vino novello
by Alberto Peroni

It was a grey mid november afternoon in 1977, and I was walking the narrow and empty streets of an old village not far from where I live, looking for photo inspirations, when I met this old man smoking a cigarette outside the porch of his battered house.
In the air, strong and delicate at the same time, the fruity perfume of the vino novello (new wine) that now, 6-8 weeks after the harvest was ready to be drunk.
The man noticed I was smelling the perfume of his wine and, immediately, invited me to his cave for a tasting which I obviously accepted with a big smile.
While continuing to smoke he generously served me a glass of cool wine directly from the barrel. He said to be very proud of the quality of his wine and also that it was not for sale but only for his personal consumption. After the first glass several others came….
Just before leaving I asked him to pose for me outside of his cave. This is the only photo I took that day.