The Wine Press - Donated by Dr. Ronald Valenti
A Note from Dr. Ronald Valenti:
My mother’s father, and my grandfather, Vincenzo Grosso, was born in 1892 in Calabria, Italy. He came to America at the age of ten, in 1902. In 1911 at the age of nineteen he married my grandmother Rosa Furlano.
They settled in a three bedroom row house in South Philadelphia where they raised seven children. At the age of twenty-one, my grandfather purchased this wine press committed to making the family wine using the recipe that was handed down to his father.
Every year, from 1913 up until 1968 my grandfather made his wine in the cellar of that little rowhome. The ritual was simple. In late August, early September he purchased more than 100 boxes of grapes from the Italian Market in Philadelphia and then the crushing of the grapes began. It was an arduous task, with intense labor that required both muscle and patience and lasted at least two months.
This wine press crushed many a grape and supplied the family wine that always found a place at the dinner table. Many a glass was lifted to celebrate holidays, special occasions, and family events, like weddings, baptisms, and even funerals.
My grandfather passed away in 1970 at the age of 78. Now his wine press takes on another chapter. It sits now in loving memory of my grandfather, who would certainly approve that it found a home in a restaurant known as The Vineyard WineBar
My mother’s father, and my grandfather, Vincenzo Grosso, was born in 1892 in Calabria, Italy. He came to America at the age of ten, in 1902. In 1911 at the age of nineteen he married my grandmother Rosa Furlano.
They settled in a three bedroom row house in South Philadelphia where they raised seven children. At the age of twenty-one, my grandfather purchased this wine press committed to making the family wine using the recipe that was handed down to his father.
Every year, from 1913 up until 1968 my grandfather made his wine in the cellar of that little rowhome. The ritual was simple. In late August, early September he purchased more than 100 boxes of grapes from the Italian Market in Philadelphia and then the crushing of the grapes began. It was an arduous task, with intense labor that required both muscle and patience and lasted at least two months.
This wine press crushed many a grape and supplied the family wine that always found a place at the dinner table. Many a glass was lifted to celebrate holidays, special occasions, and family events, like weddings, baptisms, and even funerals.
My grandfather passed away in 1970 at the age of 78. Now his wine press takes on another chapter. It sits now in loving memory of my grandfather, who would certainly approve that it found a home in a restaurant known as The Vineyard WineBar
