On June 25, the Columbus Citizens Foundation in New York hosted Understanding Italy Through Wine, an exclusive masterclass dedicated to telling the story of Italian wine through what makes it truly unique: its diverse territories.
Organized as part of the European Union-funded promotional programme and promoted by Coldiretti and Istituto 100% Italiano, the event brought together 50 carefully selected guests, including some of New York’s most respected wine journalists, writers, sommeliers and opinion leaders, for an educational journey into the identity of Italian wine.
Leading the masterclass was Audrey Frick, Senior Editor and Wine Critic at JebDunnuck.com, who offered a perspective that went beyond the traditional approach to wine tasting. Rather than simply presenting six outstanding wines, she used them as a lens through which to tell the story of Italy itself—a country that cannot be understood as a single wine-producing nation, but rather as a mosaic of territories, cultures, landscapes and traditions, each with its own distinctive identity.
At the heart of the masterclass was the concept of terroir, explored in its broadest sense. In Italy, terroir is not merely the interaction of soil, climate and altitude; it also encompasses the history of a place, the communities that inhabit it, agricultural traditions, local cuisine and generations of accumulated knowledge. It is this inseparable relationship between people and place that makes Italian wine an authentic expression of its origin.
Particular attention was given to the extraordinary biodiversity of Italy’s wine heritage. With more than 500 officially recognised indigenous grape varieties, Italy is unmatched in the global wine landscape. This remarkable diversity has been built over centuries, with each native grape deeply rooted in the history, cuisine and agricultural traditions of its region. In this context, wine becomes the expression of a local identity rather than the result of standardisation.
To bring these concepts to life, Audrey Frick guided participants on a journey through six iconic Italian wine regions. From the volcanic slopes of Mount Etna to the granite soils of Gallura, from the limestone landscapes of Friuli Venezia Giulia to the cooperative winemaking tradition of Abruzzo, before concluding in Tuscany with Vernaccia di San Gimignano and Brunello di Montalcino, each wine became an educational tool for understanding how geography, biodiversity and human expertise combine to shape the identity of Italian wine.
One of the most compelling aspects of the masterclass was its multidisciplinary approach to storytelling. Alongside the geographical and environmental characteristics of each wine region, Audrey Frick explored the deep connections between wine, gastronomy, local history and the communities that have preserved these traditions over time. The result was a narrative that highlighted each denomination not simply as a wine, but as the expression of a living cultural landscape. This vision perfectly reflected the philosophy behind the project promoted by Coldiretti and Istituto 100% Italiano, placing agricultural excellence within the broader context of the territories from which it originates.
Following the masterclass, guests continued the experience with a seated lunch celebrating Italian food and wine pairings, where each course was accompanied by wines featured during the educational session. More than a convivial moment, the lunch naturally extended the themes explored throughout the lecture, demonstrating how Italian wine reaches its fullest expression when experienced alongside the cuisine and traditions of the territories from which it comes.
More than a tasting, Understanding Italy Through Wine proved to be a high-level educational experience designed for wine professionals. More than presenting six exceptional wines, the masterclass told the story of six distinct territories, demonstrating that every bottle of Italian wine is, above all, the reflection of a place, its history and the people who preserve its identity. It is this profound connection between wine and territory that continues to define one of the most distinctive and enduring strengths of Italian excellence around the world.
