5 things every (or almost every) winemaking Family knows

Imagine working in a small family business in Giuliano Teatino (Chieti), where every day in the vineyard mixes hard work, laughter, and unforgettable stories.

At Palazzo Centofanti, decisions are made over a chat and a laugh, and every surprise adds a new chapter to our family story.

If you think life in the vineyard is only hard work, you're wrong. Here, work is just part of the magic that happens when a family works together.

1. In a family, decisions are made where you least expect it

Working in a family means that important decisions aren’t made in formal meetings with charts or presentations, but often while having a meal together or shopping. "I see the weather predicts a week of sunshine, we could start pruning!" "Yes, but pass me the Parmesan first."

Every major decision for the vineyard comes up in the middle of a chat, even while deciding what to cook for a party. It’s not about when or where, but about making the right choices in the end.

2.The Weather is Crucial (and so are the forecasts)

The weather is serious business when you work in the vineyards, and Piacentino knows this well. It doesn’t matter if the sun is shining, the online forecast is our Bible. If it says rain is coming in five minutes, it will rain. While everyone else is working peacefully in the sun, he's all set with a raincoat and umbrella, convinced that a sudden downpour could come at any moment. The result? Sometimes the prophecy comes true... but often, it doesn’t.

3. Working in the family is an opportunity to laugh and joke (and to ask those uncomfortable questions)

Working in the vineyard is hard, but we can’t help but laugh and joke together.

Mom is the official comedian of the vineyard rows: whenever we take a break, she tells jokes, and Dad, her sidekick, always comes up with something even funnier.

Anastasia and Jacopo can’t stop laughing, and so the day goes on, full of laughter.

But as everyone knows, when we’re working in the vineyard, there’s no escape!

Mom and Dad always seize the opportunity to ask those uncomfortable questions you can’t avoid, like, “Was that person just a friend, or was it something more?” or “Did you crash the car five years ago, or did a wild boar actually do it?”

There’s no way out, and the answers come between laughs and sighs. Between work and jokes, we get to know each other better, and every uncomfortable question becomes another cherished memory in our family story.

4. The Silence of the Vineyard is Noise to Those Who Work There

When people think of a vineyard, they picture a calm, peaceful place, where everything is perfect. But those who work there know that the silence is actually full of sounds. You hear the buckets filling, the snip of scissors cutting the vines, and the breath of the workers. It's in the silence of the vineyard where the truest stories are shared, the most spontaneous laughter happens, and every small challenge is faced together. The vineyard, for us, is not just a place of work, but also one of strong connections.

5. Every Harvest Has Its Own Story

Each year brings a legendary story. No matter how hard we work, every harvest leaves something to remember. There was the time Anastasia got lost in the vineyard while looking for the perfect grape to photograph, or the time wild boars joined us during the harvest, making us run for our lives! Every season is a chapter in our family’s history, and we love telling these stories to the next generation. These funny anecdotes lighten the hard work because working together means knowing that, in the end, every mistake or unexpected event becomes a laugh to remember forever.