The grape berry is a natural treasure chest, with its pulp, skin, and seeds holding a delicate balance that, through sugar fermentation, transforms into wine. The skin and seeds concentrate color, aromas, and structure – elements invisible at first glance yet crucial to crafting exquisite wine. Similarly, a geode, a seemingly ordinary rock externally, reveals an astonishing interior rich with crystals, formed over time by profound, unseen processes. What unites these two phenomena is a hidden, yet deeply precious, richness. This potential, in the case of grapes, leads to the birth of wine; in a geode, to mineral formations of rare beauty. It is this concept of a hidden treasure and transformation that artist, designer, and creative director Sara Ricciardi has sensitively interpreted in the ‘RESONANCE’ project for Pasqua Vini.
Installed within the newly restored ‘Monastero’ space of Palazzo Maffei, the installation resembles a monumental, fractured geode, approximately four meters tall and in a wine-like hue. The fracture is a generative act: just as a grape, when pressed, releases its contents to begin the winemaking process, so the geode opens to reveal an internal landscape of light, reflections, and sound. New perspectives emerge from this fracture. By passing through this immersive sculpture, visitors enter the second space of the Monastero, symbolically stepping into the result of a collaboration: the encounter between Pasqua Vini and American winemaker Charles Smith. This dialogue between differing visions culminates in a new label, still concealed within opaque glass cases, set for official unveiling on Sunday, April 12th. ‘RESONANCE’ thus becomes a metaphor for resonance itself – an invisible force that arises when two identities converge not by diminishing, but by amplifying each other. Here, the fracture is not a separation, but an origin point, capable of fostering new projects and meanings. As Ricciardi herself explains, “I envisioned ‘RESONANCE’ as a living organism, capable of visually and symbolically reflecting what happens when two identities engage in a deep relationship. The rock opens, allows passage, and within that fissure, something unexpected and precious is born.”
Just as a new cuvée has been generated from the resonance between two winemakers – Pasqua Vini and Charles Smith – the dialogue between wine and art mirrors this dynamic: identities meet without canceling each other out, but by mutually amplifying. “We want to convey a message of quality through our wine, stimulating an open and emotional conversation around the values it represents,” shares Riccardo Pasqua, emphasizing how the dialogue between art and wine is a privileged tool today for awakening new sensibilities and narrative forms.
The installation will be accessible free of charge during Vinitaly 2026 at Palazzo Maffei (Vicolo Raggiri 11), upon registration on the pasqua.it website. For the occasion, the Museum also offers a reduced ticket price and the opportunity to taste some of the winery’s iconic labels, such as 11 Minutes rosé and Cecilia Beretta Valpolicella Superiore Mizzole. ‘RESONANCE’ is also part of the broader ‘Sips of Art. When fine wine meets art’ program, with which Pasqua Vini will animate Verona during Vinitaly 2026. Events include a floral installation at Officina Fiori, literary encounters at ’11 Minuti d’Arte’ at the GAM, guided tours of the Scavi Scaligeri with tastings, and masterclasses at the fair dedicated to great Italian and international wines. This program confirms the increasingly strong connection between wine and art that Pasqua Vini has passionately, dedicatedly, and foresightedly pursued for over a decade.
