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The alberello
Gaglioppo
Greco Bianco
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The alberello
The 'alberello' (little tree) is a hardy vine. Its vicinity
to the earth and its minimal need for water makes it the ideal
vine in places where the climate represents the major limiting
factor, for instances in Valle d'Aosta ice limits the water flows,
whereas in Calabria there's no rain fall for many months of the
year. The area around Ciro' is a patchwork of small vineyards,
most 2 to 3 hectares in size planted 'ad alberello'.
The tradition
Alberello is a form of vine cultivation that allows for an
increased density of vines per hectare. Most vineyards prior to
1950 were planted considering mules and horses would be the vehicles
of the future and it's not unusual to find 'Salernitano' bred
horses ploughing the narrow vines because tractors are too wide
to pass from row to row. The majority of vineyards are tended
to carefully throughout the year by a vine keeper who sells their
grapes to wineries and winemakers throughout the region.
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New tendencies
Over the last 20 years some vine keepers
have abandoned the cultivation 'ad alberello' in order to obtain
increased yields from Palmetta or Cordon vines, however in bad
years these vines are more likely to suffer extremely dry summers.
The alberello resists the hot Calabrian summers marvellously and
by October its grapes reach 23-25% sugar content. Though it produces
a limited amount of grapes it is always of high quality and elevated
sugar level, exactly what is need to produce quality Ciro' D.O.C.
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The D.O.C. legislation allows for a maximum yield of 115 quintals
of Gaglioppo per hectare and 135 quintals of Greco Bianco and during
the summer no watering is permitted. The legislation promotes traditional
practice & helps maintain the highest quality grape production
possible.
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