A few weeks ago, I received a message on LinkedIn from a gentleman named Stefano Vettori. Now, I get a lot of LinkedIn messages. Most are from people promising to 10x my business with AI, which I already know how to use, or offering leads I didn’t ask for. But Stefano’s message was different—it had heart, humility, and a healthy dose of hope. It also involved wine. I was in.
Stefano is part of Vita Nova, a cooperative agricultural project based in Berbenno di Valtellina, in the ruggedly scenic north of Italy. Their vineyards cling to the slopes of the Alps like goats on a mission—which is fitting because these folks are on a mission—literally.
The roots of Vita Nova stretch back to a group of Italian volunteers from Operazione Mato Grosso (OMG), a movement founded by the legendary Padre Ugo De Censi. After years of mission work in Latin America, these volunteers returned to Italy with more than stories and sunburn. They came back with a conviction: to live, work hard, and give back every penny. No flashy salaries or corporate bonuses here. All the profits from their work go straight to helping the poorest communities in Latin America.
And what is their work, you ask?
Wine. Glorious, mountain-made wine. With a bit of cheese, some potatoes, and the occasional apple thrown in for good measure.
Since 2013, Vita Nova has been reclaiming and restoring around 3 hectares of old vineyard plots, bit by bit. These aren’t easy, rolling hills. No tractors here. With slopes averaging a 30% incline, tending these vines is less a stroll through a vineyard and more a full-body workout with a breathtaking view. It’s what the Italians call viticoltura eroica—heroic winemaking.
And heroic it is. They rebuilt dry-stone walls, replaced broken stakes and wires, and planted over 12,000 Nebbiolo vines by hand. Their grapes, grown under the sun on these steep terraces, yield low quantities but exceptional quality—rich in character, with the kind of soulful depth that only comes from hard graft and a good heart.
The wines they produce fall under the DOC and DOCG umbrellas, particularly the Valtellina Superiore DOCG, with one standout being the Perlegia—a ruby red gem that smells like strawberries, black cherries and just a hint of righteousness. It’s dry, balanced, and built to last—just like the people who make it.
By 2022, they had added an ageing cellar in a historic home in Berbenno, and in 2023, they built their very own winemaking facility in nearby Caiolo. This wasn’t some slick investor-backed venture. It was built through grit, faith, and the occasional blister. It’s a far cry from high-tech Napa, but that’s the charm—it’s authentic, and that shines through in every bottle.
What really grabbed me, though, beyond the wine, was the philosophy. Vita Nova isn’t just making Nebbiolo—they’re cultivating a way of life. Inspired by Padre Ugo’s “four words”: Silence, Manual Work, Art & Nature, and Giving Without Expectation, they live these values every day. Their wine isn’t just fermented grapes; it’s a tribute to past generations, a gift to future ones, and a lifeline to those who need it most.
You see, this is more than a vineyard. It’s a form of resistance against fast living, shallow values, and self-interest. Vita Nova’s story is rooted in care—for people, for land, and for meaning. They work with youth, welcome families to their mountain pastures in summer, and even produce cheese, juice and jam alongside their wines. It’s a full circle of giving.
And it all started with a simple message on LinkedIn.
So, to Stefano and everyone at Vita Nova: thank you. For the wine, yes. But more importantly, it reminds us what really matters—that a good bottle should do more than taste good; it should do good. I’ll try to find a bottle in the UK and see if I can add a review to the article at a later date.
Here’s to vines with soul, hands with calluses, and a mission that brings people together across borders, mountains, and even inboxes.
Cheers to Vita Nova—the most meaningful sip you’ll have this year. Visit their website here https://vitanovacoop.com/
