BRINDISI, APRIL 1, 2026 – Appia Wine Road is launched, an association bringing together seven wineries from the Brindisi and Salento area along the final stretch of the ancient Appian Way, recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Its members include Cantina Botrugno, Cantine Risveglio, Masseria Incantalupi, Masseria Masciullo, Tenute Bellamarina, Tenute Lu Spada, and Tenute Rubino—wineries with different histories and identities, united by the shared goal of developing a coordinated vision to promote wine, landscape, culture, and hospitality.
The association aims to become a reference point for territorial promotion through an integrated vision of wine tourism, connecting the activities of its member wineries with the area’s historical and cultural heritage. It is an initiative intended to contribute—through expertise and strategic planning—to the enhancement of the UNESCO site and its broader territorial context.
Among the objectives of Appia Wine Road are the organization of cultural events and public initiatives, the development of incoming activities for international buyers and operators, the promotion of environmental sustainability projects, collaboration with universities, organizations, and institutions, as well as participation in calls and funding programs.
At the core of the project lies a clear belief: today, wine tourism represents a strategic driver of economic and territorial development. It is not only about promoting wine, but about creating an experience that brings together history, identity, landscape, and quality of hospitality. In this perspective, the final stretch of the Appian Way—historically a gateway to the Mediterranean and the East—can become a contemporary itinerary where wine tells a new form of travel: slow, authentic, and immersive.
Brindisi, a maritime city with a millennia-old port and a crossroads of civilizations, has all the characteristics to establish itself as a leading wine tourism destination. In this territory, wine is not merely agricultural production, but the expression of a deep history that spans eras, cultures, and landscapes, now translated into a highly valuable production heritage. The development of a structured wine tourism system can also generate widespread benefits for the local economy—from hospitality to gastronomy, from tourism services to craftsmanship—contributing to the seasonal adjustment of visitor flows and the creation of new opportunities, especially for younger generations.
Among the association’s goals are the creation of a shared territorial brand, the development of common communication tools, and the strengthening of ties with the national network of Città del Vino, with the aim of relaunching Brindisi’s identity as a city of wine and Mediterranean culture.
Appia Wine Road thus positions itself as a territorial platform capable of attracting visitors, investments, and new projects, strengthening the relationship between wineries, local communities, and cultural heritage.
The official presentation of the association will take place on Thursday, April 9, 2026, at Bastione Carlo V, Via Bastioni San Giorgio 64 (Porta Mesagne) in Brindisi, open to institutions, industry professionals, and the media. A tasting of wines from the member wineries will follow.