[A time and a place]
Violetta Neri is sure that most people believe she’s an alcoholic. She routinely has a glass of wine with lunch, sometimes even with breakfast. People, she believes, think, You must have a problem! To her, it’s more of a problem with the perspective. Neri drinks wine daily, but she’s never been drunk in her life, she says. “In this country, if you don’t drink before five, it’s like you’re a goody two-shoes,” says Neri, a 50-year-old native of Greece who owns Hopewell Valley Vineyards in Pennington, NJ, with her husband, Sergio Neri, 49, a native of Italy. While others concern themselves with so-called proper behavior, the Neris focus their attention on savoring the moment, which is at least part of the reason why their perspective on daytime drinking contrasts most Americans’. A glass to them is so much more than the amount of alcohol contained within. It’s about the aroma, the color and, ultimately, the flavor, and appreciating each of those aspects as deeply and purely as possible. If a particular wine is best suited for a robust breakfast, who are they to argue? Who are we?
“I’m in a position to educate people about wine,” Sergio says simply. His imported attitude comes from three generations of winemakers who passed along their unadulterated respect for the vino. The couple married after a 15-year friendship. Seven years ago, as Sergio’s realtor, Violetta sold him a 75-acre property that their home and vineyard span today. “It is in his blood to be here,” she says. Considering their impact, it would be easy to interpret her comment in a number of ways. In addition to the typical range of tasting events, the Neris host a number of philanthropic affairs at the vineyard, including an annual fundraiser for an organization that is especially near and dear to their hearts, Pennington Autism Lifelong Services. Sergio’s son, Davide, was diagnosed with autism at age two. It’s all in a day’s work for the worldly couple. But ask Sergio for the best part, he’ll give a wink and say, “Drinking on the job.” —Gina Ryder