Italian War and Wine: Mussolini's Influence

After WW1, the Italian wine-making industry had a bad reputation for poor quality and heavy consumption, but when Mussolini and his regime came to power, he effectively reinvented the reputation and identity of Italian wine production with a marketing campaign aimed at renewing nationalistic pride and the uniqueness of high-quality Italian wines. Mussolini knew that there was power in the Italian wine-making tradition and wanted to use that to bring his citizens together under a fascist government that was center stage during WW2. We will take a walk through Italian wine history while tasting wines from Sicily, Chianti, Abruzzo and Piedmont while discussing Mussolini’s rise to power (and ultimate demise) and his influences on wine as a symbol of Italian unity, heritage and nationalistic pride. An assortment of noshes will be served during class.

Learn more about Christophe Bakunas here.

You must be 21 or over to attend. Please present valid ID at the time of check-in.

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