Nicola is the Director and Co-founder of Etna Urban Winery, the first commercial-scale urban vineyard in Southern Italy. His journey into the world of wine began through a family endeavor to revive his ancestors’ historic winery, which had long been abandoned and now thrives on the outskirts of Catania, the largest metropolitan area in Sicily.

In addition to his role at Etna Urban Winery, Nicola also serves as Vice President of the Etna Wine Route and brings extensive experience as a management consultant—a profession he practiced full-time across Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East before transitioning into winemaking.

Éric Sureau is president of the Comité des Fêtes et d’Actions Sociales of the 18th arrondissement of Paris, the association responsible for managing the Clos Montmartre, the urban vineyard located in the heart of the district. He oversees all vineyard-related activities: maintenance, pruning, harvesting, winemaking, and distribution of the Cuvée du Clos Montmartre.
The Fête des Vendanges de Montmartre is now one of the major public events in the 18th arrondissement, supported by the city council and various local partners. Under Sureau’s presidency, the vineyard continues to be managed organically, and the proceeds from bottle sales are allocated to social projects benefiting the local community, particularly children and the elderly.

Renzo De Antonia has been president of the association Laguna nel bicchiere. Le vigne ritrovate since 2017, an organization dedicated to reviving the ancient vineyards of the Venetian Lagoon using traditional and natural farming methods.
With a solid background as Provincial President of CONI for 15 years, he brings extensive experience in association management. After the passing of founder Flavio Franceschet, he led the association toward a more collective leadership, strengthening ties with schools, cultural institutions, and local organizations. Under his leadership, the association expanded its active vineyards, improved the quality of its chemical-free wine made in the historic San Michele cellar, and launched projects in education, olive oil production, and sustainable food and wine tourism. He is also one of the founding members of the Urban Vineyards Association.

Olga is an expert in urban agriculture and food policy thanks to her collaboration with the municipality of Thessaloniki within the framework of the Food Trails Horizon 2020 project. As part of the Urban Vineyards Association, Olga represents the extraordinary initiative of Thessaloniki’s urban vineyard—an urban cultivation that has profoundly transformed the life of the local community.

Her passion for the environment and design led her to specialize in outdoor architecture and agricultural landscape planning, convinced that intelligent and sustainable design is the starting point of any good project.

An agronomist and oenologist, he studied at several universities in Catalonia (Polytechnic University of Catalonia, University of Lleida), Portugal (ISA Lisbon), and France (Montpellier SupAgro). Since 1996, he has been a worker-member of L’Olivera, a cooperative social inclusion project that produces high value-added wines and olive oils in both rural (Vall del Corb, Lleida) and peri-urban (Masia Can Calopa) settings. He is currently Head of Production and Vice President.

His professional career has developed entirely within L’Olivera, where he has been involved in various work areas, projects, and study visits across Europe. From L’Olivera, he coordinates the viticulture sector of the Costers del Segre Designation of Origin and sits on the boards of ADV Ecològica Terres de Ponent, the Catalan network of olive growers and oil producers (XOOC), and the Vall del Corb Association for Local Development. He lives with his family in the small village of Vallbona de les Monges.

Luca Balbiano is a third-generation winemaker from Piedmont. With a degree in law, he leads the family winery in Andezeno, known for promoting Freisa di Chieri and native grape varieties from the Turin hills.
He served for many years as president of the Consortium for the Protection of the Freisa di Chieri and Collina Torinese DOC, playing a key role in revitalizing the denomination. He led the revival of Vigna della Regina in Turin—the only urban vineyard in Italy producing a Freisa di Chieri DOC Superiore—bringing back to life a historic and scenic heritage site in the city. Founder and first president of the Urban Vineyards Association, he now serves as its honorary president. In 2022, he founded Citiculture, an innovative startup that creates corporate vineyards in urban settings, generating and reporting ESG impacts linked to environmental sustainability, social cohesion, and landscape regeneration.

Maurizia Pasini originally from Brescia, she has worked across architecture, the automotive sector, and public service before dedicating herself to wine. Since 1987, alongside her partner Roberto Tanghetti, she has restored and managed Villa Badia Piccola, overseeing all stages of production, distribution, and promotion for their label, Medusa.

Fabio Attorre is Professor of Environmental and Applied Botany at Sapienza University of Rome and Director of the city’s Botanical Garden. An expert in biodiversity conservation and sustainable development, he has led projects on landscape management, urban greening, and farming. Author of over 180 publications, he also coordinates an international summer school promoting agro-biodiversity and sustainable urban agriculture.

Eduardo Luis Tuite began his career in international tourism, founding Signature, a boutique travel company. In 2010, he returned to his agricultural roots and launched Bodega Gamboa in Campana, 65 km from Buenos Aires, with a 10-hectare vineyard. As general manager, he leads winemaking, wine tourism, and the “Mi Finca” program, where others craft their own wine. In 2023, Gamboa’s Pinot Noir 2022 earned 94 points from Tim Atkin—the highest ever for a Buenos Aires winery. Eduardo also spearheads forward-thinking projects such as Buenos Aires’ first urban vineyard, reinforcing his vision of blending tradition with innovation in Argentina’s evolving wine culture.

Justin Tiller became General Manager of Patritti Wines in 2020, the first in the company’s history from outside the founding family. With a degree in Agricultural Science and a Graduate Diploma in Viticulture from the University of Adelaide, he brings over twenty years of experience in agriculture and winemaking.

He has taken part in numerous harvests across Australia and Canada, gaining expertise in both warm- and cool-climate wine production. Drawn by Patritti’s history and values, he now leads the winery with a hands-on approach and a vision that balances innovation with respect for tradition.

Brenda Frazier is the Executive Director of The Vineyards and Winery at Château Hough, Cleveland’s flagship urban vineyard. With nearly 40 years of experience in social work and the nonprofit sector, she was involved from the project’s inception in 2010, launched with her late husband Mansfield Frazier to transform abandoned lots in the Hough neighborhood into spaces for reintegration and second chances for formerly incarcerated individuals.

Since 2019, she has overseen the winery’s operations—now a nonprofit organization—with a focus on social justice, job training, and urban revitalization. The project combines quality wine production with a deep commitment to equity, sustainability, and community empowerment.

Gloria Mayr is a seventh-generation winemaker at Nusserhof, a historic urban vineyard located in the heart of Bolzano, South Tyrol. The Mayr family has lived on and cultivated this land since 1788. Gloria brings a wealth of international experience, having trained in some of the most renowned wine regions in Europe, including Tuscany, Burgundy, Bordeaux, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, and Germany’s Pfalz.
Following her father Heinrich’s pioneering work—who began bottling wines under the Nusserhof name in 1988—Gloria now oversees the entire winemaking process. From vineyard management to natural winemaking and direct-to-consumer wine marketing, she embodies the Italian concept of tuttofare, a true all-rounder. Her passion lies in producing organic, low-intervention wines that reflect the character of their unique urban terroir.

David Bérard is the President of Les Compagnons des Côtes du Rhône, an association made up of volunteers – including wine professionals, students, and enthusiasts – dedicated to promoting Côtes‑du‑Rhône wines through popular, cultural, and community-driven events.

A journalist and host for France Bleu Vaucluse, he covers agriculture and terroir daily in the segment “Terres de Vaucluse”. He is also the head of Happening‑Sud, a company he founded 20 years ago to produce conferences, corporate seminars, podcasts, and TV sets for clients such as CNR and the Ministère des Armées.

Paolo Corbini is the General Director of the National Association “Città del Vino,” founded in Siena in 1987. Under his leadership, the organization—now representing over 500 member municipalities—actively promotes Italian wine nationwide, with a strong focus on sustainability and wine tourism. He has played a key role in the revival of Siena’s wine scene, relaunching major events and initiatives such as the historic Medicean Fortress and the International Wine Competition.
Among his most notable projects is Senarum Vinea, which revives around 40 ancient native grape varieties from Siena, originally cultivated in urban gardens and monastic orchards, preserving a viticultural heritage rooted in the city’s medieval history.

Alessandro Cotroneo a été pendant de nombreuses années président de la Vigna di Leonardo, le vignoble urbain historique situé au cœur de Milan, restauré en 2007 dans le complexe de la Casa Atellani, sur la parcelle d’origine offerte à Léonard de Vinci par Ludovico le More.

Sous sa direction, le projet est devenu un symbole de régénération urbaine, de mémoire historique et de durabilité culturelle, avec des vendanges symboliques destinées à des actions caritatives. Aujourd’hui, à la suite d’un changement de gestion, le vignoble n’est plus dirigé par Cotroneo et est actuellement fermé au public.

Alessandro Marzotto is the General Manager of Cà Maiol, the historic estate in Desenzano del Garda that joined the Santa Margherita Wine Group six years ago. Under his leadership, the winery has undergone a comprehensive transformation: sustainable management of 110 hectares of vineyards, with a focus on soil microflora and the elimination of chemical treatments; a fully renovated cellar featuring gravity-flow winemaking to enhance each vineyard’s unique character; and a complete redesign of the packaging, with lighter bottles and a refined, territory-driven identity aimed at a new generation of international wine lovers.
His vision is summed up in the concept of “(R)Evolution”: a holistic approach combining sustainability, innovation, and local heritage to position Cà Maiol as a key player in the Lugana and Valtènesi wine regions.

Alessio Planeta, CEO and Technical Director of Planeta wineries, is a prominent figure in Italian winemaking. Born in Menfi (AG) on October 18, 2023, he was named “Winemaker of the Year” at the 24th Wine Star Awards, bringing Italy back to the top after sixteen years.

In addition to his role in the family business, Planeta is also Vice President of the Consorzio di Tutela Vini Doc Sicilia, which manages the Vigna del Gallo in Palermo’s Botanical Garden. His dedication and commitment have significantly contributed to the recognition and promotion of Sicilian wines internationally.

Gérard Truchet is one of the most vibrant ambassadors of Lyon’s popular culture. Born in Lyon in 1951, he is a puppeteer, chansonnier, operetta actor, and has served as president of the Friends of Lyon and Guignol association since 1986.

Creator of the character père Craquelin, he blends tradition and humor to bring the city’s history to life. For over twenty years, he has taught parler lyonnais to hundreds of people each month, helping preserve the region’s linguistic heritage. His work has earned him numerous honors, including the Ordre des Palmes Académiques.

Mariateresa Buttigliengo is a well-established professional with a long career in senior roles at leading companies, and a deep passion for art, culture, and historical heritage. In 2015, she was invited to take part in a fundraising initiative for the restoration of the Belvedere Nord at Villa della Regina.

Struck by the beauty and cultural value of the site, she chose to become actively involved by joining the Amici di Villa della Regina Association, where she now serves as President. In this role, she promotes cultural events, conservation efforts, and heritage projects aimed at preserving and enhancing the historic splendor of this UNESCO World Heritage site.

At the beginning of the 1800s, brothers Alessandro and Pietro Moroni commissioned architect Giacomo Bianconi, a student of Piermarini, to transform the ancient Villa Moroni into a neoclassical palace, following the fashion of the time. Bianconi chose the Royal Palace of Monza as a model, giving the existing structure its current neoclassical appearance and integrating all the rustic buildings of the estate into a unified architectural whole.

Maria Fittipaldi Menarini is the founder and manager, along with her four daughters, of the winery Donne Fittipaldi, active since 2004 in Bolgheri. She combines elegance, entrepreneurial vision, and environmental commitment, with a strong focus on sustainability, biodiversity, and native grape varieties. She also launched the Vigna di Michelangelo, the first modern urban vineyard in Florence, located near the iconic Piazzale Michelangelo, where historic Tuscan varieties such as Sangiovese, Canaiolo, Foglia Tonda, Pugnitello, and Colorino are grown.

Her standout wines include Malaroja, Magnetic, and Lady F, reflecting a fully female-led project that values the connection between land, culture, and innovation. She was listed among Forbes Italia’s “100 Women of Success 2024.”

Emma Lundie is a social entrepreneur and has been Operations Manager at Forty Hall Vineyard since 2019. She oversees the day-to-day running of London’s only commercial-scale vineyard, integrating wine production with broader initiatives focused on sustainability, urban regeneration, and access to seasonal, locally sourced food in the Enfield area.

Under her leadership, the vineyard has grown into a socially driven project grounded in organic farming, inclusion, and strong community engagement. Emma also organizes public events and gatherings—mostly held at Forty Hall Farm, the vineyard’s home—bringing together people, nature, good wine, and culture in a unique setting at the heart of the British capital.

Ken York is the founder of Hollywood Classic Wine, a boutique vineyard established in 2001 in the Hollywood Hills, near the iconic Hollywood Sign. A medical doctor by profession, he transformed a 40-acre property into a sustainable winemaking project focused on handcrafted Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Malbec, cultivated on steep slopes with low yields and innovative techniques.

With a limited production of around 100 cases per year, York offers exclusive wines that capture the distinctive character of the Los Angeles terroir, blending scientific precision, environmental respect, and a passion for winemaking excellence.

Carlos López is an Associate Professor at ISA (Instituto Superior de Agronomia), University of Lisbon, where he oversees the management of the Tapada de Ajuda vineyard, used for teaching, training, and research in viticulture.

An expert in precision viticulture, sustainability, and water resource management, he supervises applied research projects and graduate theses focused on innovative monitoring techniques and grape quality. Thanks in part to his work, the vineyard has become a key hub for agronomic education in Portugal.

Marcos Ritter de Gregorio holds a degree in Architecture and a Master’s in Civil Construction Technology. He worked for over 20 years as a designer and builder and taught at university level for 12 years. Since 2020, he has been fully dedicated to Vinhedo Lacustre, Brazil’s first urban vineyard, pursuing the dream started by his father, who planted the first vines a decade earlier.

Under his leadership, the project has combined technical expertise, family vision, and a passion for the land, quickly becoming a reference point for wine tourism and urban viticulture in the Brazilian capital.

Ron and Miriam Eichorn, a filmmaker and a painter, entered the world of wine a few years ago after purchasing a vineyard. What began as a simple experiment soon turned into a true passion.

Fascinated by life among the vines and the work in the cellar, they chose to produce natural wines with minimal intervention, personally overseeing every stage—from pruning to harvest to bottling. Their approach balances simplicity and refinement, yet their wines also reflect the complexity of the terroir and the character of each vintage. If their wines were actors, they say, they’d be like Sophia Loren or Philippe Noiret: intense, elegant, never ordinary.

Geoff Pryor is the founder of Studley Park Vineyard, a small urban vineyard located on the banks of the Yarra River near Melbourne. A former patent attorney now retired, he launched the project in 1994, driven by a long-standing passion for wine—particularly Cabernet Sauvignon.

On his half-hectare vineyard, he practices sustainable, low-yield farming with hand harvesting and a strong focus on varietal purity: he produces single-vineyard, 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, with no blending. Production is intentionally limited to around 100 cases per year, sold mainly through mailing lists and direct channels.