Illy family: from coffee to Mastrojanni’s wines

Another succesfull event on Italian market. Italy’s illy coffe – one of the most appreciated all over the World – announced to go beyond coffee beans, tea leaves and cocoa to produce some of the country’s most iconic wines.

Each generation of Illy’s family has introduced a beverage to the company: Riccardo, the grandfather, a Hungarian who settled in Italy after World War One, produced coffee and chocolate; Ernesto, the father, introduced tea. Now, the brothers Riccardo Illy - 55-year-old chairman of Gruppo illy S.p.A. and Francesco Illy are focusing on wine.

The two Illy’s brothers come from a family of wine lovers and they are married to a sommelier.

Riccardo Illy, after he was a ski instructor, a politician and an author, just two years ago decided to become a vintner.

According to Reuters, “Illy thought it was a natural decisoin when his brother, long a fan of Mastrojanni’s wines, Brunello one, wanted to buy a 36-acre of vineyards dedicated to growing Brunello-worthy Sangiovese grapes”.

The reason of the choise on Brunello are sevarel: ” First of all because it is one of two or perhaps three iconic wines in Italy. It is sold globally and it can last for 10-20 years,” he said. “Winemaking is a long-term commitment. It is an investment not for a quarter, or year or five. It is for generations.” – Riccardo Illy told Reuters.

Then: “If we succeed in developing our wine business, the next generation will be able to put a concentration on wine as well. It is a long-term investment for the family compared to coffee, chocolate or tea. It is much more capital intensive.” – Illy went on.

But it’s not all: according to Reuters, Illy kept on the Mastrojanni’s vineyard manager Andrea Machetti and oenologist Maurizo Castelli: “We always try to keep the founder, family or manager of a company we work with intact.” – Riccardo admitted.

In fact, the brothers only expanded the cellar using nature as a guide: designed with stone and wood and built into a hillside, the cellar naturally regulates the temperature and humidity where the barrels of wine are kept.

Which are Ily’s forecast? The two brothers are determined to maintain production of their Brunellos at no more than 80,000 bottles annually: “Quality over quantity is the way we do everything, whether it is wine or coffee,” he explained.

Now, what we will have to choose: coffe, tea, chocolate or wine?!

Paola Perfetti