Mandrarossa Literary Award '25 Announces Finalists, Award Ceremony June 28 in Agrigento

The finalist titles of the first edition of the Mandrarossa Literary Prize – La Sicilia che non ti aspetti, an initiative that celebrates the meeting between wine art and literature, promoted by the Mandrarossa winery of Menfi (Agrigento), were announced today. The Prize was created with the aim of enhancing the fundamental role of independent bookstores, points of reference for the diffusion of culture in our country. Independent bookstores were responsible for proposing the candidate books in the initial phase of the Prize. The bookstores of the cities that, from 2015 to today, have held the title of Capital of Culture, including the finalists for 2025, in addition to Rome, Milan and Naples, participated.

The selection of the finalist works was entrusted to a technical jury chaired by Aldo Cazzullo and composed of Franco Cardini, Neria De Giovanni, Eleonora Lombardo, Carlo Alberto Moretti, Christian Rocca and Nadia Terranova. The jurors identified the titles that will compete for victory in the various categories of the Award.

The finalists for the Mandrarossa Narrative Award are Story of my life by Janeck Gorczyca, Sellerio; Primmammore by Titti Marrone, Feltrinelli; The Corredo by Patrizia Rinaldi, Piemme; Inventory of what remains when the house burns by Michele Ruol, Terrarossa; Iris, freedom by Walter Veltroni, Rizzoli. For the Cartagho – Historical novel section, they are The memory of a dream by Rosy Braidotti, Rizzoli; The Conspiracy of the Cenci by Simona Teodori, Newton Compton; The Midwife of Nagyrév by Sabrina Zuccato, Marsilio. For the Bertolino Soprano – Fable section, they are: Fireflies, little sharks and a little pasta by Donatella Di Pietrantonio, Salani; The truth is a losing coin by Beatrice Monroy, Zolfo publisher; She was a mermaid by Alice Rohrwacher and Lida Ziruffo, Mondadori Ragazzi. (continued)

Finalist books and sections dedicated to this union between wine and culture

For the Cava di Serpe – Giallo section there are It was the year 1924 by Pietro Manuguerra, Mesogea; The Hunger of the Swan by Luca Mercadante, Sellerio; The Next Victim by Salvo Toscano, Mondadori. For the Urra di Mare – Environment Sustainability Paesologia section here are The Wolf Diaries by Andrea Cassini, Nottetempo; Queen Victoria's Agave by Laura Colosso, Aboca Editrice; Everest: the Dream by Matteo Bonanni, Marco Serra Tarantola Editore. Finally for Cala Mossa – Opera Prima, there is The Stranger by Marta Aidala, Guanda; The Great Thirst by Erica Cassano, Garzanti; The Extraordinary by Edoardo Vitale, Mondadori.

The awards are: Premio Narrativa Mandrarossa, with a first overall prize, a second and a third place. Five thematic sections: each in dialogue with a Mandrarossa label, evoking a story linked to a place. A winning book will be announced for each section. The awards ceremony will be held on Saturday 28 June at 8:30 pm in Agrigento, Italian Capital of Culture 2025, in the setting of the Valley of the Temples. The event will be attended by the members of the jury, the finalist authors, as well as representatives of the institutions. The evening will be hosted by the radio host Nicola Prudente, known to the Radio 2 audience as "Tinto" for the program Decanter, and will be accompanied by musical interventions by the master cellist Mauro Cottone.

The following day, Sunday 29 June, again in the Valley of the Temples, the Mandrarossa Prize will offer the city of Agrigento the show - for the first time in Sicily - Il romanzo della Bibbia, a theatrical adaptation based on the book of the same name by Aldo Cazzullo (HarperCollins), by and with Aldo Cazzullo together with Moni Ovadia, with music by Giovanna Famulari. The event is held with the patronage of the Sicilian Region, the Department of Cultural Heritage and Sicilian Identity, and in collaboration with the Agrigento Italian Capital of Culture 2025 Foundation, as part of the "Dalla Vigna al Vino" project.