Abbeys and territories united by a living legacy, to be safeguarded today and passed on to future generations — enhancing the enduring and contemporary role of abbeys in preserving landscapes, agricultural knowledge, and cultural identity.
October 6, 2025 (Rovato – Brescia, Italy) — On Saturday, October 4, 2025, the Vittorio and Mariella Moretti Foundation hosted the national conference “The Culture of Wine and Territorial Identity: The Role of Abbeys” at the evocative Convent of the Santissima Annunciata in Franciacorta, organized by Vini d’Abbazia.
The event was part of the “Come in famiglia” (“Like Family”) program, a full day of open-access initiatives organized by the Foundation from 8 AM to midnight, featuring nature walks, workshops, readings, and gatherings focused on spirituality, culture, and community. The initiative was held under the patronage of the Fondazione Italia Patria della Bellezza, which supports projects that highlight Italy’s unique talent for beauty.
The conference offered a deeply symbolic and cultural moment of reflection, bringing together voices from the monastic, academic, and wine communities to explore the profound bond between spiritual tradition and agricultural production. It underscored the abbeys’ millennial role in protecting landscapes, knowledge, and wine heritage. A meaningful dialogue took place among monks, wine producers, oenologists, historians, and public officials in a site of significant historical, spiritual, and architectural value — entrusted in 2018 by the Order of the Servants of Mary to the Vittorio and Mariella Moretti Foundation, which now manages the space as a cultural and community center.
The event opened with a video message from the Italian Minister of Agriculture, Francesco Lollobrigida, who expressed the Government’s support for the initiative: «Let me extend a special thanks to the friars and monks who, through the Vini d’Abbazia network, have chosen to embody a model that transmits culture and knowledge through the very traditions that shape their work. I want to emphasize the strong support our Government intends to give to all enterprises that represent the quality of our national system and generate value, wealth and employment—just as monks have done for centuries, nurturing and improving the land. We must focus on these strengths and on the places where skilled hands have preserved, protected and celebrated our cultural heritage through the ages». The full speech in italian is available at this link.
Opening remarks were also given by Vittorio Moretti, President of the Foundation, and Valentina Moretti, delegate for cultural activities.
Valentina Moretti:
«I welcome you to this extraordinary place to which my family is deeply connected, and which now houses the Foundation named after my parents. The convent opens its doors to the community to encourage sharing—just as we do in families: spending time together, listening to one another, and cultivating what brings us joy. It’s an invitation to reconnect with nature, which teaches us the importance of cycles and taking time, while cherishing the values that unite us and give life meaning».
Vittorio Moretti:
"I’m particularly proud to host this event. The Vini d’Abbazia project fully reflects the mission of our Foundation. The Convent of the Santissima Annunciata symbolises harmony between life and work—a way of living that I’ve always sought. Today, through our Foundation, we care for this convent and create events like this one, dedicated to the territory and to families, to help us reflect on the past and reconnect with our roots in order to rediscover a new sense of unity. Abbeys like this, and those of our guests, are not merely historical landmarks—they are places rich with future".
Renzo Cotarella, CEO of Marchesi Antinori (Florence), spoke of the legacy of Badia a Passignano: "In 1983, a thousand-year-old vine was discovered within the Abbey—symbol of a vocation spanning centuries. At this estate, art, history, viticulture and innovation coexist, and our commitment goes beyond wine. Together with the monks, the Osteria di Passignano developed a tour route of the Abbey—an example of how to enhance history and beauty with respect".
Werner Waldboth, Sales & Marketing Director at the Abbey of Novacella (Bolzano), one of the oldest wineries in the world (founded in 1142), highlighted the central role of monastic tradition: "I believe the key to our longevity lies in being an abbey. Sustainability is in our DNA—it’s about passing on what we’ve received to the next generation. That’s how we operate in the cellar: from vineyard to production, responsibly preserving all that has been entrusted to us".
Manfred Bernard, winemaker and director at Muri-Gries Abbey Winery (Bolzano), reflected on continuity as the most important monastic legacy: "Christianity today faces significant challenges, and so do monasteries. We must rethink the future and ensure long-term sustainability of our activities. Viticulture plays a crucial role in this: as cultural asset, identity marker, and source of stability".
Dom Stefano Visintin, Abbey of Praglia (Padua), evoked the spiritual dimension of wine and viticulture: "In the past, vine cultivation and wine were essential to sustaining life: wine was food, sacrament, and medicine—thanks to enolites—for monks and guests alike. Today, they can also become a means to highlight values such as respect for nature, workers and consumers, through quality products and the shared memory of a long tradition".
Don Andrea Santus, Abbey of Monte Oliveto Maggiore (Siena), recalled the founding of the monastery by Saint Bernard Tolomei in 1319: "Wine production in our community still embodies different meanings: linked to liturgy, to work, and to our relationship with creation. It’s deeply meaningful for us to be able to use the fruit of our labour in the celebration of Holy Mass".
Brother Michele Badino, Monastery of Bose (Assisi), reflected on the bond between land and spirit in monastic life: "This vocation expresses itself in several ways: first, in rescuing a 50-year-old native vine on the verge of abandonment; second, in cultivating it through organic practices that respect the environment; and third, in caring for the vine and for life itself. Each year, the vine reminds us that grapes are a gift, and that wine, in turn, becomes a chance for communion and fraternity".
Also taking part were Attilio Scienza, Professor of Viticulture at the University of Milan, and Father Luigi Cavagna, Franciscan monk at Rodengo Saiano and Rector of the Accademia Symposium. The event was attended by representatives from Italy’s leading agricultural, religious and academic institutions.
The conference was moderated by RAI journalist Rocco Tolfa.
Throughout the day, participants were invited to taste monastic wines from the attending abbeys at tasting stations curated by AIS Lombardia, offering a sensory journey through the identities of places and communities rooted in centuries-old tradition.