On Friday, May 17 the project was presented at “The Vineyard” Library together with the GRASPO association: an experimental catalog field to address today’s climate challenges and save rare grape varieties from extinction.
The Consorzio Tutela Vini Colli Berici e Vicenza, during the presentation of the book by GRASPO 100 Guardians for 100 Vines, Viticultural Biodiversity in Italy, held Friday, May 17, at the International Library “La Vigna” in Vicenza, announced the launch of a research project to create a new catalog field to save rare grape varieties from extinction. The initiative, introduced by director Giovanni Ponchia together with janitor and winemaker Giovanni Leopoldo Mancassola, involves the creation of a 500-square-meter experimental vineyard in Lonigo. It will be dedicated to thebreeding of about 20 ancient grape varieties, including gambugliana, leonicena, pomella, quaiara, rossa burgan, denela and saccola.
“In addition to the goal of safeguarding grape varieties at very high risk of extinction,” says Giovanni Ponchia, ” the catalog field is intended to provide multi-year monitoring to understand which varieties are best suited to current climate challenges.
“In a world where only 20 varieties contribute to 80 percent of the production on the international market,” Giovanni Leopoldo Mancassola continues, “our challenge is to rediscover ancient grape varieties capable of creating contemporary and sustainable wines that meet the taste of young consumers.
Colli Berici a catalog field to save rare grape varieties from extinction fits, alongside other projects, into the book compiled by GRASPO, which is a manifesto for creating a network between companies, institutions and research centers, with the aim of identifying, safeguarding and winemaking the many native grape varieties at risk of extinction.
Speakers
Remo Pedon, president of “La Vigna” International Library, spoke during the event. Professor Attilio Scienza, Gianpaolo Girardi, founder of Proposta Vini, and Giovanni Ponchia, director of Consorzio Tutela Vini Colli Berici e Vicenza. The founders of GRASPO, Aldo Lorenzoni and Luigino Bertolazzi, also participated in the dialogue, telling some of the fascinating conservation stories of more than 100 rare grape varieties encapsulated in the book. The text, which goes beyond cataloging endangered grape varieties, in fact offers an immersive experience in the Italian viticultural world, traversing all regions and connecting ampelographers and research centers.
