Sara P.

Towards the end of the nineteenth century Domenico Triacca traded wine between Valtellina and Valposchiavo (Graubünden, Switzerland), but he was an ambitious man and wanted to produce his own noble nectar independently, from his own grapes. In 1897 he bought 2000 square meters of land dedicated to the Valgella area in Valtellina, Lombardy. This was the crucial moment when what would become one of valtellina's most important wineries was created. Unfortunately Domenico Triacca died in 1910 in an accident while transporting wine along Lake Poschiavo. The reins of this fledgling enterprise passed to his widow, Ursula, and later to the most diligent of his five sons, Eugene: far-sighted, scrupulous, determined and ly successful. In the 1950s our market extended to the Engadine region, selling wine in barrels from wooden barrels. After the Second World War, the switch to bottles was made for reasons of quality, easier storage and to conform to the taste of the consumer. In addition, a bottling plant was built in Zalende, Switzerland, south of Poschiavo, for business in Switzerland. By purchasing a warehouse in Chur, it was possible to conquer and feed the vital market of northern Graubünden, until then dominated by local traders. As a result of this success, the company could invest profits in new vineyards. By this time the family already owned about 28 hectares. In the 1960s the third generation took over: Gino (skilled salesman), Domenico (ambitious technician) and Rino (scrupulous manager). At their side the always trusted Uncle Eugenio with his experience and charisma. The Triacca winery reached a historic milestone in 1969. The idea of diversifying had long been brooded and, following the acquisition of the glorious Madonnina estate in the Chianti Classico denomination, right in the heart of Tuscany, this was achieved. In the same year the pearl of viticulture of Valtellina, Lombardy, La Gatta in Bianzone, a former Dominican convent, with its vineyard of 13 ha, is acquired by the Mascioni winery in its entirety when they unexpectedly put it up for sale. In the 1990s there was a further expansion in southern Tuscany with the acquisition of the Santavenere estate in Montepulciano and the fourth generation was involved: Giovanni, head of the Swiss market, and Luca, technical director of all three production regions.