Recovering the Cultivation of Siena's Typical and Native Vines
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The project entitled Senarum Vinea (Siena Vineyards in Latin), dedicated to rediscovering, recuperating, and growing typical an native vine varieties in the city of Siena again, has been selected by the EU,
and is recognized as one of the best at a European level, thus it was added to the 'Catalogue of the Good Practices for the Environment.'
The Senarum Vinea project took life from an idea of the Italian national association, Città del Vino (Wine Cities) and the Laboratorio di Etruscologia (Laboratory of Etruscology) and Italian Antiquities of the archeology department of the University of Siena. The objective of the project is to re-evaluate the native viticultural legacy and the historic vine cultivation methods within the ancient city walls as well as in the surrounding valleys. So far, the project has re-established the cultivation of some historic vine varieties which were on their way to extinction: Gorgottesco, Tenerone, Salamanna, Occhio di Pernice (Partridge Eye), Prugnolo Gentile, Procanico, and Sangiovese Piccolo Precoce (Early Small Sangiovese). All the varieties were listed in the database of the Germoplasma Autoctono Toscano (Tuscan Native Germplasm), and were recorded as rare and at an elevated extinction risk.
Siena at twilight from outside the city's medieval walls
The idea for Senarum Vinea is part of an experimental project for the historic-environmental re-qualification of Siena and the surrounding valleys, by way of recovering the historic tradition of the Tuscan viticulture.
The research involves the urban green areas within and outside the ancient city walls, with particular attention to the convent gardens, those of the contrade (the historic neighborhood which face each other off yearly in the world famous Palio di Siena, the wild horse race which takes place in the city's main square), as well as those grown outside of town nearby the walls. Siena has maintained to this day the urban produce gardens as well as the farms which have become enclosed within the expanding urban buildings. It is here that often rare plants of 'obsolete' vines, used for micro wine productions for self-consumption of their producers. This is a rare and precious legacy which must be protected to avoid the impoverishment of the local vitivinicultural assets. Losing these environmental aspects would mean more than just losing the local enological identity, but it would impoverish the whole rural environment, which has already changed considerably compared to a few decades ago.
Map of Siena
The project, financed by the Fondazione Monte dei Paschi di Siena and the association Città del Vino, was the only one among the five presented by Tuscany to the Transnational Committee to be admitted to the final phase of the European program entitled PAYS.MED.URBAN: The high quality of the landscape as a key element in the sustainability and the competitiveness of the Mediterranean urban areas. The committee expressed high appreciation for the integrated methodology and the successful combination of research, respect for the land, and sustainable development, thus included Senarum Vinea in the 'Catalogue of the Good Practices for the Environment,' which will be published in 2011. Afterward the project will be evaluated by an international jury.
The next Senarum Vinea objective is to establish fields for the preservation of the ancient viticultural heritage of the city of Siena at the Orto dei Pecci (Pecci's Garden), in the valley of Porta Giustizia (Door of Justice), which will also feature rows of vines cultivated according to the historic methods. In addition, there will be a vino della città (wine of the city), or Senarum Vinum (Siena's Wine in Latin), made with grapes from the salvaged vine varieties. Furthermore, eno-itineraries will be created to guide gourmand tourists to the discovery of the ancient vine varieties and the traditional cultivation methods, both within the city walls and the surrounding valleys.
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