5,000 Bottles of Cabernet Sauvignon from Castel Gandolfo.

The first wine from the Pope's estate at the summer residence Castel Gandolfo in Lazio is bottled. Pope Leo XIV tasted the first vintage on site. The project was initiated in 2021 by his predecessor Francis. He brought in the renowned oenologist Riccardo Cotarella as a consultant. The two hectares of Cabernet Sauvignon are part of the organically and sustainably managed agricultural operation Borgo Laudato Si. The 8,000 vines are tended by refugees, who also receive training there.

In the long term, production is expected to grow to around 20,000 bottles. They will be sold exclusively in the Vatican and at Borgo Laudato Si, but will only account for about one-third of the wine consumed in the Vatican. The Vatican, with around 800 inhabitants, has the highest per capita wine consumption and is also the largest wine importer in the world by population. According to the industry magazine The Drinks Business, 96.3 percent of the wine in 2021 came from Italy, 3.6 percent from Austria. All other countries supplied only about 30 liters. A total of around 45,000 liters of wine are consumed in the Vatican each year. Much of it is used for liturgical purposes.

(al; Image: Wikimedia Commons)

Source: magazine.wein.plus