Musella

Since I took over full responsibility for the company almost 30 years ago, I have always worked on identity; I ask myself why a person wants to buy one of our bottles and I have to give myself an answer. In my opinion, there are no absolute best wines; wines must always be contextualised, taking into consideration the terroir, the vintage and ultimately the grape variety.

In this sense, each wine is unique and has its own identity; finding its place on the market and within a menu or a day is an important part of my work. I am lucky because I know I am in a place that is suitable for making wine, but not for all types of wine.

I inherited the winery and quickly realised that the vines can outlast me and the fact that I am there today to look after them is fortuitous and limited in time; to look after and preserve the environment rather than impose myself on nature was a spontaneous choice. Hence the decision to do organic farming, as a starting point, for an agriculture that contains the value of respect for 'the living'. 

Respect, this is an important word for me, which encompasses others, such as responsibility, ethics, awareness. 

Respect and responsibility first of all towards my parents, who had a dream, realised it and handed it over to me. 

Towards my grapes, for which the must becomes wine through spontaneous fermentation, no use of chemicals, just time and patience. 

Towards my collaborators, all directly employed. 

Towards my suppliers, whether of corks or pumps; I try to work only with artisans who, like me, work with passion and have been handing down for generations an ancient knowledge that is the true driving force of Italy.

Lastly, I pay my customers fair prices, sometimes considered low for their dedication, commitment and time, but sufficient to pay their costs, make investments and continue with their business projects.

Culture is the only good of mankind that, divided among all, rather than diminishing, becomes greater. So wrote Hans-Georg Gadamer, the German philosopher. It is a concept that I put into practice every day, sharing what little I know with all those who want to listen, from visitors to the winery, to colleagues, to the interns we take every year at the grape harvest, to the Chilean winegrowers who have a treasure in their hands but no one has ever told them... but that is another story, at our latitudes but in another hemisphere...

Elena Pantaleoni