Tradition and sustainability: the recovery of a historic vineyard dating from 1965

The project set out to rescue historic vines that had survived since 1965 but had suffered from neglect. Rows had become crooked or misaligned, while uncontrolled vegetation restricted light, air and access to nutrients. Clearing the growth and repairing the original geometry allowed the vines to recover their productive potential without erasing the vineyard’s identity.

Only traditional, environmentally compatible materials were selected. Locally sourced chestnut poles provide naturally durable supports because the timber’s tannins resist decay, insects and weathering without intensive chemical treatment. Chestnut is renewable, biodegradable, less energy-intensive than cement or steel and helps sustain a local rural supply chain.

Willow twigs replaced synthetic ties. Their elasticity accommodates vine growth without injury, while their strength and adaptability suit manual tying and local repairs. They are biodegradable, avoid plastic contamination and can be obtained through short supply chains.

Preserving vines planted in 1965 also retains deep root systems and genetic material accumulated through decades of adaptation. The formerly abandoned vineyard is productive again, embodying the estate’s commitment to landscape protection, organic farming and traditional vineyard craftsmanship.