Dolce Estivo, a Texas winery founded by Emy Blakeney, is rooted in a small village in the province of Messina, Sicily, the birthplace of Giuseppe Mirabile, father of Nina Tucci, the matriarch of the family, to whom Dolce Estivo has been dedicated. Nina’s father left Sicily at 16 years old and emigrated to the United States at the beginning of the 20th century around 1910 for a better life. Settling in Connecticut, after a few years of working and saving money, he returned to his native land, where he met Anna Chiaro of Calabria. After they married, Giuseppe took Anna to the States, as he wanted her to see the country before they returned to Sicily to start a business. But the Great Depression hit, forcing them to remain in the US. Fortunately, in Connecticut where they lived, there was a large Italian community, and this is where Giuseppe started making wine, the impetus that sparked the interest in Emy Blakeney, granddaughter of Nina Tucci, to start her own winery.

Nina, one of four children of Giuseppe and Anna Mirabile, had great interest in music and upon entering the university, began studies at the Yale School of Music, with the intention of becoming a professional opera singer. Because Nina’s family could not afford to send her to school, Nina approached Yale’s administration and with her feisty personality and determination, was able to obtain a full scholarship, something not offered females at Yale at that time. She was also invited to train at Julliard School of Music, but her studies were diverted to language, another love of hers.

She met her husband, Paul Tucci, at Yale and upon graduation, they moved to Houston, Texas where he became first chair bassoonist of the Houston Symphony Orchestra. Nina resumed her studies in language, which culminated in a PhD at Rice University. She taught for 60 years, the last 36 years at University of Houston as a French professor. Amid her studies, her husband at 42 years old contracted emphysema and at 50 years old, passed away due to complications of the terminal illness. During his eight years of illness, Nina cared for her husband, often rushing him to the hospital in the middle of the night, worked full-time and raised her two children, Aaron and Erica, Emy’s mother. After her husband’s death, Nina took on full responsibility of caring for the family, working two or more jobs to sustain them until her children spread their wings and created their own lives. She is now retired, pondering what her next project in life will be. She is not only the matriarch of the family, but she is the role model that inspired Emy due to her strength of character, perseverance and commitment to family, characteristics that are at the foundation of Dolce Estivo.