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Hernanes’ new routine off the professional fields brings together soccer, wines, and life in the Italian countryside in a project that connects sports memory, gastronomy, accommodation, and rural tourism in Piedmont.
Hernanes, former midfielder for São Paulo and the Brazilian National Team, has also associated his public image with wine production in Italy after leaving professional soccer.
The former player is at the helm of Ca’ del Profeta, a winery located in Montaldo Scarampi, in Monferrato astigiano, Piedmont region, in northwestern Italy.
The name of the venture refers to the nickname “Prophet,” used by fans during his career on the fields.
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The property includes vineyards, a restaurant, and accommodation, forming a business linked to wine production and visitor reception.
According to the brand’s own website in Brazil, Ca’ del Profeta occupies 4.5 hectares of vineyards planted with Barbera, Grignolino, and Brachetto, varieties cultivated in the region.
The annual production reported by the winery is about 10,000 bottles.
Hernanes’ relationship with Italy began before the venture.
Revealed by São Paulo, he was negotiated with Lazio in 2010 and later also played for Inter Milan and Juventus.
The time in the country preceded the creation of the winery, founded in 2015, when Anderson Hernanes Lima acquired part of the property and vineyards from Enzo Forno, a member of a family of winemakers from Piedmont.
Hernanes in Piedmont: from a soccer career to vineyards
Hernanes announced his retirement as a professional player on May 2, 2022, at an event held at Morumbi.
On the occasion, ge recorded that the midfielder was ending an 18-year career in soccer, with stints at São Paulo, Santo André, Lazio, Inter Milan, Juventus, Hebei, China, and Sport.
Retirement, however, did not mean complete separation from the ball.
In October 2023, ge reported that Hernanes returned to play in Italian amateur soccer for Sale, a team in the local seventh division.
Therefore, in the current context, the most precise change is from professional soccer to business activities in Italy, with wine as the main focus outside the clubs.
The interest in the beverage was reported by the former player himself in a text published on the Ca’ del Profeta website.
According to the brand’s page, Hernanes stated that he had no contact with wine for most of his life and began to learn about the beverage after transferring from São Paulo to Lazio in 2010.
In the same publication, he mentioned that he started experimenting with wine in restaurants in Italy and became interested in the history of the beverage, the grapes, and the different types of production.
From this initial contact, the theme ceased to be just a personal curiosity and became part of a business project developed in Piedmont.
Ca’ del Profeta: wines linked to the ex-player’s nickname
Ca’ del Profeta uses in its name a direct reference to the nickname that accompanied Hernanes in football.
In free translation, the expression can be understood as “House of the Prophet.”
In the case of the enterprise, the link with the sports career appears in the brand’s identity, while the production relies on grapes cultivated on the Italian property.
Among the labels listed on the Brazilian site of the winery are Piemonte Brachetto Momentum Spumante Dolce DOC, Grignolino d’Asti Saudade DOC, Grignolino d’Asti Ce La Vite DOC, and Barbera d’Asti Efraim DOCG.
The prices listed on the menu available in Brazil start at R$ 90 and reach R$ 484.25 for one of the labels listed by the brand.
The annual production data requires caution.
The winery’s institutional site reports about 10,000 bottles per year, while other Brazilian publications cite different numbers, such as 12,000 or 15,000 bottles.
To avoid discrepancies, the safest information is to record that it is a small-scale production, with about 10,000 bottles annually according to the company itself.
Besides production, the business maintains a connection with local producers.
According to Ca’ del Profeta, Enzo Forno continued collaborating in the management of the vineyards, while producers from the region also guide the technical work.
This structure appears as part of the operation reported by the brand in Brazil.
Restaurant and Lodging Expand Hernanes’ Business in Italy
The property also functions as a space for gastronomy and lodging.
The restaurant Ca’ del Profeta is associated with Montaldo Scarampi, in Piedmont, and is promoted on international travel and gastronomy platforms.
The lodging operates under the name Ca’ del Profeta Suites & SPA on booking channels, linked to the Asti region.
The structure is commercially presented with a restaurant, garden, seasonal outdoor pool, and rooms for visitors.
This combination places the enterprise in a category that combines winery, dining, and rural lodging.
The formulation, however, should be understood only as a description of the business model, not as an evaluation of the experience offered to the public.
In Hernanes’ case, the activity involves wine production, restaurant management, and lodging operation in the Italian countryside.
The presence of a former Brazilian player in the sector also draws attention for the contrast between the sports career and the routine linked to viticulture.
Even so, the change of area does not eliminate the connection with football, as the winery’s name preserves the nickname created during the professional career and used by São Paulo fans.
Hernanes’ Journey at São Paulo and the Brazilian National Team
Hernanes was trained in the São Paulo youth academy and debuted as a professional in the 2004 season.
He gained prominence in the club during the following decade and participated in the campaigns for the Brazilian titles of 2007 and 2008.
The transfer to Lazio in 2010 marked the beginning of his journey in Italian football.
After his time with the Roman team, the midfielder played for Inter Milan and Juventus.
He also played for Hebei, China, before returning to São Paulo, first on loan in 2017 and then permanently from 2019.
In Brazil, besides Tricolor, he played for Santo André at the beginning of his career and for Sport in 2021.
For the Brazilian National Team, Hernanes participated in the 2008 Olympic Games, was part of the squad that won the 2013 Confederations Cup, and was part of the group that competed in the 2014 World Cup.
The international journey, along with his time at Italian clubs, helps explain the former player’s stay in the country where he now maintains part of his business.
Hernanes’ current activity combines elements from his time in Italy and his image built in Brazilian football.
The nickname “Prophet” remains as a brand, but the core of the business is in the vineyards, the labels sold, and the services offered on the property.
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