In 2024, the site “The Vineyard Landscapes of Piedmont: Langhe-Roero and Monferrato” celebrated the tenth anniversary of its inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List. On this occasion, the Association commissioned Formules S.r.l. to carry out an independent study to evaluate the effects of this recognition over time.
The survey covered 200 municipalities (101 within the site and 99 adjacent) and used multiple tools:
-
512 online questionnaires addressed to 10 categories of stakeholders (administrators, tourism operators, wine producers, real estate agents, etc.);
-
2 focus groups with 25 participants to gather opinions and suggestions;
-
Statistical analyses of social, economic and media data (time series 2011–2023).
The study highlights how the UNESCO designation has helped increase international tourism, expand the cultural offer and enhance the prestige of local products. The real estate and land markets have also shown greater dynamism and attracted more interest from external investors.
Alongside these positive results, however, some challenges have emerged: depopulation of villages, infrastructure gaps, difficulties in coordinating public bodies and private operators, and only partial awareness of the site’s true value among residents and stakeholders.
The UNESCO recognition remains an opportunity to be nurtured. Greater networks of collaboration are needed, along with training for administrators and younger generations, and a richer and more sustainable cultural offer capable of complementing food and wine with new ways of experiencing the landscape.
Download
