Italy’s Prosecco hills are now a Unesco World Heritage site

After over a decade of hoping on Italy’s part, its Prosecco region in north-eastern Veneto has finally been added to the Unesco World Heritage list.

Located in north-eastern Italy, the area takes in the hills of Conegliano and Valdobbiadene, where grapes for the sparkling wine have been cultivated for centuries. The hills stretch for 30km, and the news that they have been added to the list was given at this year’s session of the World Heritage Committee in Baku. Le Colline del Prosecco di Conegliano e Valdobbiadene is Italy’s 55th World Heritage site, and it forms part of the vine-growing landscape of the Prosecco wine production area, which is spread over nine provinces in Italy’s north-east.

The Prosecco produced around Conegliano and Valdobbiadene is thought to have a particularly flavoursome taste, thanks to the complex geology of the area. In its citation, Unesco explained that the landscape is characterised by ‘hogback’ hills, ciglioni – small plots of vines on narrow grassy terraces – forests, small villages and farmland. “For centuries, this rugged terrain has been shaped and adapted by man,” it said. “Since the 17th century, the use of ciglioni has created a particular chequerboard landscape consisting of rows of vines parallel and vertical to the slopes. In the 19th century, the bellussera technique of training the vines contributed to the aesthetic characteristics of the landscape.”

There are now a total of 1121 Unesco World Heritage sites worldwide. They are landmarks or areas chosen as having cultural, historical, scientific or other form of significance and are legally protected by international treaties. The full list can be seen here.

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