The success of Crifo wines? The winemaker Mr. Tripaldi: “The teamwork and the winemaking of the best Apulian grape varieties”

President of Assoenologi for the Puglia, Calabria, and Basilicata section since March 2019, Massimo Tripaldi is the winemaker at the Cantina di Ruvo di Puglia.
A key figure in the Puglian vine growers’ cooperative, which has over 500 members who deliver more than 10,000 tons of grapes each year.
He has been with the Cantina di Ruvo di Puglia for six years, positioning it as a leading production entity in the wine industry, not only locally but nationally, thanks to his presence and that of his team.
Graduating as a wine technician in Locorotondo in ’94 and earning a degree in Agricultural Sciences in Bari, he began his career in Asti, but his love for Puglia soon led him to leave Piedmont and return to his homeland. He immediately began consulting for various Puglian wine companies.
He currently advises multiple companies, private wineries, cooperatives, and brands of recognized national and international fame, just like Crifo.

Dr. Tripaldi, you are a consultant for cooperatives with many members and for private companies. What differences do you find in the work approach between these two business models?

“There are two main differences. In the first case, there is a greater sense of responsibility. For example, at the Cantina di Ruvo di Puglia, I am responsible for more than 500 families who depend on the results I can deliver with my work. This is quite different from working for a private entity where only one family relies on it. The cooperative ties you from a moral standpoint. At least for me, coming from a family of winemakers linked to a cooperative, growing up in an environment where my family was connected to the winery they were part of. On the other hand, in a company, it’s easier to make decisions tied to the choice of a single family unit or business. In a cooperative, decisions go through the board of directors, and the time to implement a proposal is longer, although I must say that in the case of the Cantina di Ruvo di Puglia, everything is very professional.”

In what terms?

“In the sense that everything is structured by sectors, and each sector has its own responsibilities and objectives: everyone has a precise role and detailed, defined competencies, and boundaries are not crossed. Some handle sales, others logistics, and people like me, the technical part, always in continuous synergy, but without overstepping sectoral competencies. This makes the proposal analysis and decision-making processes much more streamlined. Besides, everything is very professional. Only after achieving the objective is the result evaluated by the board of directors.”

Is this the secret to the longevity of this cooperative and your professional partnership with so many members?

“Personally, it’s part of my professional history: with almost all companies, I’ve had long-lasting relationships. In the only two cases where I ended the consultancy prematurely, I did so almost immediately because I believe that differences in intent, when they exist, always manifest right away. On the contrary, if the compatibility of objectives is clear from the start, the partnerships last a lifetime.”

So what is your mission for Crifo?

“When I was contacted, the winery’s goal was to work on the quality level while maintaining and even expanding the commercial capabilities of the 0.75-liter bottles. I believe the goal has been achieved, although we still have a long way to go. We have reached a production of 2 to 3 million bottles, and now we aim to double the production.”