The culture of the vine, winemaking and viticultural landscapes have been an important part of European and Mediterranean food culture, since the domestication of the vine, in the 4th millennium BC.
Its evolution and spread has been considered a great human achievement, which shaped Europe’s landscapes, both in terms of its territory and its people.
Council of Europe values
Wine production has always been a European symbol of identity. The technical knowledge, which underlies this production, has greatly contributed over the centuries to the construction of a European citizenship, common to the regions and peoples, and of national identities. Several countries of the Mediterranean region share the same common denominator: their cultural landscape. One of the main aims of the route is to safeguard wine biodiversity, highlighting its uniqueness in a globalised world.
Iter Vitis Route is certified Cultural Route of the Council of Europe since 2009.