Roots” is the key word behind the many events organized by the Umbria Region at Vinitaly 2025. And it was precisely the theme of roots that took center stage at a conference with an enotourism focus: “Roots Tourism, Stories of Italian Descendant Travelers,” organized by the Region in collaboration with the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.

The event also offered the chance to present Italea, the roots tourism promotion program launched by the Ministry as part of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR), and funded by NextGenerationEU.

As explained by Giovanni Maria De Vita, national coordinator of Italea, “the project is aimed at both those who already know their Italian origins and want to plan a trip to explore the places, traditions, and culture of their ancestors, and those who wish to uncover their Italian lineage, supported by a network of expert genealogists ready to guide them on this fascinating journey of discovery.”

De Vita emphasized that “Italea’s presence at Vinitaly is a valuable opportunity to create important synergies with one of Italy’s finest assets: wine. The memory of migration is important and should be honored—even through wine, a product that tells Italy’s story.”

Marina Gabrieli, national coordinator of the Italea program, added: “There are about 80 million people of Italian descent around the world—80 million potential travelers. We’re very pleased with the results we’ve achieved so far, especially with the work done by Italea Umbria. Our website has already reached 1.5 million visitors. Now we need to engage local communities and businesses to help them understand the value of the Italea project.”

Maria Elisa Giulietti, president of the association Radici Umbre, highlighted that “in Umbria, migration wasn’t as widespread as in other regions. It mainly involved specific areas in the Apennines, such as Gualdo Tadino, Gubbio, and nearby towns, with destinations in the Benelux, France, and mining areas. But we’re working on some truly interesting projects, like the one with the Chamber of Commerce in Nice, where the mayor has Umbrian roots—specifically from Gualdo Tadino.”

Finally, Simona Meloni, Umbria’s Regional Councillor for Agricultural and Tourism Policies, affirmed: “The theme of roots perfectly reflects the deep value of our winemaking heritage—an unbreakable bond with the land, the community, and the knowledge passed down through generations.”