Welcome to Episode 1812 Stevie Kim moderates Clubhouse’s Ambassadors’ Corner – In this episode, Barbara Fitzgerald interviews Sergio Germano. These sessions are recorded from Clubhouse and replayed here on the Italian Wine Podcast! Listen in on this series as Italian Wine Ambassadors all over the world chat with Stevie and their chosen wine producer. Which producer would you interview if you had your pick? Co-Moderator - Barbara Fitzgerald  With a career of nearly two decades in the wine industry, Barbara specializes in D2C marketing and business development. She's led roles from entry level to senior management, combining her extensive experience with data analysis, critical thinking and storytelling while driving revenue growth and brand recognition for California wineries. As a part of the 4th generation of an Italian-American family among the California wine industry pioneers, Barbara has spent her life around wine growing, production, marketing, distribution and hospitality. A Syracuse University graduate, she returned to California to gain diverse industry perspectives from a range of wineries. As an Italian Wine Ambassador, she brings her expertise to the Italian wine market, known for its authenticity and consumer demand. Barbara now runs Apri La Creative Consulting, coaching wineries in Italy and the US to strategically develop their D2C channels in line with their brand values. Together with her husband, Barbara also owns and operates a boutique wine production company, and a small import company specializing in Italian wines to the US. Guest Moderator: Barbara Fitzgerald Instagram @aprilabottiglia LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/barbara-fitzgerald-iwa/ Website www.aprilacreative.com Guest Bio - Sergio Germano Sergio was born in 1965, and as a child helped his parents in the vineyards after school. After finishing his enology studies in Alba, he worked for three important wineries in the area, all the while continuing to help out his father and contributing to the conversion of the family farm to a full-fledged winery. In 1988 the first 5,000 bottles of Barolo, Dolcetto, and Barbera were placed on the market together with a small production of Chardonnay. However, the turning point came in 1993 when all the family’s grapes produced were vinified and bottled. In 1995 Sergio bought about two hectares of Cerretta and started the challenge of producing white wines in Alta Langa, planting the first vineyards of Chardonnay, Reisling in Cigliè. In 1997 he married Elena Bonnelli who has given great support to the winery, helping Sergio with business administration as well as hospitality. The family then grew with the joy of the birth of two children: Elia born in 1998 and Maria born in 2001. After a few years, Sergio purchased another hectare in the vineyards of Prapò (2002), Lazzarito (2002), and Pradone (a parcel of Lazzarito) and also another parcel in Cerretta(2001). In 2010 Sergio’s mother inherited from her cousin Tommaso Canale half of a hectare in the most historic and famous vineyard of Serralunga d’Alba: Vigna Rionda. Sergio’s goal is to express the territory and the character of the various vines, trying to express elegance and finesse in the wines, which as a Piedmontese tradition, are generally combined with gastronomy. Guest Speaker: Sergio Germano Facebook: ettoregermanowinery Instagram: ettoregermano Website www.ettoregermano.com _______________________________ Let's keep in touch! Follow us on our social media channels: Instagram www.instagram.com/italianwinepodcast/  Facebook www.facebook.com/ItalianWinePodcast  Twitter www.twitter.com/itawinepodcast  Tiktok www.tiktok.com/@mammajumboshrimp  LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/company/italianwinepodcast  If you feel like helping us, donate here www.italianwinepodcast.com/donate-to-show/