From father to son: passing down family values and transforming them into a business

On the day Italy celebrates Father’s Day, we decided to travel to Puglia to meet Filippo Montanaro. Together with his siblings and – above all – his father Peppino, he founded the Amastuola Wine Resort, a stunning masseria (traditional farmhouse estate) just outside Taranto. It is a high-end wedding venue that combines luxury services with the warmth of a Southern Italian family.

The resort is just the latest gem in the KIKAU Group, founded in the 1980s by Peppino Montanaro; today, it is a solid enterprise operating in diverse fields ranging from interior design and tourism to agriculture. Interviewing Filippo on 19th March is the perfect way to celebrate all fathers, as well as the foresight of a man who saw his local region as the ideal place to cultivate his ideas and turn them into a grand family project involving all his children.

Filippo, when was your company founded?

‘Our family business, KIKAU, was founded in 1985. After launching various ventures with his brothers in earlier years, our father Peppino decided to strike out on his own in the aluminium window and door industry, specialising in the production of shutters. In the years that followed, the family chose to diversify, expanding from manufacturing into agriculture and tourism.

The Amastuola project took shape in 2002 with the creation of the “garden vineyard” and the restoration of the masseria. The project reached completion in 2010 with the sale of the first bottles of wine, followed by the launch of tourism operations in 2017.’

Would you be willing to share your favourite memory of your father related to the family business?

‘One of the most moving memories dates back to the spring of 2008. My father asked me to join him in the countryside and stopped the car on a small hill overlooking the newly planted vineyard. We looked out at the rows and noticed the first leaves beginning to sprout from the young vines, while the undulating waves of the vineyard took shape across the landscape.

In that moment, we realised the project was truly coming to life. We enthusiastically – and almost jokingly – declared that this would become the most beautiful vineyard in the world.’

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What emotions do you feel each time you walk through the office door, knowing you are carrying on a family business?

‘Running a family business means feeling a great sense of pride every day, but also a profound sense of responsibility. It is not just about managing business operations; it is about upholding the values of loyalty, integrity and fairness that our father passed down to us. This is the most important legacy we feel duty-bound to protect.’

From what you told us earlier, your company has grown over the years; what do you do today?

‘Today, the group comprises several different entities. Under the KIKAU brand, we operate in the industrial sector, manufacturing aluminium shutters and adjustable blinds. The KIKAU Store, established in 2008, is a 1,500-square-metre concept store dedicated to furnishing and designing kitchens and living spaces.

Cantine Amastuola has been producing organic wines since 2010, overseeing the entire production chain – from the grapes in our “vineyard-garden” to the finished bottle.

Masseria Amastuola Wine Resort, opened in 2017 following five years of restoration, is now an 18-room hotel where guests from around the world enjoy experiences centred on wine, cuisine and the landscape. Increasingly, international couples are also choosing the Masseria as a venue for their weddings.’

Let’s conclude with a question that might seem simple, yet is important: what are your goals for the future?

‘Our goal is to continue growing the projects our father initiated, while maintaining a strong bond with the local area and a commitment to quality workmanship. We want to further develop the Amastuola project, showcasing our wine, hospitality and the experiences linked to the vineyard-garden landscape.

At the same time, we intend to consolidate the group’s industrial and commercial operations. We look to the future with the same spirit that started it all: passion, vision and deep respect for the work we do.’

I thank Filippo for his time and insights.