Sandro Draghi
In 1993, Elisa came into his life and home and so he became a jack of all trades, driving a bus for disabled people, bar tending, being an instructor for outdoor activities, all the while seeking the right career path to follow. In 1996, Sandro founded Proeco, a game and wildlife management office with three friends, and the Molinello agriturismo. At Proeco he dealt with all aspects of game and wildlife management and became Nature Tour Guide in 1999.
For 4-5 years, Sandro juggled both businesses, and with the birth of his daughter Emma, he asked himself if that was really the life he wanted. Sandro left Proeco to dedicate himself full-time to the Molinello. The years between 2000 and 2005 could be called “Sandro’s red period”, where he was both driven to study and learn about wine and olive oil and to share what he had learned with others. During this period, Sandro became a certified sommelier through AIS in 2004, and it was through this organization that he became acquainted with the Slow Food Association, attending many of the Master of Food courses organized by the Siena chapter and, once named chapter leader of the Crete Senese Convivium, organizing others himself.
In 2004 Sandro went back to school yet again, enrolling in a winegrowing master’s program at the Università di Siena, which ended with a wonderful internship at San Polino, a biodynamic farm in Montalcino. He decided to try his hand at the world of winemaking. In 2007 Sandro entered into his “2-wheeled period.” This is not to say that he hadn’t loved cycling before then, but up until that year it had occupied a “normal” position in his life. From 2007 on, cycling became a tool for his career, and he began to collaborate with Ciclismo Classico as a tour leader. Over these last several years, Sandro has led tours in many regions of Italy and even abroad in Andalucia, where he took up Spanish language lessons for fun.
Alessandro throughout the trip was most helpful in teaching me biking skills that made the trip great fun. His thoughtful manner gave me confidence.
In Their Own Words
“Ciclismo Classico has given me the opportunity to travel and meet a great number of bright and fascinating people. And here I am today, curious to see what life has in store for me next…”
