Welcome to Episode 2080 Stevie Kim moderates Clubhouse’s Ambassadors’ Corner. In this episode, Barbara Fitzgerald interviews Giancarlo Baldisserotto. These sessions are recorded from Clubhouse and replayed here on the Italian Wine Podcast. In this interview, today’s guest moderator covers the learning objectives:     1. Moving to a new region and starting your own wine business.  2. Viticulture in Puglia. What are the challenges? What are the bright spots?  3. Implementing a DTC sales strategy, challenges and opportunities of selling direct to consumer.    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.    Connect:  Instagram @aprilabottiglia  LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/barbara-fitzgerald-iwa/  Website www.aprilacreative.com    More about the winery:  L’Essenza di Puglia is a family-run organic boutique winery in Carovigno. They produce Salento IGP wines primarily from Primitivo, Negroamaro, Fiano, Chardonnay, and Garganega grapes.     Their production philosophy is to create wines that are not overly intense in flavor, but well-balanced, respecting the natural characteristics of the grapes to produce wines that are round, easy to drink, and pleasing to the palate.     At L’Essenza di Puglia, they are committed to sustainable practices and actively work towards symbiotic agriculture for the conservation and protection of the Mediterranean environment and its biodiversity. Their vineyards and olive groves are perfectly integrated with natural, spontaneous wild plants.    Connect:  Facebook: Essenzadipuglia  Instagram: Essenzadipuglia  LinkedIn: Essenzadipuglia  Website: www.essenzadipuglia.it    _______________________________  Let's keep in touch! Follow Italian Wine Podcast 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/    Until next time, Cin Cin!    Follow Italian Wine Podcast for more great content - winery interviews from the Clubhouse sessions! Psssst…FYI, this show is our most popular show, find out why by tuning-in!