“Dry Stone Wall” Winegrowers

Vignaioli delle marogne
San Giorgio in Valpolicella, Verona, Italy

"CIVILTÀ DELLE MAROGNE"

The work of farmers and of stonemasons has always gone hand in hand in the creation of dry stone walls: in the past, these not only represented the possibility of producing crops, but were also a visible sign of man’s lively sense of the aesthetic. Sometimes these historic “marogne” (as they are known in the local dialect), which bear witness to the harmonious relationship between nature and human labour, have unfortunately been subjected to damage.

Luckily, a reaction to this state of affairs has taken place: in 1998 the Civiltà delle Marogne (“Civilisation of Dry Stone Walls”) movement was founded by architect Riccardo Stevanoni, preserving and reconstructing the historic landscape.

In 2008 and 2010, Civiltà delle Marogne was included as one of the “Custodians of the Countryside” at Slow Food’s Terra Madre event in Turin.

Subsequently, based on these same principles, a group of vine-growers and winemakers who cultivate their vines on ancient terraces supported by dry stone walls, the Vignaioli delle Marogne, was formed, under the guidance of Lodovico Testi, owner of the Dalla Rosa Alda trattoria in San Giorgio.

Their land has been rendered even more valuable with the planting of vines and olive and fruit trees. Conservation and restoration of the terraces and walls is carried out using historic techniques and, as was the case in the past, the crops are accompanied in their vegetative cycle by the scents of herbs and flowers growing alongside them. In this task of reclamation, the growers are assisted by other local professionals, such as architects and labours specializing in restoration, as well by restaurateurs who offer their wines.

At San Giorgio di Valpolicella there are a number of producers who are determined to promote and preserve the qualities of the area, keeping alive the traditions, practices, customs and flavours of the past as the key for future growth. They preserve the visible signs of the harmonious relationship between nature and human labour, interpreted through the creation of dry stone walls (marogne), which combine the efforts of both farmers and stonemasons. The presence locally of slabs of stone or limestone blocks has led to the inhabitants of the area constructing such walls ever since prehistoric times.

Investing not only in the quality of the wines, but also in respect for the countryside and the creative efforts of our ancestors: that is the commitment made by the “Civiltà delle Marogne” and the “Vignaioli delle Marogne”.

Vignaioli delle Marogne