The Festa del Cactus takes place in a large area located at the Grand Tour Italia Grapevine collection, which brings together a selection of 60 varieties of the best Italian vines. The collection is maintained in optimal condition by the careful care of specialized gardeners and can always be visited during the event, when it will be possible to observe the diversity in fruiting of the different varieties.
The seven Georgian vines
Vine cultivation began with civilization in the South Caucasus and particularly in the geographical area corresponding to present-day Georgia, as evidenced in 2007 by the discovery in neighboring Armenia of remains of the world’s oldest wine cellar, containing a wine press and vessels for fermenting and storing wine dating back to 4100 BCE.
There is currently a collaboration between the Institute of Horticulture, Viticulture and Enology in Tbilisi and the University of Milan to study germplasm, indigenous grape varieties and the presence of wild grapevines in the flora of Georgia.
As a tribute to these ancient roots, Grand Tour Italia’s ampeloteca houses some varieties of ancient Georgian vines alongside Italian vines.
