L'Italo-Americano

THURSDAY, JULY 25, 2019 www.italoamericano.org 24 L'Italo-Americano I n the early days of Summer, this year, the Italian-American community of LA lost one of its most representative mem- bers, Stefano Giuseppe Ri- boli, the beloved patriarch of San Antonio Winery. For the commu- nity, mourning Stefano — father of three, grandfather of ten and great-grandfather of seven — is not only mourning the head of one of the most vivid examples of fam- ily-run, Italian-American busi- nesses in the LA area. It also means saying goodbye to a man who, with his own life and example, embod- ied the very essence of the Ameri- can dream. FRANCESCA BEZZONE "American Winery of the Year" in 2018. What a great achievement for what had started, 102 years ago, as a small, neighborhood win- ery. There is something immensely profound and touchingly beautiful in viticulture and winemaking. A poetry, a sense of awe for the greatness of nature and a connec- tion with the soil, with its scent in the early morning and the colors, the textures, the flavors of the land. It is a hard, demanding and, in many a way, humbling job, that of making wine: because it takes hard work and knowledge, respect and understanding of the environ- ment, and a continuous awareness that nature could take back what she gives. It takes strength, hum- bleness, patience and tenacity. It takes also a bit of creativity, of faith and a whole lot of poetic flair, if you ask me, because there is poetry in the hands and the eyes of a man like Stefano, who made of the land his own livelihood. Today, we remember Stefano and honor his memory and his work also by noting how deeply connected his figure, his actions and the way he ran his business have always been to his Italian roots and to the essential "Ameri- can Dream." Papa Steve, as he was fondly called, had all the warmth and joyful disposition of Italy's uomini di una volta: welcoming, supportive, generous, always ready to offer a smile and glass of wine to friends and visitors alike, in the many occasions they'd stop by his winery for business or for pleasure. His memories and tales of times past, of the winery's early days and of his life in Italy strengthened family bonds and nurtured love for a heritage he al- ways embraced with pride. He made of his winery a home for himself, for his family and for his many patrons, who kept coming back throughout the years not only for the wine, but also for the wel- coming and heartwarming atmos- phere they breathed and enjoyed there: that of a true Italian home. And unafraid of believing in a dream, Stefano Giuseppe Riboli turned it into a reality little by lit- tle, vine after vine, harvest after harvest. Through thick and thin, through successes and sets back, he led the way for over 70 years, showing that, yes: America can still be the land of dreams coming true, if one works hard and has faith. This is how we like to think Stefano Giuseppe Riboli wants to be remembered: as a loving, kind, witty and charming person. A ded- icated father, husband, grandfather and great-grandfather. A leader, without a doubt, but with the gen- tlest of hearts: Sempre Avanti! he loved to say, and always forward his family and business will go, forever led by his example, warmed by his memory and by his unconditional and everlasting love. A born and bred Italian-Amer- ican, Stefano was born in LA in 1921 but moved back to the small northern Italian village of Berzo San Fermo, near Bergamo, when he was only three. Then as today, Berzo San Fermo was a small, quaint village set within the hills of the Cavallina Valley: it was here that Stefano grew up, a young lover of nature and animals who spent his springs and summers herding Alpina cows. It must have been a quiet, yet fulfilling way of life, which was however inter- rupted by the approaching threat of the Second World War. Fearing for his safety and thinking of his future, Stefano's parents sent him back to the US and LA when he was 16. He was sponsored by his uncle, Santo Cambianica, who employed him in his small local business: the San Antonio Winery. Founded by un- cle Santo in 1917 in Lincoln Heights, at the very heart of a thriving Italian community, the winery soon became young Ste- fano's passion and reason of life. Santo's figure deeply influenced Stefano's own character and per- sonality: from him, he inherited kindness, wholesomeness, faith and, of course, the knowledge and know-how necessary to run what was to become a very successful winery. Love crossed Stefano's path shortly after the end of the War. Maddalena came from a farming family from Chino, California: it's there that the two met and fell im- mediately in love. They were mar- ried in 1946 and settled only a few blocks away from the winery Ste- fano had been running. There, they raised their three children, Santo, Cathy and Steve, all of whom are, today, involved in the family busi- ness: a vivid embodiment of the immense love of their parents for one another, but also of the com- mitment and passion they always had for their vineyards and their wine. Stefano and Maddalena made San Antonio Winery the success- ful venture it is today: their dedi- cation, commitment and love, but also their business-savvy and will to take risks when necessary, made of their family business the LOS ANGELES ITALIAN COMMUNITY Stefano Giuseppe Riboli, the patriarch of San Antonio Winery, left us at the beginning of the month . Ph courtesy San Antonio Winery Ciao, Stefano: San Antonio Winery says goodbye to its founding father, Stefano Giuseppe Riboli

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