With an area of just over 200 square feet and an annual yield of 29 bottles of wine, Via Mari 10 is known as the smallest vineyard in the world.
Located on the rooftop of a 16th-century castle in the heart of Reggio Emilia, Via Mari 10 – named after its street address – is not your typical vineyard, as many might assume. Not only is it incredibly small, but the vineyard also produces a modest amount of wine. However, the most remarkable aspect of Via Mari 10 wine is that visitors are advised not to drink it.
The reason for this advice is simple: the astronomical price of a single bottle of wine. The owner views the 29 bottles produced annually as works of art, meant for collection and admiration rather than consumption. Consequently, the price of a single bottle can reach around $5,000 (approximately 117.7 million VND).
The smallest vineyard in the world located on the rooftop of a castle.
“My wine is a form of artistic expression, a philosophical provocation, something to keep in your living room so you can talk about it with friends and tell them about the crazy owner who planted a vineyard on a rooftop,” Tulio Masoni, the owner of Via Mari 10, shared with the press. “If you see a bicycle in the living room instead of a repair shop, you will realize how beautiful it is. My vineyard is like that: Surprising; stimulating the brain; evoking new ideas.”
Masoni has established several other special vineyards after selling the rural vineyard he inherited from his father. At that time, he thought running a vineyard wouldn’t make much financial sense, but later he regretted that decision. Therefore, he decided to start his own mini vineyard on the rooftop of the medieval palace he owns.
Many local sources indicate that the Sangiovese vines in the special Via Mari 10 vineyard are nourished with eggs, bananas, seaweed, and nightingale droppings. The vineyard owner, Tulio Masoni, also claims that the urban noise is another advantage that the vineyard has over rural vines.
“I must be the only winemaker in the world who advises guests not to drink the wine,” Masoni said. He added that each bottle of wine is a work of art designed for admiration rather than drinking.
The expensive wine product.
Even for those willing to spend money on these bottles, the purchasing process is not straightforward. Customers cannot buy Via Mari 10 wine at regular liquor stores or even at the vineyard itself. Instead, they are distributed through the local Bonioni art gallery at a price of $5,000 per bottle. Although this price may seem excessively high for a bottle of wine, if customers view it as a collectible work of art, the price is considered reasonable.
A corner of Masoni’s special vineyard.
According to the Bonioni gallery, there are always 10 bottles of Via Mari 10 available, ranging from a few decades old to the most recent releases, even though the product is said to sell out every year. However, vineyard owner Masoni shares that not all of them are sold. Many of these bottles are given as gifts to their loyal customers by the gallery.
Although it sells out every year, Via Mari 10 wine is sometimes used as a luxurious gift instead of being sold on the mass market.
The high price tag has sparked curiosity about the taste of this exclusive wine. Masoni describes it as follows: “From the first sip, you will feel confused, but after a few seconds, something will come alive in your mouth, filling you with new ideas.” However, with the current high price of the product, not everyone may have the opportunity to experience what Masoni describes.
