A talk in Milan to reflect on turning the unexpected into opportunity. Presenting Sauvignon Extempore and the 2024 Sustainability Report.
On October 17, Venica & Venica chose the setting of L’Alchimia restaurant in Milan for their press-exclusive talk titled "Extempore: Spontaneity as Opportunity". It was a special day to share not only a wine (the Sauvignon “Extempore”) and a document (the 2024 Sustainability Report), but above all, a vision.
During the event, attention was focused on a concept as captivating as it is relevant: spontaneity, reinterpreting a term often associated with the art of improvisation, both in winemaking and entrepreneurship.
The inspiration comes from one of Venica & Venica’s signature wines, the Sauvignon. “Extempore” is a Sauvignon that came about almost by chance, originating in 2004 from an experimental aging in barrique, repeated over time with a clearer sense of direction. It is a testament to how unplanned events can yield extraordinary results.
The value of the unexpected.
The ability to welcome the unexpected and turn it into possibility is a philosophy that has long accompanied the Venica family. Gianni Venica’s grandfather, Daniele, taught him that while we can’t control everything, we can learn to listen - first and foremost to Mother Nature - and respond with sensitivity and awareness.
Since then, each wine Venica & Venica produces has become a unique story of the year’s challenges and opportunities, capturing the essence of an unrepeatable moment. Each wine speaks through its aromas and flavors, representing the climate, the soil and the care it has received.
Gianni Venica, joined by Serena Venica, the fourth generation of the family, underscored the inseparable bond between the winery and the Collio region. Serena, who brings innovation to the company’s roots and identity, stated: “I handle management control in the company, but I also focus on strategies and methods that foster effective and efficient change in the realm of change management. Gianni always looks to the future. His vision is highly dynamic and evolving, yet deeply rooted. I’d describe him as an innovator bound to tradition and, of course, to the land”.
“Extempore - Gianni added - is a wine that combines tradition with a forward-looking approach. It’s a new interpretation of Sauvignon, our flagship wine, embodying our commitment to highlight the region’s essence in every wine. Once again, it brings us back to our place of origin”.
As the name suggests,” Extempore” reminds us that within time lies a challenge. And that challenge often involves finding time to pause, reflect, and grow. “Extempore itself - noted Ornella Venica - is a new challenge, a step in our continuous journey of seeking new opportunities to improve, protect, and enhance what we love most. It’s a Sauvignon that represents not only a fresh interpretation of our land but also our approach to handling the unexpected with creativity, innovation, and a deep respect for our roots. Moreover, it’s a wine born from an unplanned vinification that needs time to reveal itself: vibrant and dynamic, it opens in the glass”.
Facing the unpredictable: experiences of Fabiano Benedetti and Marco Tonni.
Time, the value of the unexpected, and the capacity to transform it into growth opportunities were the main themes of a roundtable moderated by renowned wine journalist Adua Villa, featuring guests from diverse fields who share a creative approach to handling the unpredictable.
Fabiano Benedetti, CEO of beanTech, shared his personal story of how his entrepreneurial journey began. “The company started as a gamble - he explained -. Massimiliano Alziutti, an old classmate, and I reconnected by chance after years in different careers. We couldn’t have predicted that our reunion would spark something significant, but it’s in moments like these that spontaneity plays a key role”.
Benedetti highlighted how unexpected challenges often lead to the greatest opportunities. “Life doesn’t always go as planned. Sometimes, it’s the unforeseen events that push us to explore new paths, to reinvent ourselves. It was thanks to those early challenges and our willingness to take risks that beanTech became a leading company in the tech sector”.
Finally, Benedetti emphasized the importance of adaptability: “Spontaneity isn’t just about chance events but about recognizing and transforming them into opportunities. This is what has allowed us to grow and innovate in a constantly evolving industry like technology.”
Marco Tonni, a highly experienced agronomist and sustainability consultant, offered insights into the viticulture world, stressing the close connection between nature and its unpredictability, and on the climate and environmental challenges he addresses with his team at Sata. “Nature often expresses itself through sudden, spontaneous events - he explained -. Our job is to interpret them, not to react impulsively, but to adapt in ways that minimize environmental impact”.
Tonni underlined the importance of deep awareness: “We need to be aware and become so by analyzing and studying the land. Only then can we understand how to act in ways that minimize impact on the soil and environment. The vine, unlike us, cannot move; its fate is bound to the soil in which it takes root, and our task is to make that soil hospitable. To do so, we must go deep, reasoning like roots”.
In this context, Tonni presented the Biopass method: “We developed this method to evaluate soil quality and determine if it’s truly hospitable for the vine. The best wines come from the best soils, and biodiversity, both underground and above, is key to wine quality. Without biodiversity, terroir - the wine’s very essence - cannot exist.”
This practical approach mirrors Venica & Venica’s strategy in addressing these challenges. “Our work - the Venica family explained - is based on this principle: with Tonni’s help, we closely observe the soil, study it, analyze its composition and biodiversity. Only through a deep understanding of these elements we can find sustainable solutions that respect the environment and allow the vine to express itself, giving life to authentic wines that faithfully reflect our region”.
Once again, it’s about the importance of stopping to measure. “Over the years - continued Ornella Venica - we’ve asked ourselves many questions, and this has led us, over a decade ago, to pursue the path of measurement. Since then, our awareness of conservation has grown with us”.
Measuring sustainability.
Another key moment of the event was the presentation of Venica & Venica’s 2024 Sustainability Report.
Ornella Venica outlined the winery’s commitment to environmental and community stewardship: “For us, sustainability isn’t just a word, but an everyday action. For over ten years, we’ve measured each step we take, aiming to reduce our environmental impact and give back to the land that has given so much to us”.
The Sustainability Report is more than a document; it’s a story of responsibility and awareness, shaped by questions, reflections, and bold choices. “We’ve learned to stop and measure - Ornella concluded - because it’s the only way we can truly grow, ensuring a better future not only for our winery but also for our children and our community”.
The Report, titled “Stories of Life and Vines,” serves as a narrative of daily life in the winery and stands as a testament to the belief that awareness comes from pausing, measuring results, and planning future steps.
Wine as an expression of time.
The discussion also touched on the concept of time, which challenges us yet offers space for growth. Carlo Cambi, journalist, cited Saint Augustine in observing that time, in itself, does not exist. “Past, present, and future - Cambi said - exist only within the human soul as the present. Memory is the present of the past, attention is the present of the present, and anticipation is the present of the future”.
In our fast-paced lives, time is scarce, but wine shared offers time back to us.
This was beautifully illustrated by the Extempore tasting, a wine that tells the measure of a winemaker’s time, embodying the region, challenges, and foresight: the foresight to wait, to see if a spontaneous gesture or occurrence can open new paths in both wine and our personal and professional lives.
“The same foresight - noted Carlo Cambi - that the Venica family showed in making their children part of the company’s opportunity. Serena was asked to interpret the company, and now she represents its evolution, implementing structural changes that Gianni and Ornella envision.
The French are now starting to replace the term sustainability with durability and I believe that durability is the true essence of Venica & Venica”.
The day concluded with an informal networking moment, attended by representatives from the restaurant sector: a valuable occasion to continue the dialogue by sharing ideas and perspectives.
Guests enjoyed dishes from L’Alchimia paired with the Sauvignon “Extempore” 2016 and 2018, exchanging personal experiences and future visions in a collaborative and open atmosphere.
