Step 1: Take a large bowl and dissolve the yeast in warm water and let it sit for about 5-10 minutes until the dissolved yeast becomes frothy – then add the flour, sugar, olive oil, and salt to the yeast mixture – mix until you have a dough formed using either your hands, a hand mixer with a dough hook, or a food processor.

Step 2: Knead the sticky dough on the surface with a little flour for about 10 minutes until it’s smooth and elastic – you want it to be elastic and not super sticky. 

Step 3: Take a medium bowl and grease it with olive oil, then place the dough into it and cover it with a cloth – let it rise in a warm place for about 1 hour, it needs to double in size.

Step 4: While it’s rising, preheat your oven to 180°C (350°F).

Step 5: Once the dough has risen and doubled in size, take it again and punch it down before placing it on a lightly floured surface – then roll it out into a large rectangular shape. 

Step 6: Spread half of the grapes over the dough, then sprinkle half of the sugar (and cinnamon or lemon zest if you’re using it) over it as well – roll up the dough along the long side, enclosing the grapes.

Tip: If you want to save time, you don’t have to do anything else to the dough. However, if you want to braid it, you will want to give it a braided look, take a sharp knife and make the cuts from right and left to the middle until you have a braided look. 

Step 7: Place the rolled dough on a rectangular baking pan or a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and put the remaining grapes on top of the dough – press it lightly into the dough, so it’ll stick. If you have any leftover dough, wrap plastic wrap around it and place it in the fridge until you’re ready to use it.

Tip: Sprinkle rosemary or other herbs to garnish your bread.

Step 8: Bake the bread dough in the preheated oven for about 45 minutes – you want it to be golden brown and hollow when you tap it (that’s how you know it’s ready!)Once done, take it out of the oven and let it cool off at room temperature on a wire rack before you cut into it while it’s still warm to enjoy – even better, enjoy it with a glass of Italian wine or a cup of coffee.