A UNESCO world heritage site

The vineyards and landscapes of this stunning part of Italy gained inclusion on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2014. 

The designation is more than a label. It is a long-overdue, international recognition of the hard work, craftsmanship and dedication to traditional values and ways of working that generations of farmers and wine producers have followed, helping to shape this area of outstanding natural beauty and preserve its way of life for future generations. 

UNESCO designation

Specifically, the inclusion was achieved as a record of “an exceptional recognition to the historical tradition of grape growing, winemaking processes, a rural economy and a social context based on the culture of wine”.  

This UNESCO landscape is located in the southern part of Piedmont, between the Po River and the Ligurian Apennines, and encompasses the whole range of technical and economic processes relating to the wine-growing and winemaking that has characterised the region for centuries. Its history can be traced back to the Roman Empire, where Piemonte was highly regarded as a region most favoured for growing vines in Italy. 

As well as the act of wine making, centuries of its traditions have made a permanent and unique mark on the rolling hills of Piedmont. The vineyard landscapes of Langhe, Roero and Monferrato offer panoramas of carefully cultivated hillsides, following ancient land divisions punctuated with buildings that lend structure and practical purpose to the landscape: castles, hilltop villages, churches and farms punctuate the views from all angles with their distinctive silhouettes. You really could be nowhere else other than Piedmont. 

The benefits of UNESCO to Piemonte

With the UNESCO recognition comes considerable benefits for the area and Piedmont as a whole. The international recognition that such an accreditation can bring is expected to drive up to a 30% rise in tourism in the five years since being awarded in 2014, ignoring the impacts of Covid-19 since 2020, sadly. But, this is still encouraging for local businesses; not just the vineyards, hotels and B&Bs who will be the primary winners of this increase, but local shops, restaurants and tourism-centric services will all benefit from the boost in footfall to the region. 

Despite the impact of Covid-19 lockdowns from March 2020 until May 2022, the region so far has seemed to bounce back remarkably well. Whilst hotels and other accommodation took time to build momentum, the summer months brought back the expected high occupancies and also the many summer events at countless villages across the region saw a boost in attendance.

The primary benefit is that the landscape across the region is now protected like never before. Italy has committed some terrible architectural crimes during the 70s and 80s and the UNESCO focus now means that such large scale, uncontrolled building of questionable designs is certainly curtailed, if not stopped altogether.