CANTINE PAOLOLEO OPENS ITS DOORS TO YOUNG PEOPLE: THE "LITTLE ENOLOGIST" AND "THE YOUNG ENOLOGIST" WORKSHOPS ARE BORN

The ancient Eastern principle attributed to Confucius inspires the educational activities of Cantine Paololeo, which welcomes students of all ages from June to September, transforming the vineyard and cellar into an open-air laboratory. This led to the creation of "The Little Winemaker" and "The Young Winemaker," two programs that combine education, hands-on skills, and local culture to guide children and young people in their discovery of the world of wine.

The idea stems from a simple principle: learning by doing. The journey for the Little Enologists (preschool and elementary school students) and Young Enologists (middle school, high school, and university students) begins in the vineyard, where students experience the natural cycle of the vine by following seasonal activities: from harvesting to cutting the grapes, from pruning to harvesting the leaves. It is here that the youngest students begin to discover the value of patience and care, learning that every transformation requires time and attention. The journey continues in the cellar, where the preschool and elementary school students, guided by technicians, crush the grapes, observe the juice, and transfer it to flasks with pipettes for a simplified analysis of the fermentation process. Upon completion, they receive the Little Enologist badge .

For older students, the program explores the stages of winemaking, the aromas of wine, and the technical skills of the profession; some sessions can also be taught in English for advanced classes. This program also concludes with the awarding of the Young Oenologist badge .

To complete the experience, two creative workshops that focus on Apulian traditions: the Tarallini dell'Enologo , a cooking workshop for kneading and cooking typical wine tarallini, and the Enoic Painter , led by wine artist Arianna Greco, who guides children and young people in painting with wine among the barrels, transforming the must into color.

" These projects were born from the desire to teach children the value of time and to convey to new generations the profound connection between nature, work, and tradition ," explains Monica Lo Piccolo, Hospitality Manager at Cantine Paololeo. " Through play, observation, and curiosity, we want to foster an authentic relationship with our land. A crushed grape or a laboratory experiment can spark a passion destined to last over time ."

With these activities, Cantine Paololeo strengthens its commitment to food education , to the valorization of the territory and to the development of wine tourism in Puglia , involving the new generations in a story that combines knowledge, craftsmanship and tradition.