January 29, 2025 - 0 comments
Vini Selvaggi
Sunday 9th and Monday 10th of March 2025
11h00 - 20h00 - San Paolo District, Rome, Italy.
Since its launch in 2019, Vini Selvaggi has carved out an exciting space in the natural wine world. Unlike larger conventional industry fairs backed by distributors or trade associations, this Rome-based event is fiercely independent, championing winemakers who might otherwise go unnoticed.
"We felt the need to organize an event that represented the 'new wave' of natural wine producers, independent from organizers with specific interests" says the fair’s founder Lorenzo. "We never aimed to invite the well-established 'superstars.' Instead, our research has always focused on the underground scene of truly natural wineries that weren’t yet recognized by enthusiasts."
Now in its latest edition, Vini Selvaggi 2025 is set to showcase over 100 wineries from Italy, France, Spain, Slovenia, Slovakia, Albania, Austria, and Germany, offering an unfiltered look at some of the most exciting, boundary-pushing wines in Europe. Vini Selvaggi approaches curation like an independent music festival, focusing on the story behind each winemaker rather than industry trends.
"We deeply respect every single winemaker at our events. We’re not interested in whether a wine is 'good' or 'bad' according to our personal taste—what matters is the integrity of the project", they explain. "For Vini Selvaggi, the agricultural aspect is fundamental for a wine to be truly natural", they say. "Over the years, we’ve rarely invited producers who weren’t also farmers."
Rather than favoring négociants or those simply marketing "natural" labels, the fair prioritizes growers who work the land themselves, embracing sustainable and minimal-intervention farming.
While natural wine has surged in popularity, some winemakers have taken a rigid, purist approach that often leads to unstable, flawed bottles. Vini Selvaggi isn’t afraid to challenge this mentality.
"We need to move past the 'zero-zero' ideology, which has done more harm than good", they argue. “Too much orthodoxy has led to undrinkable wines, failed businesses, and a bad image for the movement."
Instead, they support a balanced approach, citing pioneers like Josko Gravner, Paolo Bea, and Lino Maga, who have mastered the art of natural winemaking while still using minimal sulfur when necessary. "A good wine can still be natural even if it contains a small amount of sulfur as a preservative", they note.
One of the biggest shifts they’ve noticed is a renewed focus on terroir and authenticity, moving away from fleeting trends. "Many winemakers are returning to shorter macerations, harvesting at full ripeness—enough with underripe wines!—and moving away from making pet-nats just for the sake of it", they say. For them, the key to a sustainable natural wine movement is clear: "If you strip a wine of its territorial identity and its agricultural roots, it becomes just another beverage."
An ambitious edition
This year’s event, held at the San Paolo District, will be its most ambitious yet, expanding into a 2,500 sqm venue with dedicated areas for talks, tastings, and discussions on the future of natural wine. "In past years, right after COVID, we wanted to dance and celebrate—a liberating dance of hope and vitality. Now, it’s time to reflect on the challenges ahead." Despite the more reflective tone, the atmosphere remains lively and informal, with food vendors offering a diverse and inclusive dining experience just a five-minute walk from the metro.
Why Vini Selvaggi Matters?
For many winemakers, the biggest challenge remains farming without shortcuts while still producing wines that are both vibrant and technically sound. "Natural winemaking isn’t about improvisation—it requires study, experience, and the courage to discard what doesn’t work", the organizers stress.
Vini Selvaggi provides these producers with a vital platform, connecting them not only with Rome’s dynamic natural wine market but also with a global audience of enthusiasts and professionals. For those eager to discover the underground of natural wine, this fair is a rare opportunity to taste, learn, and connect with the winemakers shaping its future.