Rodolfo Neirotti, Vice President & Partner of vinodivino
What did you study at Harvard?
Public Policy at Harvard Kennedy School
Were you involved with any food or wine activities while a student?
While at HKS, I founded the Harvard Wine Caucus, the first organization of its kind aimed at fostering wine appreciation at Harvard. Over the course of my two year tenure, we hosted quarterly high-profile, thematic wine tastings featuring producers and regions presented by international guests. We tried to focus events on topics relevant to HKS students such as climate change/land use, wine economics and international trade policies. Personally, while at Harvard I was a consultant to Goelet Wine Estates (a holding company with numerous wineries in the U.S., Australia and France), and I wrote my thesis on competitiveness for the Sonoma County Economic Development Board.
Do you think that Harvard has prepared you for a career in food and wine or hospitality in general? If so, how?
Like others, I wouldn’t say my Harvard experience was particularly focused on wine and less so on food or hospitality. However, what Harvard did provide me was the framework of critical thinking and concrete professional skills, building on previous education and experience. From there, a combination of humility and confidence as well as drive and patience was key to growing within the wine industry. No doubt, access to the wider Harvard network has always been helpful, and Harvard itself remains a door opener. Post Harvard I have pursued the highest levels of wine education and continue to do so; there is no substitute for knowledge and not all of it can be obtained “on the job.”
What work do you do now?
I am the Vice President & Partner of vinodivino — I joined the endeavor in 2008 and have overseen its growth from a small, concept retail boutique in suburban Boston to now a four location chain with significant sales online and via fine wine concierge and corporate/catering channels. We directly import a highly curated selection of globally sourced, predominantly exclusive wines, and present them in a high touch, customer-centric and experiential setting that’s highly enabled by data and technology. We firmly believe in innovation, and we’re always exploring new ventures and ideas — more of the same is seldom a good thing.
Websites that are relevant to your work or special interests:
