Vi.Te -Vignaioli e Territori

In the centre of Verona, the city is alive, not because of tourists, but because of Vinitaly, the world’s biggest wine exhibition. Among all the commercial labels and huge pavilions, there is a special place if you know where to look. It takes you away from the busy crowds and brings you closer to the real heart of wine. This is the space of ViViT (Vigne, Vignaioli, Terroir), a true haven for authenticity.

Here in 2018, it feels like time stops. I am not here for formal reasons, but because it truly matters to me.

Who is ViViT?

People often ask what ViViT is. It’s more than just a part of the exhibition. ViViT was created by Vi.Te (Vignaioli e Territori). Vi.Te is far beyond an organization—it is made up of real people with real stories and a strong bond with the earth.

People like Camillo Donati, with his friendly smile and sparkling Malvasias, showed us what natural wine really means, without any sense of elitism. Gaetano Morella proved that the South and Puglia can make world-class wines while caring for nature. Along with a few other passionate artisans, they started the association in 2012. They pushed for and created the ViViT space at Vinitaly, challenging the usual ways and putting honesty and biodiversity first.

Being invited to join them is more than just taking part. It shows that Philia Winery shares the same values as these pioneers.

My Global Family: From RAW Wine to Verona

Every time I pass through the gates of such an exhibition, every time I walk into one of these exhibitions, I feel like I’m coming home. It doesn’t matter if I’m in Verona, London, Berlin, Tokyo, or New York for the RAW Wine Fair. My global family. We are the people who share the same anxiety about the hail, the same respect for indigenous yeasts, and the same refusal of chemical additives. At RAW Wine and ViViT, no one apologises for the wine's sediment or its "razor-sharp" acidity. Here, everyone is recognised as an equal member of a worldwide community that places the soul above profit.

The Vi.Te PartThe official program is over, but the real heart of the evening is just starting. Vi.Te has set up its big party for the producers. Here, everyone is equal. Camillo opens a bottle, and Gaetano laughs loudly with friends from France.

Looking at the tables full of food and wine, I feel right at home. To me, being a winemaker is closely tied to being a cook. I see winemaking as an extension of cooking. If you don’t respect the tomato and flour in the kitchen, how can you respect the grape in the wine press?

Sitting at this table and tasting real flavours, I recall my belief: Wine isn’t made just for scores. It’s meant to stain tablecloths, bring laughter, and feed people.

Samos: Schist and Quartz in the Glass

Chiara De Iulis Pepe tries my wine and asks about the soil. I tell her she is tasting the geological story of Samos: the schists, quartz, basalts, and red volcanic terra rossa soils. She understands that minerality isn’t just a marketing term, but the real taste of stone absorbed by the roots.

This is what makes ViViT and RAW Wine special: they let us show that Samos has a unique terroir that can stand alongside the best natural wines in Europe.

Return to Roots

When I leave Verona, I don’t just take business cards. I leave with the certainty that we are not alone. The Vi.Te and RAW Wine family is growing, and Philia Winery is proud to be part of it.

I go back to Samos to keep doing what I love: cooking with nature and making wine from my land, always with honesty and respect.