What really makes Avventura different? Our team ….
John Bersani :
Guide / Founder / CEO
John is a cookbook author, teacher and passionate advocate of Italian food, wine and culture. For the past 20 years, John and his wife, Cyndy, have split their time between Boston, Massachusetts and Gaiole-in-Chianti, Tuscany – the heart of Chianti Classico wine country.
“Spending as much time as we do Italy has given me a window onto another way of life. A different pace, a different set of priorities, another way of looking at the world. I’ve also seen firsthand just how disappointing – and contrived – most guided tours in Italy can be. I want people to see the real Italy -- the places you might not find on your own. My goal with Avventura is to share my passion for this special place with like-minded people.”
John is a WSET (Wine & Spirit Education Trust) level 2 certificate holder, an accomplished cook and fluent in Italian. He is the author of 20 Amici 40 Ricette – Friends and Food from the Heart of Chianti (The Collective Book Studio, Oakland, CA) which will be released in March 2025. He draws upon his personal network of friends in Chianti and the surrounding areas to give Avventura’s clients an authentic, insider’s look at life in Tuscany. Contact John at: john@avventuratrips.com
Matthew MacCartney :
Guide / Founder / Director of Culinary Experiences
He may have a Scottish surname, but there’s a reason everyone calls him Matteo … Matthew MacCartney is an accomplished chef and wine professional with extensive experience in New York, France and Italy. He has held positions both behind the stove and on the floor at numerous storied restaurants including Restaurant Daniel, Gramercy Tavern, and Craft in New York City, as well as Les Prés d’Eugénie (Michel Guérard) in Eugénie les Bains, France and Ristorante Cibrèo in Florence, Italy. Matthew holds a Diploma-level certificate from the Wine & Spirit Education Trust (DipWSET).
Matthew was also chef/partner of Jamestown FISH in Jamestown, Rhode Island where he was twice voted “The People’s Best New Chef”/Food & Wine Magazine. Under Matthew’s guidance, the restaurant was a 5-time recipient of Wine Spectator’s BEST Award of Excellence and was named one of America’s Best 100 Wine Restaurants 2018 by Wine Enthusiast Magazine.
Matthew is currently the group director of Wine & Culinary Education for the Ocean House Collection in Watch Hill Rhode Island.
Matthew’s love of Italy, its food, wine and people is immediately apparent and contagious. He is fluent in Spanish, French and Italian. Contact Matthew at: matthew@avventuratrips.com
Maddy Jimerson :
Guide / Founder / Director of Wine Experiences
Maddy is a Master Sommelier (Court of Master Sommeliers) and a graduate of Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration. She has worked extensively in the wine industry --- both on the floor as a sommelier and behind the scenes as an importer/distributor. Maddy splits her time between Aspen, Colorado and Italy’s Piedmont wine region. She is fluent in Italian having studied at the University of Bologna as well as having lived and worked in Italy.
Maddy brings her passion and infectious enthusiasm for the world of Italian wine to the Avventura team. She aims to demystify Italian wine for those just discovering it, and to help those who already know a Brunello from a Barolo find that next great bottle. Contact Maddy at: maddy@avventuratrips.com
Kristin Bersani :
Guide / Founder / Director of Hospitality & Trip Planning
Kristin lives in beautiful Aspen, Colorado where she has worked extensively in the event planning and hospitality industry, including stints with The Aspen Ski Company, the Aspen Chamber Resort Association, the Little Nell, St. Regis Hotels, and high-end luxury retailer, Kemo Sabe. She brings strong organizational skills, attention to detail and a natural sense of customer service to Avventura’s trips.
Kristin’s passions include skiing, cooking, fine wine and all things Italian. Her excitement for travel started at a young age when she attended the Istituto del Sacro Cuore in Florence, Italy and later returned as a university student at Syracuse University’s Florence campus. Kristin will ensure that your Avventura experience is nothing short of unforgettable. Contact Kristin at: kristin@avventuratrips.com
Giuseppe Barbieri :
Guide / Founder / Director of Cultural Experiences
Joe brings a Zen-like perspective on life, mindfulness and balanced living to the Avventura team. Nowhere is this more evident than in Joe’s own life, where he has enjoyed professional success as a media and marketing executive, publisher of an Italian culture magazine and as partner at a global creative agency, all while carving out time for his personal passions of travel, cultural exploration and family. Joe currently leads a Toronto-based global marketing and creative consultancy, but also dedicates time to Avventura’s team of Italian cultural ambassadors. Joe is a first generation Canadian-Italian with Calabrian roots and deep love for Italy. He has full fluency in the Italian language and has studied and traveled extensively throughout Italy. Sometimes what goes around comes around — Joe was once a veteran trip guide for Butterfield & Robinson and now returns for an encore performance with Avventura. Contact Joe at: giuseppe@avventuratrips.com