Sangiovese, Lambrusco, and Other Vine Stories

Behind the cultivation of grape vines and their fruits’ fermented juice lies a history of peoples who worked the land, transformed the landscape, produced and traded wines, thus forging local and global communities. In this book, vine geneticists and experts Attilio Scienza and Serena Imazio reconstruct the lineage of wine: using DNA analysis, archeology, anthropology, myth, and literary sources, they discuss the origin and ancestry of vines such as Sangiovese, Ribolla, Primitivo, and the many Moscato, Malvasia, and Lambrusco grapes. Chapters also cover more widely planted varieties such as Chardonnay, Merlot, Syrah, and Pinot, as well as the impact of the phylloxera epidemic in the nineteenth century. In a scientific yet accessible way, Lambrusco, Sangiovese, and Other Vine Stories illuminates the complex interaction between human communities and vines, in a journey which will reveal riveting stories of migration, conquest, exploration, and cross-cultural exchange. Praise for the book “Sweeping in its scope, but retaining the intimacy of a personal anecdote, this book is a must for anyone who would seek to truly know Italian wine.” Sarah Heller MW, Proprietor, Radix “Attilio Scienza and Serena Imazio share with us a series of most exciting real stories about grapes travelling and transforming landscapes. Their angle—solidly based upon science and knowledge, with as much global perspective as depth—is unique. They are like this book’s grapes, well traveled and exceptional. Thank you for these hours of intellectual enjoyment!” Pedro Ballesteros Torres MW, International Wine Judge “For decades, Attilio Scienza has stimulated and energized the production sector of the agronomic and enological world. I don’t think we would have reached today’s results without his scientific commitment. Even now, every time I meet him, I always feel the excitement and reverence of a student. Thank you Professor Scienza!” Lamberto Frescobaldi, President, Marchesi Frescobaldi “Attilio Scienza and Serena Imazio’s scholarly quest to understand the genetics of the vine and their passion to narrate their lineage weaving together anthropology, archaeology, sociology, and linguistics make this book a perfect learning tool for people who work in wine, but also for wine lovers at large.” Stevie Kim, Managing Director, Vinitaly International