December 15th – In November 2022 Villa Bogdano 1880 hosted a group of international wine trade and media at a three-day fieldtrip on old and rare vines in Italy. The Old Vine Conference’s first fieldtrip since it was founded in March 2021 bought together two of Italy’s leading experts in ancient vineyards, and the founders of The Old Vine Conference, to study the best practices for growing, protecting, and promoting old vines and their wines.
Prof. Mario Fregoni, one of the fathers of Italian viticulture and oenology, and Professor Carlo Petrussi, agronomist and the expert in Friulian viticultural and oenological culture, lead seminars amongst the vines, and lectures at Villa Bogdano 1880’s renovated winery.
Described by Professor Fregoni as ‘the old vine capital of Italy’, Villa Bogdano 1880 has 18 hectares of ancient vineyards, 117 vines of which are of historical significance in Lison di Portogruaro, Northeastern of Italy. Owner Domenico Veronese and team have restored and conserved these historic and uniquely cultivated vineyards. Their aim is to preserve the biodiversity, genetic heritage and traditional vine training of these old vineyards.
Prof. Fregoni highlighted the importance of preserving ancient vineyards like those of Villa Bogdano 1880 for wine quality and genetic resilience. Professor Petrussi compared the relative impact of traditional vs. modern viticulture on soil quality, vine longevity and wine quality.
Co-founder of The Old Vine Conference, Sarah Abbott MW, led a tutored tasting of fine old vine wines from across Italy, bringing the key messages discussed on the fieldtrip to life.
The Old Vine Conference was established by Masters of Wine Sarah Abbott and Alun Griffiths, and Leo Austin to create a globally recognised category for old vines and their wines. In less than two years The Old Vine Conference has gathered a worldwide following and contributed exponentially to the awareness, understanding and support of the global old vine movement through the establishment of a varied programme of activities including international fieldtrips to wineries and vineyards that are home to some of the world’s oldest and richest viticultural heritage like Villa Bogdano 1880.
Villa Bogdano 1880 is situated in the small Italian village of Lison di Portogruaro. It has been certified organic since 1993 and is a Natura 2000 Biodiversity Conservation Site, hosting many protected species within its Planitia woodland, an ancient and delicate habitat dating back to 1200. The estate hosts 18 hectares of historic vineyards, that have been painstakingly restored since 2016. The oldest one consists of 117 vines and was planted using an ancient method called “Cassone Padovano”. This training method was developed by Benedictine monks in the Middle Ages. To preserve the genetic characteristics of the biotypes in their vineyards, the estate is replacing and replanting vines only from their original cuttings. They are renovating an historic rural building situated in the middle of the old vineyards to be used as a site for educational tours and the promotion of old vine viticulture and winemaking, with the aim of persuading other producers and consumers that old vineyards are an asset and not a liability.
The Old Vine Conference is a non-profit organisation based in the UK and funded by a community of producer, distributor, generic body, and private individual members. Membership of The Old Vine Conference is an impactful way to safeguard global old vine heritage, and its priceless ecological and cultural value of which Villa Bogdano has been an active member since May 2022.
Wines tasted in the tutored masterclass:
- Lison Classico DOCG 2019 and 195 Merlot Selezione Rosso IGT Veneto 2017 by VIlla Bogdano 1880
- Refosco di Faedis DOC Friuli Colli Orientali Riserva 2016 by Azienda Agricola Elvio Zani
- Löwengang Uvaggio Storico 2019 by Alois Lageder, Serpico Irpinia Aglianico DOC 2013, Feudi di San Gregorio
- Magnum of Vigneto Morei Teroldego Vineyards of the Dolomites IGT 2014 by Foradori
