Author Archives: chiara zecca

1963

Fernando Zecca, the father of our father Maurizio, writes a letter from Fribourg, Switzerland, addressed to the family and friends left behind in Salento. In those lines, he recounts his life as a migrant, his enthusiasm for working in the brewery, and the carefree joy of sharing that experience with his fellow townspeople.

2014

We found this letter, and inspired by our grandfather’s words, we decided to open a craft brewery in Leverano.

2024

Sixty years later, our family decided to travel to Switzerland to visit the brewery our grandfather wrote about and which we grandchildren had heard so much about. Even Consolata, Fernando’s wife, came with us. Upon arrival, we discovered that over the years the brewery had become a museum, preserving many of the objects our grandfather used to make beer at that time. Standing in the same place where our grandfather described his passion for working in a brewery sixty years ago was an indescribable emotion. It was even more special to experience it through the tearful eyes of grandmother Consolata.

While examining the letter, we noticed the address from which it was written. We decided to visit the place, which led us to a house inhabited by two girls. We told them our story, and after consulting their parents, we discovered that about sixty years ago, a man who rented rooms to workers lived there. We concluded that this must have been the place where grandfather Fernando lived and from where that letter was sent. This discovery added a special touch to our journey, making it an even more significant and moving experience for the entire family.

Our bond to family traditions is strong, and it is precisely this that inspired us to embark on this journey to the origin of a brewing passion, where that red thread connecting past and present began, bearing witness to a timeless dream and passion.

Fernando, Chiara and Mariluna Zecca