The idea behind Winederful started on a crisp winter’s day in 2020. Two friends – Simone Ippolito and Liam Wyatt – were sharing a meal, along with a bottle of wine. Simone had been sent this wine from his family vineyard, Ippolito, which is located in the Calabria region of Southern Italy.
The two men were struck by the quality and complexity of the wine, and after a glass or two, they both decided that it would be selfish to keep such an experience to themselves! They wanted others to be able to access such exquisite wines, across the UK. Liam and Simone therefore started importing wine from Italy, to the UK, on a wholesale distribution basis.
Winederful is not about building an empire. It began from a passion for outstanding wine, shared by two friends, and this feeling continues to be at the heart of our business. We are confident that both retailers and end consumers will share our passion, once they have experienced the products we have on offer.
Calabria lies in Southern Italy, bordered by Basilicata to the north, and the Ionian Sea to the south. The region has one of the oldest records of human presence in Italy, which date back to around 700,000 BC. Perhaps this is due to the temperate climate, which is influenced by the surrounding mountains and nearby sea.
The Mediterranean climate is known for extreme contrasts in temperature and rainfall, depending on the season. During the summer months, the region will see an average high of 30°C (86°F), while the winter months have an average low of 8°C (46°F). Calabria, due to its typical mountainous climate, also sees frequent snow during winter.
Calabria is agriculturally rich, ranking second when it comes to organic farmer numbers across Italy, as well as olive oil production. The latter can be seen through the vast amounts of land dedicated to olive tree cultivation, which extends from coastal lowlands to hilly and mountainous areas.
Calabria also produces about a quarter of Italy’s citrus fruit, including oranges, mandarins, lemons, as well as a wealth of clementines. There are additionally a number of citron hybrids that can be found exclusively in Calabria, like bergamot. Geological and weather conditions for growing such fruits are optimal in the area, and a large industry has been built around the extraction of bergamot oil in particular.