Storie di vino. Viaggio tra i grandi vitigni del nostro Paese

Nowhere else in the world is there such a vast biodiversity of grape varieties as in our country: over a thousand native grape varieties, with many others being rediscovered thanks to the passionate work of winemakers who love their land. Nebbiolo, Montepulciano, Sangiovese, Glera, Barbera, Trebbiano, Pignoletto, Malvasia…
For a long time, this diversity was seen as a problem: during the era of industrial agriculture, standardized winemaking, and rankings, the focus was on “international” varieties that would work in any climate and any market. Yet, for some time now, something has changed. There has been a growing desire to discover what makes a wine unique and one-of-a-kind.
Because every grape variety tells the story of a place better than any travel guide, reminding us that Italian winemaking has not been built around a few dominant models, but on countless local variations, preserved by generations of anonymous farmers. In the face of climate change and environmental challenges, having a broad genetic base means being able to choose and experiment. It also means defending a cultural model, because a wine is born from the land and from the words we use to describe it.
This journey through Italy’s vineyards leaves a lasting impression: the greatness of Italian wine lies in its diversity. Every hill, every valley, every island has given rise to a distinct voice. Every bottle is not just wine, but an act of cultural resistance. And so our task is not merely to drink or produce wine, but to remember the names. Because every vine has a name. And every name is a story waiting to be told.