Aveteam

» 1 ALBERTO ANTONINI

A flying winemaker (a winemaker that advises in wineries throughout the world), but also a marathon winemaker (a winemaker that runs three hours a day and then competes in marathons) but above all, a friend. It is because of him that Ave has lifted off its imperial flight at the foot of Los Andes. He visits the project 4 to 5 times a year but remains permanently in close contact. He works –what an ugly verb!- between Argentina, Australia, South Africa, France, Chile, Romania, the United States and, naturally, Italy, where he lives in the famous city of Vinci. Some people say that, had he lived a few years earlier, none would have heard about his fellow citizen, Leonardo…. not him though. He has always worked humbly and with the strong desire of getting into the game, facing new and thrilling challenges, and beating them. Suffices to glimpse at his biography: winemaking specialization in the Universities of Bordeaux and Davis, the worlds’ two most prestigious institutions in that sector. He worked in Frescobaldi, from there he jumped to Antinori as chief winemaker finally arriving in Matura Group, which he founded with his friend and colleague Attilio Pagli. We are presumptuous: Ave is one of his favourite children. This includes, naturally, his biological children (he has three), “produced” with the extraordinary help of his splendid wife: Alessandra.

» 2 MARIANO VIGNONI

With that face and that expression there is no alternative but being a winemaker. A great winemaker, but also, in view of his physical dimensions, an enormous winemaker that can be seen throughout the year –no matter the season- in short sleeves. Despite his young age, he has already collected experience in some of Argentina’s most important wineries (Chandon, Trivento, CAP Vistalba) and some from Italy as well (modestly, our Fattoria La Torre). He has been working for some years now with Alberto Antonini, of whom he is aesthetically the opposite: the latter, always slim and consumed by the hard life of the marathon runner, him, a solid block of marble. He is Ave’s Argentinean father, he defends it, takes care of it daily, and toasts to its arrival, perhaps with his exquisite own Champaign, that he himself produces.

» 3 LUIS CALTABIANO

From San Martin with fervour, this young winemaker with great prospects was raised amongst the vines. He has specialized in harvest, fermentation and barrique control. He became a part of Ave a couple of years ago, after working in Ortega Fournier and Aconquija. By now, he is an important gravitational force. A fan of Boca, he declares it feigning with some confidence that he is not ashamed.

» 6 ELEONORA RIDI

If she didn’t exist, one would have to invent her. An Industrial Engineer with both feet on the ground and a Masters in Wine Management in her pocket; bailaora of Flamenco and impeccable planner. It will be up to her origins that mix perfect organization from Chile (Mom’s side) with the Argentinean ability of adapting to the most complicated situations. She took her first steps in the wine world in Bodega Trivento (Concha y Toro group). After completing the Master in the University of Florence, she arrived in Matura Group, first in Italy, later on in Argentina, immediately dedicating herself with heart and soul to the world of Ave, of which, since the beginning of 2009, she is also director and supreme powerhouse.

» 7 MARÍA EUGENIA BERNARD

From consumers to producers… between one exam and the next, all successfully approved in Universidad Nacional de Cuyo, she used to run a bar, putting into practice her extraordinary Management abilities, area in which she graduated. Specialized in Marketing, she joins Ave’s team in 2008, pretending from the beginning and with reasons a spot in the headlines. She is an irreplaceable piece thanks to her “organized chaos” style consisting of secret hieroglyphs in notebooks and excell documents worthy of a prestigious Harvard professor. She very often delights us with her uncanny accessories vs clothing color-matching skills.

» 8 MARIO JAPAZ

He has lived in half of the world, and half of the world lives in him. He brought his long hair pony tailed look from Mexico; the taste for le grandeur, from France; the pleasure for food, good wine and la bella vita in general, from Italy. An engineer by choice and family, he is one of the most sought out professionals in his area of expertise. He is internationally requested by those who need to build or restructure a last generation winery. He knows everything, follows everything, speaks about everything -in at least 4 languages-. He collaborates with Ave since the project’s beginnings, in the spare time between his work and pleasure trips. He is actually working in projects from Brazil, Italy, the United States, Uruguay and Armenia never once loosing his compass.

» 9 RAMIRO MARQUESINI

Six feet two of height in which everything fits in and more. Great communicator, sophisticated economist, thoughtful dad, caring husband, enjoys thoroughly good food and beverages. He was the first Argentinean to complete the Master in Wine Management of the University of Florence, and also –although he does not want to say it- he is one of the real central characters of the new winemaking scene in Mendoza. If Alberto Antonini and Attiglio Pagli chose him to direct Matura in Latin America there must be a reason. If Ave immediately appointed him as Chairman, there must be many reasons… The first of which is called friendship and large breakfasts shared -almost always- at daybreak. Want to play a joke on him? Invite him to dinner… at 9 PM. His inner autopilot is reprogrammed in a single direction: home.

» 10 XIMENA HOCEVAR

She is the dream come true of every work environment. A Certified Public Translator, she perfectly translates problems into solutions. A living engine that never runs dry, despite troublesome roads consisting of agenda organization for third parties, reservations to be confirmed, and diners to be defined. She has taken such a taste to it that in order not to loose rhythm, she has refurbished her own apartment alone, cutting and assembling laminate wood floors, painting walls, and moving furniture and appliances around. Her résumé unveils experience in a couple of wineries…now that she is with us and bewares who dares to touch her!

» 11 JOSÉ HINOJOSA

If we take into consideration his academic and professional experiences, he should be at least 60 years old. He is, however, only 30… How is it then, that he achieved to graduate, have a MBA and be a part of the directory of one of the largest electric companies in the country only to later land in Matura and from there to Ave? Seeing him in action will be enough to unmask the mistery…. A perpetual mutiny that plots strategies, organizes deals, plans meetings. His contact list is a chest that holds the biggest treasure of all: Mendoza. He knows everyone there is to know…

» 12 ALEJANDRO LÓPEZ

He is our Phytagoric Archimedes, always between numbers and balance sheets. After a master’s degree and some specializations, he is the only one that can confront millions of fiscal and legal knights who could put an end to the psychic equilibrium of even a mathematics Nobel Prize. This is not his case. He faces all of this –no one knows how- with a smile in his face. When he is not having fun as an accountant for Ave, he spends his time with his family or in his clothing business.

» 13 MARIANELA KRAUCENKA

Fine wine comes in small bottles. And with a fine wine -Ave obviously- we find this hard-working, silent girl. A veteran in our project -since she participates from day one- she takes care of accountability, subject matter in which she is brilliant and was precociously graduated. A model student with a surprising rock’n roll side: she goes to the stadium and plays football much better than the rest of Ave’s team, men included.

» 14 EMILIO SOTTANO

One of our latest acquisitions. It was not easy to recruit him from big firms such as Trivento, Aconquija, Agrovit. These companies have enjoyed for a certain amount of time his services in the field of exports in general and in the field of VAT return in particular. Difficult matches to play, tactics to be applied, dodging other players, dribbling, offense attacks, areas in which, more often than not he scores a goal.