When Wine Interprets the Territory
Wine is closely linked to the work, the lives of the people who produce it, the wineries, the territory, the history. Wine tells, or rather, carries culture and tradition in an engaging, easy, memorable way. It’s a story to be savored. Wine stories are also stories of labor, professionalism, quality, excellence. Behind every barrel and every bottle, there is much to tell and to listen to. Speaking of listening, wine has always been coupled with storytelling, which is the most empathetic and effective form of communication. In front of a glass of wine, agreements are made, memories are evoked, friendships are cemented, traditions are perpetuated. An ancient custom, tied to the place where today, as in the past, wine is the result of expertise and perseverance passed down through generations. Its tasting evokes ancient memories and metaphors because it is one of the most symbolic foods.
Starting with its divine aura, passed down from ancient myths. Always associated with Dionysus, the Greek god, and Bacchus, the Roman god, it is not only the drink of the gods but also – as Plato says – “the most beautiful gift that the gods have given to men.” Even the ancient ritual of toasting is pregnant with symbolism and rich in history. A practice already widespread in Greece and Rome, the gesture continued into the Middle Ages. The origin is rather cautious. It was about ensuring the guest’s fear of being poisoned. The custom of touching one’s own glass with someone else’s was a sign of mutual trust. Originally, before drinking, the host also exchanged part of the contents. Hence, an ancestral ritual of hospitality, in which wishes for good health are added to the sharing of wine.
The extent to which wine is linked to the territory is demonstrated by proverbs and devotional tradition. There are over forty patron saints, in various capacities, of the vineyard and wine universe. Sociologist Ulderico Bernardi, in ‘The Feast of the Vineyards: Wine – History, Rituals, Poetry’, defines wine as an indispensable cultural good, a founding and living document in humanity’s historical archive, a sacred metaphor, a prodigious social allegory. A cultural asset that can and should be used to convey and promote the art, customs, and traditions of the territory.
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