opened it to taste… suddenly, I was transported back to the house in Podio, under that warm, breezy porch, filled with light and colors, with my grandmother smiling at me: I could even smell her lipstick.
So, I dragged all the folks at the winery into this adventure. It took us two years to select the right partner to produce the Vermouth we wanted: something not overly commercial, unconventional, and based on Nebbiolo. This version was made in collaboration with The Spiritual Machine and Distilleria Magnoberta.
In August 2021, I held the first bottle with the Sara Vezza label in my hands, and my heart raced!
Meanwhile, we activated a collaboration with Rita Barbero, better known as Purple Rita, an artist who paints with wine and a longtime friend, for a limited edition of 49 bottles (the sum of 41 + 8: 8 for the years since my first sip and 41 for the years until my first bottle was produced).
We meet her one afternoon in her Atelier in Barolo, surrounded by her beautiful works. The idea is to create a collectible product that will be released each year with a different limited-edition label, telling the story of a chic country teacher, her granddaughter, and the vibrant woman she has become.
The packaging is finally ready, and I can't wait for you all to see it!