PIWI Italia was founded in December 2023 and brings together all the regional PIWI organizations. Its president is Professor Marco Stefanini. The Italian regions where PIWI varieties are authorized are: South Tyrol, Trentino, Veneto, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Lombardy, and Piedmont.

PIWI grapevines are the result of crossbreeding between European, American, and Asian grapevines. The association’s research is focused on creating grapevines with varying degrees of resistance to downy mildew and powdery mildew, as well as tolerance to other diseases and a greater ability to adapt to climatic stresses associated with climate change. This is
made possible by a lengthy selection process that takes an average of 10–15 years.

To date, 36 PIWI grape varieties are listed in the National Register of Grape Varieties. PIWI varieties are not immune to diseases, but they require a drastically reduced number of treatments compared to traditional grape varieties, varying depending on the variety and the growing region.