Heroic Viticulture in Italy

The Impossible Vineyards of Cinque Terre

If you’ve never heard of heroic viticulture before, don’t worry, you’re not alone. 😬

I (Valeria) had no idea that wine in Italy was also produced by heroes.

When we went to explore Cinque Terre, my sister Benedetta mentioned something she had always wanted to check off her bucket list.

“Let’s go visit a local heroic vineyard!” she said. “Sure, why not,” I replied, although I had no clue what she was talking about.

So, Ms. Benedetta Wine Sommelier did some research and she found the perfect winery to visit in the town of Vernazza.

That led me to do my own little research on what exactly heroic viticulture, heroic vineyards, and heroic wines are.

Here's what I discovered. 🥸

Heroic viticulture in Italy is all about growing grapes in some of the toughest conditions you can imagine! Picture steep hills and cliffs where tractors can't go. Instead, farmers do everything by hand, climbing up and down narrow terraces. This practice is especially famous in the northen region of Liguria, along the stunning coast of Cinque Terre. Here, the vineyards look like they're hanging on for dear life over the Mediterranean Sea. The result? Unique, flavorful wines that you won't find anywhere else. It's a labor of love and dedication carried out by true heroes who produce some of Italy's most distinctive and cherished wines.

This is the video of when we met the heroes of Cinque Terre.

Can I summarize our experience in one word?

WOW! 🥹

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