A tragic incident occurred as a winemaker, Matteo Forner, aged 44, lost his life in a grape press accident just days before his 45th birthday. The unfortunate event took place while he was cleaning the press, and it unexpectedly activated, resulting in his untimely death due to a broken neck.
Matteo was a key figure in the winery establishment, constructed with his family’s efforts. His father, Lino, was present during the fatal accident. Reports indicate that both Matteo and Lino assumed the machine was inactive at the time. However, a temporary power outage had turned it off, and upon power restoration, the press restarted, leading to the tragedy.
Emergency responders pronounced Matteo dead at the scene, and his body was later moved to the Castelfranco Veneto mortuary for further proceedings. Matteo, a well-known individual in the Grappa region, had recently been elected to the city council for the Castelcucco Nuova party in 2022.
Mayor Paolo Mares expressed his sympathies to Matteo’s family, highlighting Matteo’s personal qualities as a friend and dedicated worker. The winemaker’s impact on the community was recognized, emphasizing his invaluable contributions both in his political role and at the winery.
The Pat del Colmél winery, situated in the Montello Colli Asolani area of Treviso, has been under the ownership of the Forner family since 1875. The business, initially founded by Pina and Pietro Forner, has been passed down through generations, with Matteo playing a significant role in its recent management.
Matteo is survived by his parents, teenage son, and siblings. The community mourns the loss of a remarkable individual, acknowledging the strength and resilience of the Forner family in the face of this tragedy.