Comacchio – Delta Di Vino

Delta Di Vino: From May 1 to 4, 2025, the Renaissance lives again in Comacchio with the Wines of the Sands. A sensory journey to the heart of the Po Delta, where the “Festina Lente” festival meets centuries-old wine tradition.

Wines of the Sands

When it comes to Italian oenology, too often attention is focused on high-sounding names and established territories, forgetting those little gems that our peninsula knows how to keep even in the most unexpected areas. This is the case of the Wines of the Sands of Bosco Eliceo, undisputed protagonists of the third edition of Delta Di Vino, an event that will animate the historic center of Comacchio from May 1 to 4.

The Wines of the Sands represent a unicum in the Italian wine scene. Born in a hostile territory, where sand is the dominant feature and the sea is a constant presence, these wines carry with them a centuries-old history and unmistakable organoleptic characteristics. Produced mainly from indigenous grape varieties such as Fortana, Uva d’Oro and Sauvignon, cultivated on sandy soils with a high concentration of salt, they have well-defined savory notes and a forthright character that reflects the land from which they come.

The history of these wines has its roots in the Renaissance. Duke Alfonso I d’Este, in the 16th century, initiated a massive clearing and planting of vineyards in the Bosco Eliceo area. An intuition that transformed an area seemingly unsuitable for viticulture into an area of production of Protected Designation of Origin wines.

Delta di Vino

This year Delta Di Vino will kick off precisely by celebrating these historic origins. On May 1 at 4 p.m., the inaugural event “Divine Wines, Renaissance in Comacchio: The birth of Bosco Eliceo wines,” a talk led by Marisa Fontana, agronomist and oenologist, Annalisa Barison, agronomist and specialist in viticulture and oenology, sommelier taster and Ais (Italian Sommelier Association) speaker, Sante Baldini, Coop executive and Giulio Bellini, agronomist who will talk about the genesis and evolution of these unique wines.

The event is part of the “Festina Lente. IThe project, funded by the Ministry of Tourism, is aimed at the enhancement of municipalities with a tourist-cultural vocation in whose territories are located UNESCO World Heritage sites and municipalities belonging to the UNESCO Creative Cities Network. For the Ferrara area, funding was granted to the UNESCO site “Ferrara City of the Renaissance and its Po Delta.” Specifically involved are the municipalities of Ferrara, Comacchio and Ostellato.

The Manifattura dei Marinati will also feature an exhibition illustrating, through maps, photographs and archival materials, the transformation of the area from 1500 to the present day, with special attention to soil types and the peculiarities of local viticulture.

The 2025 Edition

Delta Di Vino will continue until Sunday, May 4, with a rich program featuring 60 Italian wineries with more than 120 labels. The beating heart of the event will be distributed in four “wine shops” set up in symbolic places of the city: the Antica Pescheria under the Trepponti, two areas in the cathedral forecourt and one inside the Manifattura.

The Italian Sommelier Association will offer four distinct sensory experiences: “Rosehip” dedicated to young wines, “Honeysuckle” for mature wines, “Lilac” for effervescent wines, and “Salicornia” to enhance local wines. In addition to Bosco Eliceo wines, the offer will include labels from Romagna, Bologna, Modena and Veneto.

Visitors will be able to choose between free tastings or experiences guided by professional sommeliers. All this will be accompanied by local “cicchetteria”: fritto misto, arrosticini, pizzette and other gastronomic specialties. There will also be a market area with typical products, a market of collecting and ingenuity, spaces dedicated to children and a cultural exhibition.

It will also be possible to visit the Ca Nova winery in Lido degli Scacchi, owner of a historic vineyard. Here, in addition to wine from the sands, local products will be offered.

Delta Di Vino thus confirms itself as not only a celebration of wine, but a true multi-sensory journey among “Colors, Scents and Flavors,” combining good wine, good food and culture.

Program:

The event will be open:

• Thursday, May 1, Friday, May 2 and Saturday, May 3 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
• Sunday, May 4 hours will be from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

In the cathedral forecourt from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., “Divine Music” will also be held with top musicians.

Useful Information:

For information contact 0533 81742 or visit www.deltadivino.it, https://www.ferrarainfo.com/it/festina-lente and www.ferraraterraeacqua.it