02/10/2026
Irene Ragnini, our Ire, Irina, Elena, Ailine... the hundred versions of her name! Her name has a beautiful origin: from ancient Greek, it means “Peace”. Not everyone can pronounce it right, and this always makes us smile. Her character makes the world fall in love with her.
She surely inherited her passion for cooking from her Chianti and Valdarno roots, together with the love for her babbo who taught her to cook everything, from game to fish. Those long Sundays in the kitchen with traditional Tuscan smells started her love for w**e. As she says, w**e was always in the family, part of daily life, but only in her twenties she truly understood what it meant, making it the passion of her life.
She is determined, decisive, and full of energy. What can I say? I see myself in her, with that same desire to do and undo. The adrenaline of those wonderful years with a “2” in front always brings fresh ideas. This lack of brakes helps to keep up with the times, motivating to think, create new things, and never stop. Years ago, I was afraid to work with a young team different from me; instead, going through errors and “horrors”, I understood it is vital to work with completely different people of various ages. This is the only way a group can stay together, learning from each other and growing stronger.
Because let’s be honest, work is not always fun, and times are getting harder. Especially in a context like ours, in the world of w**e and agriculture, where nature decides and it’s impossible to plan for the long future or think about fixed goals like in other industries.
But then Irene arrives every day with her classic expressions like “Ah, bono!”, “Un fa una piega!”, or “Toppee!”. She changes the mood, makes everyone smile, and helps us look ahead with a positive mind. Her funny ways are perfect for spending days together, and she turns hard moments, long harvest days, or stressful shifts into a good time. In a job like ours, her energy is really important. We can only be grateful to life for having her. She taught us so much, and we hope we gave her just as much.
Keep shining, Ire!
**elover