June 2025 has seen Massimo Lentsch winery taking part in Radici del Sud, event that since twenty years now shown a true spotlight on Southern Italian wine and EVO olive oil.
Entering the doors of the Ex Distilleria Paolo Cassano in Gioia del Colle was like welcoming the warmth of a collective embrace and being part of such heartfelt 20th edition, fulfilled with great stories shared between producers as well as new enjoyable experiences.
The event is the result of collaborations between the Radici del Sud association, AEPI (Association of Italian Professional Wine Shops), Vinarius (Association of Italian Wine Shops), and AIS Puglia, with the support of local institutions, attracted over 500 professionals and wine enthusiasts. Such big number of attendees driven by the same scope and desire: to discover, taste, and experience the most authentic Southern Italian wine and more.
Monday 9th June opened the conference featuring presentations by Nicola Campanile, longtime organizer, and the jury of RdS competition dedicated to native grape varieties: Richard Baudains, Maurizio Valeriani, Luca Materazzo, and Hervé Lalau. Such interesting occasion for considerations, deep discussion and insight into the role of indigenous native grape varieties and their contribution to the storytelling and true expression of territories and wine districts.
Late in the morning, the long-awaited awards ceremony proved to be a truly emotional experience for us as our wines highly captured the attention of the national jury, by gathering numerous accolades that filled us with pride!
Indeed under the Red italian wines from native grape category, the National Jury rewarded us and our wines with a stunning 1st and 3rd (ex aequo) in Class. Here below the final results:
1st – Massimo Lentsch Etna Rosso 2022 – Sicily
2nd – Cantina La Giara, Bovale La Giara 2022 – Sardinia
3rd ex aequo – Massimo Lentsch Etna Rosso “Feudo di Mezzo” 2021 – Sicily
3rd ex aequo – Statti Batasarro 2020 – Calabria
Seeing our Etna DOC Rosso, 100% Nerello Mascalese, on the top of the tops and being evaluated as a true expression of the Etna volcanic district was certainly a moment to be
remembered: an acknowledgement that surely confirms the high care and attention of our work every day.
To follow we had the opportunity to attend one of the most interesting “open door” events for Southern Italian wines where 70 wineries, hundreds of wines and EVO olive oils were displayed on tasting, and the inexhaustible curiosity of a large public who never stopped crowding the stands. We found immersed ourselves in that energy, proud to share our voice and story!
Full intense day while the whole edition consisted of more and more as the organizers scheduled a series of activities such as B2B meetings on the preceding Saturday and Sunday, then further tastings for thirty guests among both national and international wine critics from thirteen countries, over 300 wines entered in the competition, and 60 native grape varieties represented. A true immersion in the biodiversity and richness of South Italy!
Once back home, we realized that Radici del Sud was more than just an event.
For us, it was a true discovery, and over all, a new point of start to contribute every day to the valorization of the territory that hosts us and the local grape varieties Etna preserves!
