(Reuters)- Coffee, tea, chocolate or wine? Italy's illycaffe has branched out from coffee beans, tea leaves and cocoa to produce some of the country's most iconic wines. Riccardo Illy, 55-year-old chairman of Gruppo illy S.p.A., is a former ski instructor, politician and author. Two years ago, just as the economic turmoil began, he decided to become a vintner. "Looking back and knowing what we know now, maybe it wasn't the best time, but I don't regret it," Illy said, pouring a glass of Rosso di Montalcino from the Mastrojanni estate that they bought in 2008.