Over 30 historic Italian and European abbeys will bring their wines produced in the shadow of the centuries-old monasteries in the thirteenth-century Abbey of Fossanova for "Abbey Wines", an event created to testify to the role that, since the Middle Ages, abbeys have had not only in the production of wine but also in the preservation of vines that would otherwise have disappeared. Many labels were proposed at the event by 7 9 to June, on a journey between the spirit and the territories with productions curated by religious people and astute winemakers: great anticipation for Georgia, present with the Alaverdi Monastery dating back to the 6th century AD Buried in the cellars of the monastery Qvevri (terracotta amphorae), house the wine that ferments and then refines in these historic containers. We will then go to discovery of wine in amphora, which is also finding more and more fans in Italy. But wait and curiosity are also some important ones French abbeys linked to the Les Vins D'Abbayes Association, which holds a similar event in Paris, and, among the Italian ones, for the Prosecco Superiore DOCG of the Cistercian Monastery of Saints Gervasio and Protasio of Vittorio Veneto, whose vineyard is located within the walls of the Monastery; for theAbbey of Santa Maria de La Matina, of San Marco Argentano in the province of Cosenza, resting place for the crusaders leaving for the Holy War and a stop on an obligatory itinerary for the Knights of Malta. Here, wine production gives life to a full-bodied red, "Muntu", and a PDO Terre di Cosenza rosé, "Mádam", which represent the main grape variety of the Cosentina PDO, Magliocco. And then also worth mentioning are the well-known Abbey of Novacella, Abbey of Monte Oliveto Maggiore, Abbey of Busco, the Monastery of Santo Stefano Belbo, the Monastery of Sabiona – Valle Isarco, the Convent of Muri-Gries.
Great anticipation for the Alaverdi Monastery in Georgia dating back to the 6th century AD which ferments wines in Qvevri terracotta amphorae
The Abbey of Fossanova is the oldest example of Gothic-Cistercian art in Italy, located in the municipality of Priverno in the province of Latina. The Cistercian monks who founded it in 1208 came from the monastery of Citeaux in France: a monastery that was fundamental for the production of the renowned Burgundy wines. From this bond was born the idea of hosting an event in Fossanova that recounts the contribution of religious people to the history of wine. The monumental complex is extraordinary: surrounded by a village that almost needs no introduction, neither for the tourist nor for the locals who, every day, enjoy the beautiful peace of a timeless place. During the Abbey Wines there will be the opportunity to discover the Fossanova Abbey with the guided tour "When the monks create taste": thanks to the Slow Food Travel project, included in the entry ticket to the event, you will be able to go to the discovery of the extraordinary history of wine and food of the monks within a monument unique for the style and historical-cultural events that characterize it.
I Tasting stands in the cellars, distributed around the evocative cloister of the Abbey, will be open from 16pm to 22pm. Every day, from 17 pm, Master Classes aimed at the productions of the various Abbeys will take place in the Refectory.
30 historic Italian and European abbeys that played a role in the production of wine and in the preservation of vines that would have disappeared.
We start on Friday 7 June with the "Monastery of Bose" and its Grechetto, at 18pm "Abbazia di Monte Oliveto Maggiore" which produces wine following the Benedictine rule, at 19pm "Champagne and French bubbles" with some expressions of the productions of the French abbeys and, finally at 20pm, “Georgia's wines in amphora” with the wines of the Alverdi Monastery. Saturday 8th, at 17pm, “The wines from the Lepini Mountains to the Agro Pontino” with the producers who were protagonists of the Lazio wine renaissance; at 18 pm “The extreme wines of the Alps” with the wines of the Monastery of Sabiona – Valle Isarco and the ancient Benedictine Monastery Cella Grande of Viverone (BI); at 19 pm it will be the moment of the "Great Reds of Burgundy", a point of reference for producers from all over the world; finally, at 20pm, masterclass dedicated to "Sagrantino with Marco Caprai". Sunday 9 June, 16pm, we start with the masterclass dedicated to "The wines of Atina", at 17pm "Discovering Cesanese, the Wine of the Popes" and followed by "The wines in amphora compared" with natural and the authentic flavors of the grapes and terroir; finally, at 19pm "Let's discover French wines" with abbey wines from Burgundy to Bordeaux, from the Rhone Valley to Provence.
On Saturday 8 June, at 18 pm, in the former Conversi Infirmary of the Abbey, a meeting dedicated to "Wine, tourism and culture - The resources of a territory" will be held in which the President of the Frosinone Latina Chamber of Commerce Giovanni Acampora will speak , the President of the Special Inform Company Luigi Niccolini, the President of Confagricoltura Massimiliano Giansanti, the Extraordinary Commissioner Arsial Massimiliano Raffa, the Councilor of the Lazio Region for Budget, Economic Planning, Agriculture and Food Sovereignty Giancarlo Righini. The meeting will be moderated by Rai journalist Rocco Tolfa.
During the event in the Chapter Room inside the Cloister, an exhibition will be open to visitors which illustrates the stories and productions of the cellars of the Abbeys participating in the event: a fascinating tale of territories, vines, historical places, traditions and ancient knowledge that they will transport visitors to the places from which the wines being tasted come from. A space in the exhibition will be dedicated to the great Abbey of Montecassino, one of the best known in the world, which this year marks the eightieth anniversary of its destruction following the Allied bombing.
Local wines produced in the Lazio region will also have their space, with the cellars of the Strada del Vino di Latina, the Strada del Cesanese del Piglio, the Consorzio del Cesanese del Piglio, the Consorzio Cabernet DOP di Atina and the Consorzio Cori DOC. Also inside the Borgo, for the occasion, a gastronomy village curated by Slow Food Latina will be set up, with numerous stands of producers and principals of the great international movement, with free entry. Info: https://www.vinidabbazia.com/evento/editore-2024/
List of Wineries
– Busco Abbey
– Abbey of Monte Oliveto Maggiore
– Novacella Abbey
– Abbey of Santa Maria della Matina
– Arnaldo Caprai
– Badia a Passignano – Marchesi Antinori
– Large Cell
– Muri-Gries Estate / Convent Cellar
– Magione Castle
– Bellavista – Santissima Annunciata Convent
– Fiefs of San Gregorio – Goleto Abbey
– Monastery of the White Friars
– Alaverdi Monastery – Badagoni Winery (Georgia)
– Bose Monastery – San Masseo
– Monastery of Sabiona – Isarco Valley
– Cistercian Monastery of – Saints Gervasio and Protasio
– Monastery of Santo Stefano Belbo – Beppe Marino
– Vallepicciola Pievasciata
– Vins d'Abbayes (Wineries from France)
The Abbeys of Lazio:
– Abbey of Montecassino
– Trappist Sisters Monastery of Vitorchiano
– Valvisciolo Abbey
