The Inspiration

The Fall of 2004 was the year The Scheidt Brothers and Cousin Marco toured Italy together. It was filled with discovery, history, and lifetime of memories. It also contributed to their initial discussions about winemaking. From Tuscany to Campania, the three explored their heritage. The enlightenment  came on that last long sleepless night in Rome, cooking together, drinking wine and talking with fellow travelers. We knew that one of us had to take the next step to carry on the family tradition of winemaking.

David returned to Italy in 2009 to refine his skills as a cook and to understand more about traditional winemaking. He cooked primarily in the regions of Tuscany and Puglia, as well as in Liguria and Emilia Romagna. David learned more about the subtleties and simplicities of Italian cooking, beyond what his mother and aunts' had taught him. As if to provide a reminder that the Italian winemaking tradition should live on (and not to become too arrogant about his newly refined skills as a cook), David’s mother, Judy Mastro-Scheidt joined her son during the summer of 2009 in Rome just before the Puglian wine grape harvest. David participated in the harvest and subsequently made wine for a small family farm in Ugento, Puglia just weeks after his mother’s visit. David still considers himself a student of Italian cuisine and winemaking, understanding that even the simplest pasta and wine can take years to master.