Stefano Bonilli, a remembrance and an appeal

Today is the third anniversary of the death of Stefano Bonilli. I would like to remember him together with all our readers and all those who shared with him that fantastic and unfortunate experience that was Gambero Rosso from 1986 to 2008. And I would also like to launch an appeal to all those who can do something.

Soon after that sad August 3, 2014, the Gazzetta Gastronomico, the online magazine he had created, and his blog Papero Giallo disappeared from the Web and still today cannot be opened. If you add to this the fact that the articles he wrote for Gambero Rosso no longer appear on their site, then there is a more than concrete risk that we will lose an important intellectual and creative patrimony. It is s a shame, it is unfair and, if we may add, a sin that something like this be allowed to happen. This for who Stefano Bonilli was and what he represented as a creative contributor and visionary to Italy’s wine and food journalistic sector.

I do not fully understand why all this happened, although I imagine there are various problems regarding his heirs and Bonilli’s exit from Gambero Rosso, which was dramatic and forced and resulted in legal actions. This could explain the coldness the current owners have towards him. However, this can in no way justify the damnatio memoriae that is taking place and is uselessly unjust.

If I could, I would create a link on DoctorWine to republish all his writings. However, not having any legal right to do so and not having any access to them makes this impossible. The only thing I can do for now is remember him and ask all his friends, colleagues and pupils to do the same and try to pressure those who have in effect cancelled Stefano’s heredity and memory.

If we all work together, maybe we will be able to get something done.