Antonio Faravelli at Palazzo Lombardia with a letter from Giacomo Puccini

Antonio Faravelli, a winemaker and golfer originally from Montù Beccaria, in the ’Oltrepò Pavese, as well as owner of Cantine Vitea and creator of the "Golf and Wine 1895" project, attended an exclusive event in Milan: "Arte nel Cuore – È Natale", held at Palazzo Lombardia.

Faravelli had the opportunity to explain to some of those present the relaunch project related to the "Golf and Wine 1895" brand. Faravelli also shared a piece of history: he presented President Fontana with an original letter, dated January 8, 1908, written by composer Giacomo Puccini to Baron Giuseppe Weil Weiss. 

This document, inherited from his family, belonged to his ancestor Santino Mainoli, who lived in Lomellina in the 19th century and was a friend of Faravelli’s great-grandfather. The latter, a winegrower and hunter, was known for his travels on horseback from the Oltrepò Pavese to the Lomellina, carrying small casks of wine to attend hunting parties and convivial dinners on the estates of friends. Prominent among them was Baron Weil Weiss himself, a landowner and acquaintance of Giacomo Puccini, who was fond of the wines of the Oltrepò, particularly Bonarda and sparkling whites such as Pinot from the Versa valley.

The letter, an invitation from Puccini to the Baron to participate in a famous hunting trip with friends – including Faravelli’s great-grandfather and Beppe Mainoli’s grandfather – testifies to a tradition of conviviality and passion for good wine that began in 1895 and has come down to the present day. President Fontana è showed himself particularly impressed and happy to read this precious historical document, which tells not only a page in the life of the famous composer, but also the deep cultural and gastronomic roots of the Oltrepò Pavese.