A tragic incident occurred at a winery where Matteo Forner, aged 44, lost his life after being caught in his grape press while cleaning it on the evening of 10 October. Reports indicate that Matteo suffered a broken neck and is believed to have passed away instantly.
The winery, which Matteo had a hand in building alongside his family, was the setting of the devastating event. His father, Lino, reportedly witnessed the incident. It was noted that both Matteo and Lino assumed the machine was turned off during the cleaning process. However, a temporary power outage led to the machine restarting unexpectedly when power was restored.
Emergency responders, including firefighters and medical personnel, arrived at the scene where Matteo was pronounced deceased. His body was subsequently taken to the Castelfranco Veneto mortuary.
Matteo, who was set to mark his 45th birthday soon, was a prominent figure in the Grappa region. His recent election to the city council for the Castelcucco Nuova party had further elevated his public profile.
Following Matteo’s untimely death, Mayor Paolo Mares expressed his condolences to the Forner family. He remembered Matteo as a dear friend, highlighting his kindness, helpfulness, and strong work ethic. The community also mourned the loss of Matteo, acknowledging his significant contributions both as a city councilor and within the winery.
The Pat del Colmél winery, situated in the Montello Colli Asolani sub-region of Treviso in the Veneto, has been under the ownership of the Forner family since 1875. Passed down through generations, the winery was managed by Matteo in recent years.
Matteo is survived by his parents, his 15-year-old son, and his siblings. The community continues to grieve the loss of a valued member of the Forner family and the broader society.