Vitigni & Vini tesoro d'Italia alle Tamerici Beach

One of the most original and awaited events of the Apulian wine summer returns. **On Saturday, June 20, 2026, starting at 7:30 PM**, the enchanting setting of Le Tamerici Beach Club will host the new edition of **“Vitigni & Vini. Treasure of Italy,”** a showcase organized by **AIS Puglia Delegation Murgia** dedicated to discovering native grape varieties, Italian wine biodiversity, and the rarest and most identity-driven productions in the national landscape.

Over the years, **“Vitigni & Vini” has established itself as a true journey through less-known Italian wine regions,** enhancing historic cultivars, lesser-known grape varieties, and micro-productions born from research, the protection of ampelographic biodiversity, and the desire to tell the story of territories often distant from major commercial circuits.

For 2026, the initiative will offer participants a unique tasting journey through wines from across the Peninsula, stories of winemakers, enological curiosities, and new production scenarios, with an important novelty: **the presence of PIWI wines.**

PIWI grape varieties—derived from the German expression “Pilzwiderstandsfähig,” **meaning resistant to fungi**—currently represent one of the most interesting frontiers in contemporary viticulture. **These are varieties obtained through natural crossings and agronomic selections** capable of ensuring greater resistance to the main vine diseases, drastically reducing treatments in the vineyard and promoting more sustainable and environmentally friendly viticulture. This theme is increasingly central in the debate about the future of Italian wine, which the event will address by bringing together tradition, research, and new production prospects.

The 2026 edition will also aim to offer an even more immersive and spectacular experience. The organization has chosen to fully enhance the spaces of the **Le Tamerici Beach Club,** transforming the beach into a large village dedicated to wine and conviviality, with an important stage on the sand dedicated to institutional moments, music, and live entertainment.

**The food areas will also double,** designed to accompany the tasting journey with an even broader and more representative gastronomic offer of the territory.

**At 7:30 PM, a talk show will open,** moderated by journalist Michele Peragine, with the participation of Francesco Paolicelli, Councillor for Agriculture, Rural Development, and Agroecology of the Puglia Region, Vincenzo Carrasso, AIS Murgia Delegate and Educational Coordinator of AIS Puglia, Giacomo D’Ambruoso, President of AIS Puglia, Giuseppe Baldassarre, National AIS Councillor, Pierfederico Lanotte, CRSFA researcher, Laura Rustioni from the Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies, and Ignazio Zara, professor at the Basile-Caramia Agricultural Institute in Locorotondo.

Among the topics at the center of the discussions: the birth of resistant grape varieties, the prospects of lesser-known native grapes, the role of scientific research, the preservation of Italian wine tradition, and the importance of education for the future of the sector.

During the evening, a **check for 2,000 euros will also be presented to the Association Una Rosa Blu for Carmela of Santeramo in Colle,** the result of fundraising from the Alba Vitae project, a solidarity initiative promoted by AIS Italy.

The entrance ticket, available exclusively online for 40 euros, will include a glass with a pouch and free tastings of the wines present, in addition to the food offerings of the evening: mixed roast, panzerotto, gourmet sandwich from **Il Sommelier Clandestino of Torre a Mare, a dairy platter from Caseificio Nuzzi of Santeramo,** and tastings of oils from the **Mancino Company of Gioia del Colle** accompanied by bread.

Artisanal ice creams from the historic Pasticceria Caputo of Altamura, a partner of Dolce Puglia, will also be available for purchase on-site.

The evening will be animated by live music from the band **“I Fanfarroni” and the DJ set by Corrado Pizzi.**

The event is organized by **AIS Puglia Delegation Murgia** in collaboration with AIS Puglia, the Puglia Region – Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, and Environment, CRSFA Basile-Caramia, and the “Basile-Caramia” Agricultural Institute of Locorotondo.

**Sponsors of the 2026 edition include:** Divani Living, Olio Mancino, 360 Consulting, Edil Tecno, Mimmo Loiotine, Licci Real Estate, Edil Project, and Vema Sud.
Web: www.sommelierpuglia.it/viti...