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    Florence’s First Modern Urban Vineyard is Pink

    Young entrepreneurs plant 700 new vines creating. Vigna Michelangelo.

    Until yesterday composed of just a few rows, the first modern urban vineyard in Florence has renewed its vine park by planting 700 new plants. The land, facing north-east, is managed by the Fittipaldi women’s agricultural company of Bolgheri, chaired by Maria Fittipaldi Menarini who, with her four daughters Carlotta, Giulia, Serena and Valentina, launched herself into this project with conviction and enthusiasm.

    In her numerous travels abroad, Maria had come across the Clos Montmartre vineyard, surmounted by the church of the Sacred Heart in Paris, then Leonardo’s vineyards in Milan, the vineyards of Tenuta Venissa on the island of Mazzorbo in Venice and the Villa della Queen in Turin.

    The idea of ​​emulating these particular crops in one’s own land, located right in the center of the cradle of the Italian Renaissance, arose spontaneously, just as the association with Michelangelo Buonarroti arose spontaneously, not only because of the adjacent Piazzale Michelangelo but also because these he had purchased an estate in Chianti, near the Tower Nectar Dei ,become Nittardi factory.

    “This vineyard also represents my childhood – Maria recalls – when in early September, returning from holiday, I loved picking the grapes and even some bunches for the table”.

    Then, twenty years ago, in his residence in Bolgheri he discovered the charm of wine. And it was there, in that period, that the Fittipaldi women’s agricultural company was born. From that period, for that project, she decided to also want her four daughters alongside her who are still close to her today in carrying on the company.

    And it is also the passion and experience acquired over these years that convinced her to revive the old home vineyard. “In some way – continues Maria – I want to give a sign and a sense of continuity to this house, particularly loved by my father Mario.”

    The vineyard is seen as an element capable of recomposing the overall rural, historical and landscape heritage typical of an urban community still far from industrialization. A project capable of enhancing biodiversity and contributing to urban sustainability. Project which started on 29 September 2021, then presented to the press on 22 April 2022, and which involved the complete reconversion of the system with the insertion of vines to be trained with the sapling system, compatible with the slope of the land, in symbiosis with olive trees already in production. The varieties were chosen with historical care among the most traditional Tuscan varieties, including those at risk of extinction because they are not very profitable, but of the highest quality.

    The technical aspect is followed by some of the best professionals in Tuscany such as the agronomist Stefano Bartolomei and the oenologist Emiliano Falsini. “The vineyard that we went to create – claims Stefano Bartolomei – is a garden vineyard and will be perfectly integrated with the surrounding environment to maintain the characteristics of the landscape unaltered”. “With the Vigna Michelangelo – continues Emiliano Falsini – the first Urban Vineyard project in Florence took shape. An ambitious, fascinating and evocative project in one of the most beautiful and evocative settings of the city. An important commitment, aimed at recovering the ancient city viticulture that has always been present in the city, cradle of the Renaissance and where wine has represented, throughout history, an important distinctive sign.”

    The Michelangelo Vineyard is made up of 700 vines divided as follows:

    • 300 vines are Sangiovese, the main grape variety of Tuscany, with the clones chosen in the CCL2000 selection.
    • 150 vines are Canaiolo, also a very widespread vine in all the Chianti areas, used to give elegance and lightness to the more austere Sangiovese, but also for vintage wine with the practice of “Tuscan-style governance”.
    • 100 vines are Foglia Tonda, a variety successfully grown in the Val d’Orcia and the Arno Valley, which combined with Sangiovese gives greater robustness to the wine and greater longevity.
    • Another 100 vines are of Pugnitello, a variety that is offering interesting results in Tuscany, and which owes its name to the characteristic shape of the small closed fist bunch.
    • Finally, 50 vines are from Colorino del Val d’Arno, also known as Abrostino or Abrusco. The name is due to its peel, intensely dark red in colour. In autumn the leaves turn a fiery red and, with the red-purple streaks near some nodes, offer a unique scenic effect.

    The surface intended for the vineyard had been prepared in the previous months, by cleaning it from foreign plants and larger stones. Subsequently, the wooden stakes were planted in correspondence with the excavation of approximately 40 cm necessary to accommodate the cuttings.

    As we were saying, the sapling shape was chosen for the plant, the oldest known form of cultivation, already practiced by the Greeks and Romans, but also the most qualitative and expensive: it allows you to control the arboreal development of the plant very well and keep it limited in favor of better growth of the bunches.

    In practice we do not have the usual rows with iron wires, but each vine is protected and rests on a small wooden support. In short, the vines of the Vigna Michelangelo will be cared for and pampered affectionately to obtain a wine out of the ordinary. This form of farming requires totally manual processing, with significant management costs. The bunches are more accessible and easier to keep under control, to the full advantage of the ripening and quality of the grapes. The so-called “quincunx” shape was chosen for the implant.

    Each sapling is located on the vertices of a square that has another vine in the center, like the face of a dice with the number 5. The visual aspect will be scenically spectacular: the rows can be traveled far, wide and diagonally on foot or with small vehicles without encountering obstacles. This will optimize the occupation of the land and the vine will be able to develop its roots in the best possible way even on this steep terrain. “Veronelli’s incitement to ‘walk the vineyards’ comes to mind,” says Maria. “This will also allow us to do it in the city with the prospect of contributing to making a part of the urban context liveable and healthy again.”

    On March 14, the cuttings were buried in the holes, leaving the upper part to emerge by about 6 cm, then immediately watered with at least 10 liters of water per plant. Lots of water to have a great wine tomorrow.

    What will the future hold for Vigna Michelangelo? The cuttings will produce their first fruits suitable for winemaking only in three years, to then reach the pinnacle of quality much later. Wine requires patience, but in the meantime the appointment is for the 2027 harvest with the production of the first barrel of wine with an entirely Michelangelesque vigor. “From that barrel we will obtain about 700 bottles,” concludes Maria, “to be sold on the international market through auctions with charitable purposes of social support.

    The purpose of the vineyard is not only wine, but the relationship that is created between man, earth and air, a relationship that puts the sterility of cement and asphalt into perspective with the search for mutual respect.” Andy Warhol said: “I believe that having the earth and not ruining it is the most beautiful form of art that one could desire.” If a great wine is also born from this earth, the work of art is complete.

    I am grateful to Maria Fittipaldi Menarini and her family for inviting me and including me in their project, proud to be able to tell it here in the first person and curious to see the completion of this fascinating and suggestive project, to be in the next three years ,part of a first barrel from which 700 bottles will be obtained sold at auction for charitable and humanitarian purposes.

    I love good wine and I would never have imagined, in addition to the pleasure and personal enjoyment in drinking it, to become a benefactor at the same time.

    Urban Vineyards Association (UVA) Welcomes New Board and Expands Global Network
    October 2024 – The Urban Vineyard Association (UVA), a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting vineyard cultivation in cities around the world, is going through a time of change. With a focus on environmental sustainability, cultural enrichment and economic benefits, UVA is creating a global network of cities that embrace urban viticulture.

    New Leadership for 2024

    The association recently elected a new Board of Directors, with Nicola Purrello as President, Eric Sureau as Vice President and Councilors Olga Voutsikaki, Renzo de Antonia and Pau Moragas. Former President Luca Balbiano was named Honorary President to recognize his successes and leadership in the conception and growth of the Association in its first four years of life. This new leadership aims to strengthen collaboration between existing members and expand the network by welcoming new cities. The program also includes the organization of annual events, the promotion of urban wines and the offering of unique wine tourism experiences in urban contexts.

    Growth of the Global Network

    UVA has already proudly welcomed four new urban vineyards to its network this year: Hollywood Classic Wine (Los Angeles), Vigna Michelangelo (Florence), Forty Hall Vineyard (London) and Tapada da Ajuda (Lisbon). These cities contribute to the cultural and geographic diversity of the organization, strengthening shared values ​​such as winemaking, community integration and sustainable urban development.

    Annual meeting in Thessaloniki

    A key moment in 2024 was UVA’s annual meeting, held in Thessaloniki, Greece. Known for its strong links to urban agriculture and viticulture, Thessaloniki provided the perfect backdrop for the event. The meeting featured a conference on urban agriculture and viticulture, bringing together academics, city officials and stakeholders to discuss the future of urban winemaking.

    Future Initiatives

    1. World Urban Vineyards Day – 27 October

    This October, UVA will host the first World Urban Vineyards Day. Artists from member cities are invited to visit local vineyards, using the natural beauty of the environment as inspiration for works in photography and drawing. The selected works will be exhibited in the cities of the network, with participating artists receiving urban wines and unique souvenirs as prizes.

    UVA is also developing a recognition plaque to certify and promote the urban vineyards that are members of the Association. This mark will serve as a guarantee of authenticity, facilitating the identification of urban wines and related experiences around the world.

    About the Urban Vineyards Association (UVA)

    The Urban Vineyard Association is a growing international network of cities committed to promoting urban viticulture. By connecting cities and promoting urban vineyards, UVA combines a passion for winemaking with a vision of sustainable urban development. The Association currently includes 16 vineyards in 7 countries, including Italy (Milan, Turin, Venice, Florence, Siena, Palermo and Catania), France (Paris, Avignon, Lyon), Spain (Barcelona), Portugal (Lisbon), United United Kingdom (London), Greece (Thessaloniki) and United States (New York and Los Angeles).

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