L'Italo-Americano

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2025 www.italoamericano.org 18 L'Italo-Americano M u s i c h a s a l w a y s b e e n p a r t o f v i n e - y a r d l i f e i n I t a l y : long before the idea of concerts among the barrels took shape, harvest time filled the countryside with collective songs that helped workers keep rhythm and lighten the day. They were the canti di vendem- mia once improvised across hillsides from Piedmont to Sicily, both work and ritual, and a way to express fatigue, pride, and the joy of com- munity. Today, that spontaneous soundtrack has found a new form inside cellars and vine- y a r d s t h e m s e l v e s , w h e r e wineries are opening their d o o r s t o m u s i c i a n s a n d a u d i e n c e s . A c r o s s I t a l y , dozens of estates now orga- nize small concerts that pair l i v e m u s i c w i t h t a s t i n g s , t r a n s f o r m i n g p r o d u c t i o n spaces into cultural stages. This new trend has grown alongside the evolution of I t a l i a n w i n e t o u r i s m : over the past decade, visi- tors have shifted from want- ing a simple glass and tour to seeking full sensory expe- riences that combine land- scape, storytelling, and cul- t u r e , a n d , f o r m a n y p r o d u c e r s , i n t e g r a t i n g m u s i c w a s j u s t a n a t u r a l extension of hospitality, a w a y t o s h a r e t h e s o u l o f t h e i r t e r r i t o r y a n d o f f e r something special without l o s i n g a u t h e n t i c i t y . T h e choice of genre also says a lot: jazz, acoustic sets, or chamber ensembles domi- nate because they suit the intimate, reflective atmos- phere of a vineyard at dusk or a candlelit cellar. National organizations have played a key role in supporting this movement, especially the Movimento Turismo del Vino. Creat- e d i n 1 9 9 3 t o p r o m o t e responsible wine tourism, it now unites more than 800 wineries across Italy under the idea that visiting a vine- yard should be an educa- tional and cultural experi- ence as much as a sensory one. It connects producers with visitors through coordi- nated open days, seasonal programs, and events that h i g h l i g h t t h e c o n n e c t i o n between wine, territory, and craftsmanship. Its network i s p a r t i c u l a r l y s t r o n g i n regions such as Tuscany, Veneto, Piedmont, and Sici- l y , w h e r e w i n e r i e s h a v e learned to integrate tours, tastings, and local culture into cohesive experiences t h a t s t r e n g t h e n r e g i o n a l identity. Through these ini- tiatives, the movement has h e l p e d t r a n s f o r m I t a l i a n e n o t o u r i s m f r o m a n i c h e interest into one of the most dynamic forms of rural trav- el in Europe. The Movimento also coor- dinates initiatives such as Cantine Aperte, Calici di Stelle, and Cantine Aperte in Vendemmia, and has long encouraged wineries to pair tastings with cultural pro- gramming. This is why every year, hundreds of participating estates open their spaces for guided tours, dinners, and c o n c e r t s u n d e r t h e s t a r s , with jazz trios performing between the rows of vines, singer-songwriters in farm courtyards, and string quar- tets inside the barrel rooms. S o m e e s t a t e s h a v e g o n e beyond occasional events to create structured music sea- sons, as in the case of Tenu- ta San Michele and its Can- tine Murgo, on the slopes of Mount Etna, which has host- e d J a z z i n V i g n a s i n c e 2019. The formula is simple: professional jazz ensembles p e r f o r m i n t h e o p e n a i r w h i l e t h e a u d i e n c e s i t s a m o n g t h e v i n e s , t a s t i n g local wines and enjoying the view of the volcano in the background. The concerts take place throughout the summer and have built a fol- lowing among jazz lovers, both Italian and internation- a l . F a r t o t h e n o r t h , i n Valpolicella, Calici di Jazz brings artists of national and international reputation to h i s t o r i c w i n e r i e s s u c h a s Musella, Casa Sartori, and V i l l a Q u a r a n t a . E a c h evening combines a guided tasting with a full concert program, presenting music and wine as parallel expres- sions of know-how, art, and terroir. On the island of Lipari, Tenuta di Castellaro hosts S u n s e t L i v e M u s i c , a series that takes advantage of the Tenuta amphitheater- shaped vineyard to create natural acoustics; here, per- formances begin as the sun sets over the sea and contin- u e t h r o u g h d i n n e r , w i t h lineups ranging from jazz to contemporary classical and songwriting. In Campania, the Volcei Wine Jazz fes- tival, held in Buccino and Valva, extends the concept to an entire territory: since 2010 it has combined con- certs, exhibitions, and tast- ings across multiple venues, becoming an instrument of local promotion for inland areas often overlooked by mainstream tourism. The Colli Euganei, in Veneto, h a v e a d o p t e d a s i m i l a r model with Jazz & Wine, a festival connecting villas, wineries, and DOC produc- e r s i n t h e h i l l s s o u t h o f Padua. The public drawn to these events can be quite diverse: there are oenophiles seeking new contexts for tasting, locals rediscovering familiar places through music, and t r a v e l e r s w h o w a n t t o understand Italian regions through their cultural prac- tices and not only through t o u r i s t i t i n e r a r i e s . M o s t v e n u e s a r e s m a l l , r a r e l y exceeding a hundred seats, w h i c h c r e a t e s a s e n s e o f proximity between artists and audience. The listening experience is particular, too, as the acoustics of a cellar or vineyard can give off a spe- cial warmth to the sound, and the absence of large- scale amplification keeps the experience intimate. B e y o n d t h e i r a e s t h e t i c appeal, these concerts also contribute to the economic a n d s o c i a l v i t a l i t y o f t h e countryside, because they can give smaller wineries visibility, extend the tourist season, and foster collabora- tion with local musicians, restaurants, and accommo- d a t i o n p r o v i d e r s . F o r regions promoting sustain- a b l e t o u r i s m , t h e f o r m a t offers a way to attract visi- tors without overburdening f r a g i l e l a n d s c a p e s a n d , when considering how many of these events include food pairings prepared by local chefs or feature artisan mar- kets, it's easy to see how t h e y a l s o r e p r e s e n t a n important occasion for the community to work together and join in. Where wine meets music: the rise of concerts in Italy's vineyards LUCA SIGNORINI LA VITA ITALIANA TRADITIONS HISTORY CULTURE Advancing our Legacy: Italian Community Services CASA FUGAZI If you know of any senior of Italian descent in San Francisco needing assistance, please contact: ItalianCS.org | (415) 362-6423 | info@italiancs.com Italian Community Services continues to assist Bay Area Italian-American seniors and their families navigate and manage the resources needed to live healthy, independent and productive lives. Since Shelter-in-Place began in San Francisco, Italian Community Services has delivered over 240 meals, over 900 care packages and made over 2000 phone wellness checks for our seniors.

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