VINI DA VITICOLTURA EROICA

Heroic vines, according to the definition of Cervim (Center for Research, Study, Coordination and Valorisation for Mountain Viticulture), the international body, which is based in Aosta, and was born with the aim of protecting and safeguarding viticulture in areas extreme, they are vines that lie on slopes of the soil above 30%, at an altitude greater than 500 meters, and are raised on terraces and gradoni. This is the technical definition, but in reality, behind every heroic vine, there are passionate vintners who work hard with a pinch of madness and dreamlike dreams that rip the ground to rock, mountain, sea, small parcels made of vineyards that carry rare, hidden, difficult to reach grapes, located in rough terrain, on steep slopes peaking over the sea, on alpine foothills, and steep river valleys. The result of all this work is real authentic oenological pearls made mostly with native grape varieties. They are found mainly in Europe for historical reasons, because wine is part of our peasant culture, and every family cultivated a few rows near home to have a small production always available without taking into account the difficulties associated with soil morphology. Today, these vineyards are found in various regions of Italy from north to south: Valle D'Aosta (Morgeaux is the highest vineyard in Europe), Piedmont (with the wines of the characteristic Cartagena vineyards), Lombardy (Valtellina ), Liguria (in the Cinque Terre), Trentino Alto Adige, Campania (in the splendid Amalfi Coast), Calabria and Sicily, especially on the islands of Pantelelria and Etna. But there are also examples in Europe; in France, with the vineyards of Grenache cultivated in Banyuls, Germany on the steep banks of the Moselle where riesling is cultivated, in Spain in Ribeira Sacra, Slovenia and finally in Switzerland where we will find vines of Petite Arvine of Valais. A hard work and often without economic satisfaction, but able to give great wines, unique and unmatched like the vineyards that produce them. The next time you drink a glass of wine from one of these areas, taste it calmly and think about the fatigue, sweat of these heroes.