BACK TO GROWING TYPICAL AND NATIVE VINES WITHIN THE ANCIENT WALLS OF SIENA: THE “SENARUM VINEA” MISSION IS A PROJECT BY THE CITIES OF WINE AND THE UNIVERSITY OF SIENA AND AN EXAMPLE OF GOOD PRACTICE AND LANDSCAPE PROTECTION FOR THE EUROPEAN UNION

Know, recover and return to cultivating local and native vine varieties - from Gorgottesco al Tenerone to Salamanna to Occhio di Pernice - within the walls of the Medieval city of Siena: this is the mission of “Senarum Vinea”. The project is promoted by the Cities of Wine and the Etruscology and Ancient Italy Laboratory of the Department of Archaeology, University of Siena in collaboration with the Monte dei Paschi di Siena Foundation. It is acknowledged as one of the best in Europe for good practice and protection of the landscape and has been admitted to the final stage of the European Union Programme “Pays.Med.Urban-Med – Quality of the landscape as a key to sustainability and competitiveness of urban areas in the Mediterranean” and will be judged by an international jury and inserted in the “2011 catalogue of good practices for landscape” (info: www.cittadelvino.it).
The idea of the project came from an experimental project to upgrade the historic landscape and environment of Siena and its valleys, through the recovery of historical forms of Tuscan viticulture such as trellises, coupled vines on live support and tree vines. The objective of “Senarum Vinea” is the enhancement of indigenous heritage vines and historical forms of grape growing in the walled city and the suburban areas of Siena. It has so far allowed the recovery of some varieties like the Gorgottesco, the Tenerone, the Salamanna, the Occhio di Pernice, the Prugnolo Gentile, the Procanico, and the small early variety of Sangiovese. These varieties have already been registered and reported as rare and at high risk of extinction in the database of Native Tuscan Germplasm.
The study is carried out on the green areas inside and outside the city walls, with a special focus on the gardens of the convents, the Contrade and the gardens near the city limits. Siena has maintained its urban gardens and suburban estates, which often retain traces of “obsolete” vineyards for limited production of wine consumption. This is a precious reality which must be protected to avoid the depletion of the local winemaking heritage: the risk of a loss of identity applies not only to the wine sector, but involves the entire rural landscape, which is now substantially changed compared to a few decades ago.
The next objective of the project is the realization of a field of heritage conservation of the ancient native vines of the city of Siena in the Pecci Garden, in the Porta Giustizia valley, which will accommodate also rows bred according to the historical forms of cultivation. It will also start production of “City Wine” or “Senarum Vinum” made from grapes selected and recognized as traditional, and Enotrekking routes will be created, leading the visitor to explore the old vineyards and the traditional methods of vine cultivation in green spaces inside the city and outside the city walls.