From 6 to 10 July 2026, Montalcino once again becomes the avant‑garde laboratory of Sangiovese with the ninth edition of the Sanguis Jovis Summer School, the Advanced Training School of the Banfi Foundation. Twenty participants, selected among students (graduated no more than 18 months ago) and professionals, will take part in an intensive program of lectures, seminars, tastings, exercises and visits, guided by more than twenty instructors.
The theme chosen by professors Attilio Scienza and Alberto Mattiacci, “Artificial: when the hand of man improves nature”, explores the relationship between human knowledge, technique and transformation, at a time when artificial intelligence dominates public debate. The course will be held at O.C.R.A. Officina Creativa dell’Abitare and offers scholarships for students and financial support for professionals. Applications are open until 16 June 2026.
A timely theme: the artificial as the human way of inhabiting nature
The 2026 Summer School begins with a reflection that goes beyond technology. The term “artificial,” often associated today with the digital world, holds a broader and more ancient meaning. It refers to humanity’s ability to understand nature and intervene with intelligence, technique and sensitivity. In this perspective, the artificial is not the opposite of the natural. Rather, it is the way humans interpret, support and, when necessary, correct what nature provides.
Wine is the perfect example. The vine grows, but wine exists only thanks to human knowledge. It is a natural product and, at the same time, profoundly artificial. From this idea comes the educational path of the Summer School: an exploration of the fertile boundary between tradition and innovation, between human intelligence and artificial intelligence, between what nature creates and what humans transform into art.
A unique educational experiment: the Bauhaus of wine in Montalcino
The Sanguis Jovis Summer School is a format with no equivalent in the international wine world. Inspired by the principles of the Bauhaus, it brings together more than forty people — scholars, students and professionals — in an environment where teachers and learners share roles, functions and responsibilities. The goal is to build new knowledge that becomes new know‑how, capable of interpreting the wine world of the 21st century.
Sanguis Jovis: the study center shaping the new leadership of Sangiovese
Founded in 2017 by the Banfi Foundation, Sanguis Jovis is the first permanent Study Center dedicated to Sangiovese. Its mission is clear: conduct research, spread knowledge and train the professionals of the future. Over eight editions, the center has produced six scientific volumes and developed a continuous program of in‑depth study on Italy’s most widely planted red grape variety.
