It is giving me a great satisfaction, because I had the notion that we could make great wines equal to the greatest wines in the world, and everybody said it was impossible.

In both life and work, stay flexible. Whether in a country, a company, or a family, the same holds true: Dictatorship and rigidity rarely work. Freedom and elasticity do.

Even more importantly, it's wine, food and the arts. Incorporating those three enhances the quality of life.

I say to consumers: instead of relying totally on critics, drink what you like and like what you drink.

I always knew that food and wine were vital, with my mother being Italian and a good cook.

My path was simple: Follow your passion. Pour in your heart and soul. Settle for nothing less than excellence. And with enough hard work and faith in yourself, you can realize your dream.

My mother served me wine and water from the time I was 3 years old.