Liberi Reader

Lupina, here is the bill of lading for this order of your winery's grapes by Saluzzo Vino.

You can look over the details.

Let me see—

Everything seems to be in order. You're always on top of things.

I'm flattered.

Lupina... there is something which I'm not sure I should ask, in my position.

Why the formality?

Go ahead, Zio Elio. We've known each other for so long.

Ever since Kazimierzian wine entered the market—

You've been running a surplus of grapes at your winery, which has been good for us...

Your prices are reasonable, and it helps us clear inventory. It's a deal that benefits both sides.

Yes... but the amount that you're offering in this batch...

Is it too much for you?

No, no, we use all the grapes we can get. But are you leaving any for your own wine production?

...

You can tell?

Lupina...

Golden Prairie approached us a little while back.

They offered to buy the Verdi Winery... and they made an offer I couldn't refuse.

The winery is going under, despite our best efforts...

At least Golden Prairie's interest shows that our equipment and vineyards are worth something.

Thank you for everything, Zio Elio. Saluzzo Vino has always been a good partner to the Verdi Winery.

...

But... what about the other guys? Davide? What about Niccolo? Did he agree?

...I'll convince them.

...

No, Lupina! How could we sell our Verdi Winery to the Kazimierzians?

Calm down, Niccolo. Let's sit down and talk about this. There's wine, and there's food.

What's that...?

Our signature wine, Sangiovese. You know it well, don't you?

Yes... I remember this label. Old Verdi, your nonno, painted it himself.

I was raising the grapes when he first developed this wine!

Trimmed them vine by vine myself. The clippers were heavy and unwieldy, especially in winter, when you're out all day in the cold.

But it was worth it. These vines are older than all of us put together.

In Kazimierz, they trim their vines with machines, so they can go through a whole vineyard in a single day.

It's not the same. Those stupido machines rip the vines apart. It may save time in the short term, but the grapes don't have long to live once they're done with them.

They don't know how to trim along the grain of the vine, ensuring that the fruits get proper sunlight and develop the right flavor...

You kids don't know the old Siracusan craft, and no one wants to learn anymore.

The Siracusan wine is unique because every vine is as old as the famiglie.

Caring for a grapevine is like caring for family. At least, it was for your nonno.

Niccolo...

Think about it, Lupa. Every grape in Verdi Winery is picked from a vine older than your nonno.

Workers like us have spent our whole lives picking grapes, carrying barrels, making wine.

My son inherited my craft. Even my granddaughter is selling wine for the winery.

Where will we go, if the winery is sold?

I'll make sure everyone is taken care of. Your skills won't go to waste.

I—would the family we've built here still exist, after the winery is sold and all the workers have gone their separate ways?

To me, it's better to die with dignity now, than to continue to try to scrape by in Nuova Volsinii. Give it a decent ending, while this land still has value.

Severance will be paid according to our contract terms.

It's not the severance I'm worried about!

You were never all that interested in running the winery, but don't you feel anything for this place old Verdi kept running all those years?

Nonno wouldn't want his winery to go bankrupt. It's not such a bad thing to find a new home for it. This is Nuova Volsinii, Niccolo, and it's time we accepted the new order.

What's that...?

My granddaughter Betti turns ten next week. We'll do this by the old rules of Siracusa.

She's ten already? I'll have to—

I'm leaving.

I knew I'd find you here.

This is my private bar. You'll always find me here when I'm free.

Here, your usual. One Tramonto with extra orange juice, less syrup, and six cubes of ice.

I thought you'd be busier.

The Kazimierzians' Red Wine Championship is in just a few days. Golden Prairie sent out an invitation to all the local wineries.

We're not really in a position to participate... but I suppose you'll be there?

It's a marketing opportunity, no matter who's organizing it.

Yes, it is an opportunity.

But I've made the necessary arrangements. I don't need to be there personally, for the rest.

You prefer to hide here and mix drinks at your leisure?

Just a little hobby of mine. You have your hobbies too, don't you?

Would you care to check the drum set over there for me, my dear vintner?

'Se muoio in guerra, seppellitemi con un fiorino, versa le lacrime di mamma, sulla mia tomba come vino...'

A song that every Siracusan child knows. You've brought it to Nuova Volsinii.

An arrangement. The original is too melancholic for this occasion.

The streets are filled with vibrant Kazimierzian wine ads. A Siracusan must learn to read the room.

Maybe not all the time.

...

Elio told you about our winery.

That's what you're here for.

...

What's your plan?

The Kazimierzians are coming to audit the assets tomorrow. I've already signed the letter of intent to sell.

There weren't many workers left by the time papá took over from nonno. There's no point in carrying on.

Traditional winemaking methods are time- and labor-intensive. The winery was operating at a loss by the time papá passed it to me.

A shame. But since you've already made your decision—what do you need from me?

...

It's not like you to hesitate.

The remaining workers... they're all skilled veterans. They'll do well no matter where they go.

Saluzzo Vino has dozens of wineries under your label. There must be places that could use a pair of skilled hands.

I'm not trying to force them on you.

I know the famiglie's rules. You will be doing me a huge favor, one that I'm not in a position to repay.

Just give them a chance, check them out and assign them based on your assessment and needs...

Nothing to be nervous about.

It's only natural that you'd want to take care of your family. And I do need to hire more hands.

...Grazie.

All's well with the workers, but what about you?

Me? I guess I'll... chase my dreams in music?

Frankly, I think I'm a much better drummer than I am a vintner.

I... can't... I can't just...

Who's there? Elio... you're still here?

Let me help.

It's so quiet... I can hear the ringing in my ears.

This used to be a lively place... the sounds of footsteps, barrels rolling, metal and glass clanging against each other, bubbles sizzling while grapes ferment...

And now, it's all...

?!

No... the Kazimierzian auditor is coming soon! How could my equipment break at a time like this?!

Oh, this stubborn old stuff... got to screw it back—

Ought to be just like a lightbulb—

It's stuck?

Lupina...

Davide? Good timing! Come, help me fix this thing.

...

The vertical screw is completely stripped. It won't go back on.

...

I was just going to tell you, I was doing my regular checks when I found a problem with the filtration system's hydraulic cylinder.

It's cracked and can't maintain hydraulic pressure.

...

Lupa, the Kazimierzians are here.

...

A fine classic villa, Signorina Verdi. The wolf's head on the wine barrels is quite detailed, and even the stone tiles in the cellar are tastefully ornamented.

It was my grandfather who painted them.

Shall we discuss what to do with your family's artwork? Would you like us to remove it intact and return it to you, or include it in the purchase?

Remove it?

Since the paintings on the tiles are the work of your late grandfather, we can arrange for an art preservation expert to remove them for you, should you wish. I assure you, they will not be damaged.

Oh, then yes, please.

The expert's fee will be at your own expense, of course.

I knew it... fine, I'll pay. Please make sure the tiles are removed intact and undamaged.

Shall we proceed to the next item?

Alright...

Crusher, fermentation tank, presser, thermostat, filtration system... you have a full complement of winemaking equipment.

Yes, it was my grandfather who procured it. They were the most popular models at the time... very durable.

Your grandfather? That was a while ago, then.

Still, it works well. Please, come and see our crusher.

This machine crushes grapes with minimal loss. My grandfather retrofitted it with extra-wide rollers, increasing production by—

There seems to be an issue with the sealing ring on the machine's connector, if I'm not mistaken?

Equipment assessment is not my specialty, but I am under the impression that the sealing ring should not be exposed.

...

And your thermostat... I took note of the temperature reading when I passed it. The temperature seems suboptimal for winemaking.

...

Well... yes, the equipment may be a little old.

But our workers maintain it regularly, and we have all the necessary spare parts on hand. We can get it repaired quickly.

It will not affect delivery.

Ah, if that is what you're concerned about, there is no need to worry.

Your equipment was not included in our initial assessment.

...

Traditional Siracusan equipment is inefficient and incompatible with our production lines. We did not intend to keep it to begin with. You may dispose of it as you see fit.

...

This includes the oaken casks in the warehouse that you showed me—

These handmade casks create uncontrolled impurities in the storage process, which are detrimental to quality control for mass-produced wine.

You don't use oaken casks?

We have replaced traditional oaken casks with steel containers, which have better hermetic properties and are more responsive to temperature control.

It'll lose a lot of flavor—

Merda, I sound like my nonno.

That will be a question for our inspector to worry about. I suggest you focus on whether the offer meets your expectations.

I assure you that you have nothing to worry about.

It is the land on which your winery sits that we are interested in. We will offer a fair price for it.

We get a plot of excellent land, while you receive a reasonable payment in turn. It's a win-win arrangement.

...

I will document the results of the audit, then our legal representative will contact you to finalize the contract.

Please reach out to her if you have any questions.

Would you like to try a sip?

If I recall correctly, we bought out Verdi Winery's inventory last month, as you were in urgent need of liquidity to make payroll.

...

There will be no need to see me out. Have a nice day, Signorina Verdi.

It's over. Nonno's winery sold, just like that...

I thought... they would care more about our traditions and equipment...

Niccolo.

The presser and crusher, the thermostat and filtration system—

I was the one who broke them.

I know. I'm not here to blame anyone.

You've been here so many years. I doubt you thought breaking a few piece of equipment would stop the purchase.

I just...

Hoped that they would stay?

The pipes... Elio...

He did something else?

I wanted to stop him, but...

I understand your anger... what's done is done. if the auditor didn't find it, there's no reason for us to tell them.

Lupa...

I wasn't much of a businesswoman, but I know how to tell a good guy from a bad one.

That drunk papá of mine wasn't even born when you started working at the winery with my nonno.

You know, he used to measure my height with this presser. See the lines on the cylinder?

It's for the best that it broke. At least it couldn't be sold.

Verdi Winery was my entire life. I watched every new bottle go out the door, saw us weather one storm after another.

I thought my granddaughter, or maybe my grandddaughter's granddaughter, would get to see the new bottles going out... I didn't think it would end this way.

If continuing the old ways won't protect them, maybe this is for the best.

...Is there anything else I can do?

My son would like you to come to his daughter's tenth birthday party.

With a bottle of wine her age, as is tradition.

But—

And take good care of this winery, until it really changes hands, mio caro Lupa.

'My dear vintner, I would very much appreciate if you would pay a visit to my private bar. You may help yourself to my collection.'

He told me to come, but he's nowhere to be found.

People in Siracusa die every day. How's that enough to shut him up at home?

And he wants his guests to mix their own drinks...?

It's been a long time since I've done it... what was it that nonno said?

Guess it's come to this, nonno.

I couldn't even come up with a bottle from this year.

Maybe a bit of music to lift the mood?

'Se muoio in guerra, seppellitemi con un fiorino, versa le lacrime di mamma, sulla mia tomba come vino...'