🍷 Meet the Founder: An Interview with Mauricio Peccinini de Chiaro
At The Wine Partners, our mission is simple: to bring people closer to the soul of winemaking. But behind that mission is a story—one rooted in passion, travel, and a deep respect for craftsmanship.
We sat down with our founder, Mauricio Peccinini de Chiaro, to learn more about what inspired him to create The Wine Partners, what makes this club different, and why Italy plays such a central role in the journey.
🌱 What inspired you to create The Wine Partners?
Mauricio:
It really started with a simple idea: I wanted to bring people closer to the heart and soul of winemaking. I’ve spent years traveling through top wine-producing regions around the world and getting to know passionate, small-scale producers who live and breathe their craft—but most wine lovers never get to meet them.
I saw an opportunity to bridge that gap and create something that wasn’t just about buying bottles, but about real connection and shared experiences. That’s how The Wine Partners was born: out of a desire to offer access to the people, places, and stories behind the wine.
“We’re not just selling wine. We’re building bridges between curious wine lovers and the people behind the bottles.”
🍇 How is this club different from a traditional wine club?
Mauricio:
The Wine Partners is not a typical subscription club. We’re not just curating wines—we’re building a community that participates in the life of the winemaker. Our members get backstage access to wineries, the chance to meet producers in person, and even the opportunity to make their own barrel of wine.
It’s also a B2B2C model, which means wineries remain in control of their wine, pricing, and storytelling. We act as true partners, not middlemen. That’s why we’re called The Wine Partners—because everyone involved becomes part of something deeper, more personal, and more collaborative.
As a wine lover, I understand the ecosystem is full of competent people—importers, journalists, influencers, sommeliers—but I felt the need for a closer experience. I wanted to taste every indigenous grape, learn winemaking techniques, and help producers tell their stories.
Our members don’t receive a “wine of the month.” They choose what they want to buy. There’s no minimum commitment. Every semester, we select a theme and curate wines and experiences around it—offering different price ranges and knowledge levels.
For example, our next semester is “Barolo & Beyond.” I lived four months in Piedmont and discovered that while most wine lovers know just a few Barolo producers, there are over 500 in the DOCG—and many are still under the radar. Piedmont also offers so much more: Nebbiolo from Roero and Gattinara, Alta Langa sparkling wines, Erbaluce, Timorasso…
Of course, this level of curatorship takes hard work, and I couldn’t do it alone. I’ve found an amazing team who help me bring this vision to life. So, we are bringing a curatorship that encompass different perspectives and levels of knowledge, not just mine. We have a team in Europe, in America, in South America and in Asia, respecting every cultural difference and learning from each other. It’s been an amazing personal journey that I want to extend to all members.
“This isn’t a wine subscription. It’s a community, a continuous masterclass, and sometimes even a personal cellar.”
🇮🇹 Why focus on Italy?
Mauricio:
The global wine world is experiencing an exciting surge in quality—but I found in Italy not only exceptional wines, but also warm hospitality and passionate producers who wanted to help make this vision real.
Italy holds a special place in my heart. It’s where I first fell in love with wine—not just as a drink, but as a cultural expression. Every village has its own grape, its own history, its own way of doing things.
Many of the boutique producers we work with are still deeply connected to the land and to their family traditions. That authenticity is what we want our members to experience firsthand. While we plan to expand to other regions in the future, there is so much richness in Italy that we’ll be happily busy here for a while.
“In Italy, wine isn’t made—it’s lived.”
📚 Tell us about the IWA Certification—what is it and why does it matter?
Mauricio:
The Italian Wine Ambassador (IWA) certification is awarded by the Vinitaly International Academy, and it’s one of the most respected wine education programs in the world—especially focused on Italian wine.
I pursued it to deepen my own knowledge and to ensure The Wine Partners is built on a solid foundation of expertise. It signals to both our members and producers that we are here to represent Italian wine with depth, accuracy, and respect.
It also connects me to an inspiring international community. Today, we are around 450 certified IWAs across 52 countries—and many of them have become collaborators, helping us create even better experiences for our members.
“The IWA isn’t just a title—it’s a commitment to sharing Italy’s wine heritage with integrity.”
✨ Join Us on This Journey
The Wine Partners is more than a wine club—it’s a gateway to a richer, more connected wine culture. One that values collaboration, curiosity, and craftsmanship.
Whether you’re a wine lover, collector, or boutique producer, there’s a seat for you at our table.
