POPE BENEDICT XVI TO THE PRESIDENT OF WINE CITIES, GIAMPAOLO PIOLI: “WE WILL DRINK IT WITH JOY, MY BLESSING TO ALL THE ITALIAN WINE COMMUNITIES. WINE IS JOY AND BROTHERHOOD AND THE SYMBOL OF THE BLOOD OF CHRIST”

“We will drink it with joy; convey my blessing to all the Italian wine communities. Wine is joy and brotherhood and it is the symbol of the blood of Christ” are the words of Pope Benedict XVI spoken to the President of Wine Cities, Giampaolo Pioli who, yesterday in St. Peter’s Square, personally presented a magnum bottle of “Il Taglio per l’Unita” (Unity wine), the special blend created by the winemaker Roberto Cipresso for the 150th anniversary of the Unification of Italy. The wine is a blend of the most typical native grapes from each of the 20 regions in Italy, from Val d’Aosta to Sicily. One hundred and fifty mayors of the most famous wine communities in Italy accompanied him during the presentation.

“With these words”, added Pioli, “His Holiness wished to remind us that wine is a sacred symbol in the Christian civilization, but it is also one of the most important symbols of Italian history and its traditions that are many and diverse from one region to another. It is wine, however, that gives a sense of unity as the Italian ambassador in the world”. And, this is exactly what “Il taglio per l’Unità” stands for. It was produced by the Cities of Wine to celebrate the 150 years of the Unification of Italy and to be donated to the “highest authorities” in the world”. It is a special blend that expresses the essence of Italy and its territories, created by Roberto Cipresso who blended the finest wines of more than 20 native Italian grape varieties: including Sangiovese, Sagrantino, Barbera, Nebbiolo, Corvina, Montepulciano, Aglianico, Primitivo, Nero d’Avola and Cannonau –provided by 30 wine companies that he personally selected to represent all the regions of Italy from Val d’Aosta to Sicily.