SALVATERRA PRESENTS 'LOVERS' GAMBIT'

As a national preview at Vinitaly 2026 (Verona, 12–15 April), Salvaterra presents Lovers' Gambit , a new collection of wines that combines storytelling and tradition: each bottle represents a chapter in a story set in fifteenth-century Valpolicella.

The Salvaterra Estates, located in San Pietro in Cariano, are enclosed within ancient medieval walls. Here, the Giona family, of Germanic origin, settled in Verona six centuries ago and invested part of their capital in Valpolicella, near the ancient village of Castelrotto. They initially built a hunting lodge and holiday retreat, which over time was transformed into a prestigious country villa surrounded by vineyards, olive groves, Italian and English gardens, and greenhouses housing exotic species, citrus trees from southern Italy, and numerous varieties of flowers.

Over the centuries, the estate also became a center of culture and patronage, welcoming artists, writers, and leading figures in Italian intellectual life.

A wine that becomes a story

The Lovers' Gambit line was born from an original idea: to transform the restyling of the Salvaterra range into a narrative. Each label represents a chapter in a story set between 1450 and 1500.

The protagonist is a young noblewoman promised in marriage, against her will, to a much older man. Fleeing her fate, she unknowingly crosses the Giona family's estate.

During her journey, she meets several family members, who offer her shelter, food, and wine from the estate. Between knights interested in her dowry and dangers along the way, the young woman repeatedly manages to escape through cunning, sometimes using wine to confuse her pursuers.

Fate changes when, among the vineyards enclosed by the walls of the Tenute, she meets Rivaldo, son of the Giona family, busy with the grape harvest. An instant love blossoms between the two. Rivaldo hides her in the estate's aging cellars, where their love grows away from the world's eyes.

When the family matron, Serafina, discovers their secret, she recognizes the sincerity of their love and decides to bless their union. The wedding will be celebrated with the participation of the family and the entire village of Castelrotto.

Wines that bring tradition back to life

The line also recovers some ancient winemaking traditions of Valpolicella, bringing back to light almost forgotten wines:

· Riposto – inspired by the “tithe” that the owner recognized to the farmers, produced with grapes from the estate’s fields and vinified for the Christmas celebrations.

· Corvina Spumante – obtained by pressing the grapes as soon as they turned red at the end of August, which produced a slightly sparkling wine, ideal for supporting work in the fields.

Preview at Vinitaly 2026

The Lovers' Gambit project will be presented as a national preview at Vinitaly 2026 at the Veraison stand HALL 7 Stand 10, scheduled for April 12 to 15 in Verona, where operators, journalists and enthusiasts will be able to taste a collection that combines storytelling, territory and tradition.

The estate today

Today, Salvaterra opens its doors to visitors Monday through Saturday, offering an immersive experience in the history of Valpolicella, in a place where time seems to have stood still.