COSTARIPA AND ELEVA PRESENT THE AICCA AWARD DEDICATED TO THE MEMORY OF CHRISTIAN BARNARD FOR RESEARCH INTO CONGENITAL HEART DISEASE

A genuine friendship, a shared vision, the desire to give back. It is from these premises that the AICCA Award was born, jointly established by the Costaripa and Eleva wineries, dedicated to The great cardiac surgeon Christiaan Barnard , the first to perform a heart transplant in the history of medicine, was honored. The first edition of the award, aimed at doctors under 35, took place on July 12, 2025 , at the Eleva headquarters and was presented to Dr. Giulia Guglielmi , who distinguished herself for the best scientific production in the field of congenital heart disease .

The AICCA Award is also the fruit of a profound human bond, born from the meeting of Mattia Vezzola , Raffaella Veroli, Davide Gaeta , souls of Costaripa and Eleva , and Alessandro Giamberti, Head of Congenital Heart Surgery at the Policlinico IRCCS San Donato and Professor of Cardiac Surgery at the Vita-Salute San Raffaele University. With similar sensibilities and visions, they have created a project that reflects the history and commitment of these two organizations. Four seemingly distant figures, yet connected and marked by their encounter with the luminary of global cardiac surgery.

“ Knowing Christiaan Barnard was a rare privilege. He was an extraordinary scientist, but also a person of profound humanity, capable of seeing medicine not only as a technical skill, but also as care, listening, and respect for life, ” says Mattia Vezzola, owner and winemaker of Costaripa. “ A sincere mutual respect was born between us, fueled by shared visions: the value of research, individual responsibility, and balance. This award was also created to honor that vision and to send a concrete message: today more than ever we need to support those who care for others. Wine, when made with respect, has the same root: to preserve, to give value, to make one feel good. The AICCA Award It's our way of continuing, in our own small way, on the path of research. "

“ Eleva is a small but beautiful company in Valpolicella that is committed every day to the research and production of high-quality organic wines while respecting health and the environment, ” says Raffaela Veroli, Eleva's winemaker. “ This is why we are honored to be part of this important initiative, together with Mattia and Professor Giamberti .”

A concrete recognition, a check for 1,000 euros for participation in a medical conference of one's choice within 12 months , accompanied by a magnum of the symbolic “Christiaan Barnard Foundation 2000 vintage” wine born from the bond between Professor Barnard and Mattia Vezzola.

Just so you know, this wine has been renamed Campostarne since 2001 and is intended to represent the continuity of a project that supports a philosophy as simple as: "two glasses of red wine a day help your heart feel better."

The Award is named after AICCA – the Italian Association of Congenital Heart Patients in Children and Adults, the largest Italian patient-led association . The recognition, awarded by a jury composed of Alessandro Giamberti (cardiac surgeon), Massimo Chessa (cardiologist), Marco Ranucci (anesthesiologist-resuscitator), and Giovanna Campioni (AICCA General Director), according to strict criteria established by the commission, responds to the growing complexity of accessing care for patients and the decline in organ donations.

Barnard, who performed the first heart transplant in December 1967, seemed like the ideal person to honor with a Congenital Heart Disease Award. Giovanna Campioni of AICCA, along with Mattia Vezzola and Alessandro Giamberti, will present the award during an evening celebrating science and solidarity.

It's no coincidence that two prestigious wineries with a long history of viticulture have chosen to support an award dedicated to heart health: in his book, the renowned South African cardiologist emphasized how wine, when consumed in moderation and with awareness, can contribute to cardiovascular health. A thought that today, amidst scientific research and the culture of good living, sounds more relevant than ever.