Poderi Garona Boca

The Wine of Popes

The visit of the Patriarch of Venice, Cardinal Giuseppe Sarto, accompanied by the Bishop of Novara, Monsignor Eduardo Pulciano, dates back to 1900; during this pilgrimage it was offered to them by the young parish priest of Boca, Don Michele Merlino, of the local wine that was so appreciated as to make Monsignor Pulciano say “Eminence, this is really Cardinals wine“. The Patriarch replied: “Excellency, forgive me, but I am not of your opinion, this is not wine for Cardinals, but wine from Popes,” and this response was as joking as it was prophetic, given that on 4 August 1903 he was appointed Pope with name of Pius X.