A hat for the Senatore Cappelli wheat.

The Senatore Cappelli wheat is a renowned variety for its biological and nutritional characteristics. It is an ancient wheat that originated in Puglia in the early 1900s. Its story is fascinating, just like the origin of its name, and this is precisely what I want to talk to you about.

You may have noticed, because I know you are an attentive and passionate reader, that something is off. To tell the truth, you didn't expect a blatant error from experts like us: the name of the durum wheat from Puglia is not "Senatore Cappello wheat", but rather "Senatore Cappelli wheat". Yet, there are approximately 1600 monthly searches that place Cappello on the head of the Senator. They far exceed the searches people make using the correct name. There is only one word that is key: Senatore Cappelli wheat. So we could title this article "the revenge of related keywords". That is, when search intent wins over reality.

You should know that Google helps people find what they are looking for: it offers relevant answers to their requests. Often, however, people do not know what they are looking for or do not remember how to correctly spell the name of a product or service. Thus, Google is forced to figure out what the real search intentions are in order to provide the correct answer.

Recently, I talked to you about the case of Culatello di Zibello: a specialty that people often rename "Culatello di Zimbello" in their online searches. The assonance of a product name with a common word seeps into our minds because it is easier to remember. Yet, even just one vowel can make a difference: this is precisely the case with Senatore Cappelli wheat pasta.

The Story of Senatore Cappelli Wheat

It is a story that has spanned an important period in our beautiful country. I want to tell you this story to clarify the difference between Senatore Cappelli wheat and Senatore Cappello wheat. But also because I love stories and believe they are the best means to remember. Are you comfortable? Let’s begin.

More than one hundred years have passed since Nazareno Strampelli, seated on his stool, the only equipment of the experimental chair of Grain Cultivation, revolutionized the way to cultivate wheat. Graduated in Agricultural Sciences in 1891, at the dawn of the last century, Strampelli began his studies on wheat hybridization. Inspired by Gregor Mendel's studies on the hereditary traits of plants, Strampelli developed a hybridization program: he collected and cataloged 250 types of wheat from all over the world and from their crossings he obtained 65 new varieties. From Carlotta wheat to Ardito, up to Mentana, Strampelli changed the way wheat is cultivated. But the most beloved fruit of his research remains, for us Italians, the Senatore Cappelli wheat.

The story of Senatore Cappelli wheat intertwines with the famous "battle of wheat" wanted by Benito Mussolini to make Italy self-sufficient in production. After a thousand difficulties, Strampelli found in Marquis Raffaele Cappelli, a deputy of the Kingdom of Italy and an agriculture enthusiast, a valuable ally. Indeed, Cappelli and not "Cappello", granted Strampelli the use of his fields for the experiments that led to the creation of one of the best varieties of wheat in the world. Strampelli named the new variety of wheat after Cappelli, who had become Senator. Thus, for over 100 years, we have been able to enjoy the products born from Senatore Cappelli wheat on our tables.

Senatore Cappelli Wheat: The Renaissance of Quality

Right people at the right historical time gave rise to a variety of wheat that had to contend with the industrial production of the 70s. Unfortunately, industrial processes produced grains with better yields but of poor quality, which are attributed to the proliferation of celiac disease and wheat intolerances. Fortunately, Senatore Cappelli wheat is experiencing a second youth, because it is impossible to remain indifferent to its natural properties:

•   Born from seeds free of nuclear or chemical genetic mutations
•   Grown without the use of pesticides or chemical fertilizers
•   Easily digestible thanks to its low gluten content

This is why Senatore Cappelli pasta is a recommended food compared to other types of pasta, both for its high digestibility and in cases of intolerances or allergies.

Conclusion

Thus, the name of Senatore Cappelli wheat is attributed to Marquis Cappelli, who supported Strampelli’s ideas and allowed their creation. We do not know if the Marquis wore a hat, but surely the correct name is Senatore Cappelli wheat and not Senatore Cappello wheat.

Sergio Albertini