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Antonio and his girlfriend Natalia head for Napa Valley to visit Nonno, Antonio's centenarian grandfather. En route the two stop at a winery for some wine tasting since this is a new experience for Natalia. After receiving brief yet thorough instructions on the art of wine tasting, Antonio and Natalia meet up with Nonno. The over one-hundred-year-old man is considered one of the finest wine makers around, and at his age he is still amazingly agile—lovingly tending to his garden and vineyard. While Nonno prepares food for supper, he regales Antonio and Natalia with his bittersweet stories emigrating from Italy to America via Ellis Island.
Phil Scrima offers a glimpse into wine making and immigrant life in his latest short story. Pooling his story resources from "the talents of both grandparents," Scrima's fictional account is replete with factual information. A quick read, Scrima's third-person narrative doesn't provide any plot surprises and keeps to a four-person cast. While weaving in Antonio and Natalia's relationship, the real intention of his story is to give young and old readers an opportunity to build an appreciation not only for wine making, but also for the determined spirit of immigrants to seek a better life amid incredible challenges. Although Scrima focuses on Nonno's grueling early 1900s immigrant experiences, he also shines a light on present day immigration issues, which in many respects is far worse than over a hundred years ago. Scrima's writing style is simple and familial. It reflects the human interactions between two generations and, in this case, between a grandson and grandfather. Endearing and educational, Nonno the Wine Maker is an ideal read for school and home, as well as a nice addition to immigrant history collections.
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