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16 The Cru Artisan College Study Guide Meet the Faculty Franco Bernabei, Consulting Winemaker, Sartori di Verona, Italy For the past ten years Franco Bernabei, a man whom many consider to be Italy's foremost consulting enologist, has quietly practiced his virtuoso brand of winemak- ing artistry at Sartori di Verona, where his initiatives are generat- ing unprecedented levels of quality for this well-known wine producer. At Sartori, Bernabei is an integral part of the winemak- ing team and has been truly hands-on—not just flying in for a routine yearly check-up. Alberto Lazzarino, Directing Winemaker, Banfi Piemonte, Strevi, Italy Professor Lazzarino has been the principal winemaker at Banfi Piemonte since 2002 and is a graduate of the prestigious Agricultural University of Alba, one of Italy's, and the world's, leading enological schools. Nicolas Quille, Winemaking Director, Pacific Rim, Washington State, U.S. Although he's the only American wine producer in our faculty, Professor Quille is a native of Lyon, France, where he is a third-generation wine business family member. After working in Burgundy, Dijion, Reims and Champagne, Professor Quille came to the United States in 1997, landing in Washington State to earn his MBA. Andrea Sartori, Family Proprietor, Sartori di Verona, Negrar, Italy Professor Sartori is the great grandson of Pietro Sartori, founder of Sartori di Verona, now one of the Veneto's leading wine producers. The former president of Italy's producer trade group, the Unione Italinia Vini, Sartori will bring generations of family experience to his insider look at Amarone in the An Amore for Amarone seminar. Noelia Orts, Winemaker, Emiliana Organic Vineyards, Chile Noelia is responsible for Emiliana's world-class quality biodynamic wines, Coyam and Gê. Noelia graduated from the Polytechnic University of Valencia with a degree in Viticulture and Enology. In 2009, she pursued a Master's Degree in Enology and Viticulture at the University of Chile, and subsequently joined the Emiliana team in 2011. Benedetta Poretti Family Proprietor, Florio, Marsala, Italy Professor Poretti's family, which built Italy's best-known spirits brand, Disaronno, took stewardship of another iconic Italian name—Florio—in 1998. A student of natural sciences, she loves exploring the relation between nature and sustainability through the world of wine. She likes to call Sicily a little continent where west meets east in diverse soils and climates. She loves to share the stories of this unique place and its wines and has become an international ambassador of its most unique and Sicilian of wines, Marsala. Rudy Buratti, Chief Winemaker, Castello Banfi, Montalcino, Italy As part of the Castello Banfi winemaking team for over 30 years, Professor Buratti is a veritable fixture in the Italian wine world, offering a direct link to the Mariani family, historic proprietors of Castello Banfi. A leader in clonal research on Sangiovese, Professor Buratti has also overseen the development of innovative wood and steel fermentation tanks for Castello Banfi's top estate wines. Enrico Cerulli, Family Proprietor, Cerulli Spinozzi, Teramo, Italy With his family roots in Abruzzi dating back generations, Professor Cerulli's passion lies in focusing on super-quality wines from the Colline Teramane subregion, Abruzzi's only DOCG. In particular, Enrico strives to make exceptional wine from the Montepulciano grape, using 100% DOCG fruit. Mauro Merz, Directing Winemaker, Fontana Candida, Rome, Italy A pioneer of the high-quality small-produc- tion wine wave sweeping Italy, Professor Merz is dedicated to reviving, updating and upscaling the wines from Frascati. His commitment to the region has brought Fontana Candida to the forefront by emphasizing quality over yield. Salvatore Geraci, Family Proprietor, Palari, Sicily, Italy Professor Geraci is truly a Renaissance Man: An architect who was famous for his work on monumental restoration projects, Professor Geraci became involved in winemaking after inheriting his grandfather's 18th century Faro DOC estate and vineyards. Combined with his passion for restoration, Professor Geraci's enological efforts have reinstated the Faro DOC's position within the Sicilian wine industry. Christian Scrinzi, Chief Winemaker, Bolla, Pedemonte, Italy With 692 acres of vineyards at his fingertips in Valpolicella, Professor Scrinzi has steered Bolla toward impeccable quality by carefully reviewing each vineyard and grading its quality of fruit. He is committed to the concept of sustainable viniculture. Vanni Lusetti, Winemaker, Albinea Canali and Maschio, Reggio Emilia and Prosecco, Italy A native of Emilia in the heartland of Lambrusco, Professor Lusetti is a Master oenolgist who has been making wines for the majority of his life. Although his knowledge of winemaking and grapes is the product of years of formal educa- tion, Professor Lusetti is a believer in wine's day-to-day pleasures. "There should be no snobbery in drinking wine."