One evening in May, one of those fresh but pleasant ones, with a light jacket on and the good mountain air in Valtellina.
At Ca Rossa B&B, Isaac Castellani and his family organized something special.
They opened the doors to their garden, which is a true corner of paradise among the vineyards of Grumello, with breathtaking views of Sondrio, and created a simple yet truly successful evening.
Guests of the evening were the musical group Nuova Melodia from Ponte in Valtellina, which under the direction of Maestro Luigi Marchesi brought a carefully selected repertoire of light music: from Elton John to Gloria Gaynor, from Elvis Presley to Frankie Valli… melodies presented in an original and engaging way, with a modern style that deviates from traditional band music.
The solo voices were those of Rachele Giuliani and Maurizio Andreossi, and they truly added a nice touch to the atmosphere.
Admission was free, with benches and seating arranged on the lawn, people arrived, sat down, chatted, enjoyed the scenery and the music.
A relaxed, serene atmosphere. Local organizations also participated in the initiative, such as Casa Vinicola Alberto Marsetti, offering tastings of its white wine, Martina from Al Panéir, and Ma! Officina Gastronomica, producer of bresaola from Nuovo Olonio.
All together, without much formality, for the pleasure of sharing a moment.
And while talking to the people present, I met Martina De Pedrazzi, from Al Panéir
Martina a few years ago changed her life: she left her old job and decided to make bread at home, using local and quality flours, always different, often kneading by hand and using only sourdough.
Her oven is artisanal, producing on order, twice a week.
She bakes loaves with buckwheat, corn, rye, senatore Cappelli... an incredible variety, all with a special taste and a crust that makes you want to bite in as soon as you see it.
During the evening, I couldn't stop eating it, and it’s a bread that really deserves to be known.
A perfect pairing with the artisanal brisaola from Ma! Officina Gastronomica, which I found very tasty and not too spicy.
And then the wine from Marsetti, excellent to my palate, which pleasantly accompanied the outdoor snack.
La Ca Rossa turned out to be an ideal place for this type of event: well-kept, immersed in nature, with the Grumello castle behind and a genuine and spontaneous welcome.
Not a grand style event, but one of those evenings that do good for the area and for people, where you come together to be together without too many pretensions.
I must thank for the hospitality.
And it makes you think: if every village had someone like Isaac, ready to make his space available for something beautiful, perhaps in collaboration with local producers and artists, how many authentic moments could be experienced?
It takes little: a lawn, a bit of music, something to eat, and the desire to enjoy being together.