Chianti soon to be registered with UNESCO

       Wine has shared the life of men in the Mediterranean for more than two millennia now. If we attribute to Leonardo da Vinci the following quote: "I believe that happiness comes to men who are born where the good wine is found", it is because even one of the greatest geniuses of our time has seen the importance of this beverage for man. Italian and in love with France, where he will end his days, he understood that these two countries share a rich and complex history with wine, which continues today to highlight our respective heritages. It is in the interest of preserving such a heritage that UNESCO set up its World Heritage preservation program in 1972. In Italy, many are those who walk the famous wine route in Tuscany, of which the wines of Chianti are a part. Rich in its history, the Chianti region unveiled last year to be a candidate for UNESCO heritage classification.

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       In order to understand the viticultural context, it is necessary to analyze its relationship with the world heritage. The World Heritage Convention contributes to the safeguarding of natural and cultural sites around the world with the aim of passing them on to future generations. Created on November 16, 1972, it has a total of 194 member countries within it, including 167 with at least one registered site. In addition, it has a list which identifies all the sites belonging to the world heritage with 1154 registered properties, including 897 cultural, 218 natural and 39 mixed properties distributed in 194 member countries. States Parties are required to take care of the monuments on their territory as well as to protect those whose countries do not have the means to do so. This therefore creates mutual cooperation between States with a view to preserving sites of unique and exceptional value for humanity; we even speak of “heritage of humanity”.

       In addition, the World Heritage Committee plays its monitoring role by asking States Parties to report on the state of conservation of their sites, which allows it to be aware of the situation in each of the sites of the UNESCO and to solve any problems that the States might encounter. The signing of the Convention commits the States Parties to take care of their national heritage (conservation and protection), in return for payment. Indeed, the Committee undertakes to pay several million euros each year to member countries with a view to preserving cultural and natural sites.

       Through the preservation and protection of the world's natural and cultural sites, there is a common commitment by States Parties to leave a legacy for future generations. The notion of transmission is deeply rooted in UNESCO and is part of its main purpose. Indeed, all its actions point towards the same goal: to transmit the past to current and future generations.