For Mario Saligari, 61 years old, from Grosotto, a chef and manager of the Hotel Saligari in Verceia for thirty years, facing the trauma of losing a life and work partner like Enrica, known to all as Chicca Pedeferri, who passed away on September 6th last year, is no easy task. However, with the support of his collaborators, he is managing to overcome this challenge. And we’re not just talking about moral support, because after Chicca’s passing, the Hotel Saligari family has expanded. The management is now under a new company, which not only includes Saligari but also several of his former employees.

“I decided to involve the team, my closest collaborators, to ensure the continuity of the business,” says Saligari, “and I’m glad I did. It’s a difficult time, where finding reliable collaborators is very challenging, so we must absolutely hold on to those we have, who have shown dedication and commitment to their work. Now, in the company, there are three of my former employees and Chicca’s niece. Cory Ghedin, who has been with us for years and who was like a daughter to Chicca, takes care of the reception and all administration. Then there is Luca Galli, my dining room collaborator, Nicholas D’Alessandro, responsible for setting up banquets and the dining room, and Allyson Pedeferri, the young niece of my life and work partner. This is the new beating heart of Hotel Saligari, which I’ve managed for 30 years and ran for 25 alongside Chicca. We want to move forward, continuing in the path we’ve traced, with a structure that is always more modern, renovated, and comfortable, with 40 beds in 20 rooms completely renovated in 2019. It was a significant investment, partly diminished by Covid, but we are recovering.”

The hotel has a loyal clientele, overlooks Lake Mezzola, and operates at full capacity from Easter to the end of October. The main challenge, however, is the shortage of collaborators, a problem Mario Saligari is trying to solve in every way, even by bringing former employees into the company. “Working together, sharing, collaborating is fundamental in every sector and brings results,” Saligari observes. “It was also the case for the ‘Adopt a Vineyard’ project, which I supported along with my colleagues Giuseppe Bonseri from Sunny Valley in Valfurva and Marco Rocca from Mottolino Spa in Livigno, on the proposal of Aldo Rainoldi, owner of the eponymous winery in Chiuro, and Giacomo Mojoli. In 2007, to prevent some vineyards in the Valgella area from being abandoned due to the inability to harvest and process the grapes, they launched ‘Adopt a Vineyard,’ asking us hoteliers to buy wine produced by the small but highly skilled growers of these plots in Valgella. We did it, and we’re proud of it.”

Saligari has been purchasing the excellent “Valtellina Superiore” wine from Alessio Magi for years, and thanks to this partnership, he was awarded the “Follia Creativa 2024” prize, organized by “5 Hats” in collaboration with “Italia a Tavola”. “Last October, journalists and talent scouts came to dine and stay with us during a tour organized by the Morbegno mountain association,” Saligari says. “By chance, they discovered the ‘Adopt a Vineyard’ project. They loved it so much that they decided to give us this prestigious recognition, the result of passion, commitment, and love for our Valtellina. We immediately said ‘yes’ with conviction because it allowed us to support local viticulture, enhancing the work of highly skilled winemakers who absolutely deserved to continue cultivating their lands.”

In short, unity is strength, both in the vineyard and at the hotel.