Felicia Brini was a local producer who passed away suddenly and unexpectedly at a very young age. Known as the “Signora del Falerno” (the Lady of the Falernian wine) for having worked hard on behalf of the wine, the territory, and their promotion, she successfully transformed her little winery (started back in 1995 with only 1.5 hectares of Aglianico and Piedirosso vines) into a modern, successful and renowned winery the wines of which are sought after all over the world. Ian won the fifth edition of the Felicia Brini award for his indefatigable work and support of Campanian wines thoughout the decades. At the ceremony, upon receiving the award from Fabrizio Fiorenza, Felicia Brini’s husband, Ian thanked all those involved and also said “…For someone who has devoted his life to Italy’s native grapes and wines, you realize how important this award is for me. I promise I shall do my best in the years to come to continue working in support of these at times very small realities, in the hope of doing at least half the job that Felicia did.”

The Award ceremony and the presentation of the Campania Stories event that followed the ceremony and that brings together journalists and wine professionals from all over Italy and was the world was held in the beautiful Reggia di Caserta. The Reggia was built between 1752 and 1845 as the Borbone Royal family’s court  (the Borboni were the Kings of the Two Sicilies) from a design by Luigi Vanvitelli. The Reggia is an historic building of Italy but was also one of the sets for the famous movie Star Wars: The Phantom Menace.