Vini delle Coste: Wines Shaped by Earth, Sea, and Story

Posted by Rowena Dumlao Rowena Dumlao - Giardina 5/15/2025

Vini delle Coste: Wines Shaped by Earth, Sea, and Story

“Unity is strength.” That phrase perfectly captured the spirit of Vini delle Coste, which took place on March 30–31, 2025, at the Real Collegio di Lucca. The event brought together more than 80 winemakers from across Italy and welcomed over 1,200 visitors, including industry professionals, wine lovers, and international journalists. Created and organized by Alessandra Guidi and produced by Event Service, this debut edition emphasized not just wine, but the power of shared stories, cooperation, and regional pride.

Vini delle Coste was a vivid journey along Italy’s coastlines, where wine, landscape, and tradition converge. From the Ligurian Riviera to the Adriatic shores of Marche, and the islands of the Tuscan Archipelago, the wines told stories of salt, stone, and soul. Heroic viticulture was on full display—from the Association of Winemakers of the Isola del Giglio and the steep terraces of Candia, where manual harvests honor ancient myths, to the biodynamic commitment of Lucca Biodinamica across the Colline Lucchesi. Producers from Montecarlo to Garfagnana, Valfreddana to Alta Versilia brought their organic paths to life, joined by the winemakers of Terroir Marche, who see biodynamics as an ethical foundation for agriculture.

More than a tasting, Vini delle Coste was a celebration of coastal identity and collaboration. Alongside the Adriatic and island vineyards, the event spotlighted the Costa degli Etruschi—a stretch of coastline where Mediterranean breezes and mineral-rich soils shape some of Tuscany’s most expressive wines. From Bolgheri to Suvereto, this coast responded to economic shifts in the 1970s with bold vision, becoming a cradle of innovation and quality. With support from the Chamber of Commerce of North West Tuscany, the event fostered dialogue between producers, journalists, and wine lovers—showcasing not just bottles, but the spirit of place behind each one.

The Coastal Soul of Italian Wine

The wines showcased at Vini delle Coste offered a rich and varied portrait of Italy’s coastal viticulture, reflecting the connection between land, sea, and craftsmanship. From the Ligurian Riviera to the Adriatic slopes of the Marche and the islands of the Tuscan archipelago, these wines are born from soils shaped by ancient geological forces and nurtured by the rhythms of the nearby sea. Coastal soils vary widely across regions—ranging from calcareous and marl-rich substrates in Tuscany and Liguria to sandy and clay-limestone compositions near the sea, and even volcanic and schistous terrain on islands and inland slopes. These diverse soil types contribute complexity, salinity, and minerality to the wines, producing expressions that are at once structured, vibrant, and deeply tied to their terroirs.

The influence of the sea plays a central role in shaping the character of coastal Italian wines. Maritime breezes moderate temperatures during the growing season, cooling the vineyards during hot days and preventing drastic drops in temperature at night. This unique microclimate allows for gradual ripening, preserving acidity and enhancing aromatic development. As a result, the wines often display a fresh, saline quality, along with pronounced aromatics—citrus, herbs, and floral notes in whites, and vibrant red fruits and spice in reds. This interplay of freshness and depth makes coastal wines particularly food-friendly and expressive of place.

Many of the producers featured at Vini delle Coste practice what is known as heroic viticulture, tending vines on steep, terraced landscapes that defy mechanization. In places like Isola del Giglio and the rugged hills of Candia, every task, from pruning to harvest, is done by hand, often in difficult conditions. This commitment to tradition and precision yields wines that are not only distinctive, but deeply personal. Additionally, a strong ethos of sustainability and environmental stewardship runs through the event’s participants. From the biodynamic vineyards of Lucca Biodinamica to the organic producers of Terroir Marche, these winemakers treat viticulture as both an agricultural craft and a cultural responsibility, preserving their landscapes while telling their region’s story, one bottle at a time.

Masterclasses on the Diversity of Wines of the Territory

As part of a series of enriching masterclasses on the diversity of wines across the territory, participants were taken on an insightful journey through the varied landscapes of northern Tuscany and the distinctive wines they produce. Masterclass 1, led by wine expert Richard Baudains, focused on the stretch from Lucca to Pisa, showcasing wines from Terre di Pisa, Colline Lucchesi, and Montecarlo. Each wine reflected the unique character of its origin, rooted in local tradition and terroir.

Masterclass 2 shifted the focus to the heroic viticulture of the so-called “Alps on the Sea,” a dramatic area running from Lucca to Massa Carrara. Attendees explored wines grown on steep, high-altitude terrain where some vineyards reach over a thousand meters above sea level. Featured producers included Maestà della Formica from Garfagnana, Giardini Ripadiversilia from Alta Versilia, and several estates from the striking slopes of Candia, such as Il Moretti, L’Aurora di Francesco, and Azienda Agricola Calerò. The tasting also included wines from Monastero Frati Bianchi in Fivizzano and Terenzuola in Fosdinovo, celebrating the tenacity and passion of winemakers who cultivate these challenging but beautiful landscapes.

The final session, Masterclass 3, delved into the Four Geological Eras of Lucca, guided by Saverio Petrilli of Malgiacca, an expert in viticultural soils. With a hands-on approach, Petrilli brought soil samples from his own vineyards to illustrate how dramatically terroirs can change, even just a few kilometers apart. Participants tasted wines from estates such as Malgiacca, Tenuta di Forci, Tenuta I Masi, and Tenuta Lenzini—each a distinct expression of Lucca’s rich and complex geological history. Altogether, these masterclasses offered a deeper understanding of the region’s extraordinary diversity, both above ground and below.

Condimenti: Food, Dialogue, and Culture

As part of Vini delle Coste, the Condimenti series curated by chef Cristiano Tomei brought together chefs, thinkers, and artists to explore the deep cultural threads that connect food, identity, and society. These roundtable events offered not just performances or lectures, but genuine dialogue in a convivial atmosphere, reflecting the spirit of sharing at the heart of the entire event. Condimenti was a reminder that cuisine is not just nourishment—it is a language, a legacy, and a lens through which we understand the world.

Highlights included “20 Years of Ora d’Aria” with celebrated Tuscan chef Marco Stabile, a reflection on creativity and evolution in the kitchen; “A Golden Leaf on Cooking” with Enrico Dandolo of the Gualtiero Marchesi Foundation, delving into culinary heritage and innovation; and “Colori Mantecati”, a playful and sensory discussion about ice cream and art featuring gelato artisans Gianfrancesco Cutelli, Cinzia Otri, and cartoonist Massimo Giacon.

Chef Cristiano Tomei of Michelin-starred L’imbuto Ristorante in Lucca with Andrea Elmi of Maestà Della Formica

The conversations continued with chef Edoardo Tilli leading a session titled “I am as I am”, exploring personal identity through cooking. “The Lasagna was the Matchmaker” brought together restaurateurs Piero Pompili, Chiara Gambacorti, and Elisabetta Gemignani to reflect on the role of food in forming relationships. Later, Cristian Torsiello, chef of the Michelin-starred Osteria Arbustico, shared insights in “Arbusto or Arbustico?”. The day closed on a sweet note with “All the Sweetness of a Peach”, a poetic journey through dessert and memory with pastry chef Andrea Sacchetti.