Six years ago we published an article with the title -- “Vertical vendemmia at Casa Fontana” -- we wrote then it would probably need some explaining and as you can hear in the short interview with Ron Gauld recorded that morning in 2012 in the garden outside Casa Fontana in Barga Vecchia
There are some very good reasons why the grape picking was attempted on a vine growing seven to eight metres above the ground but unfortunately as you can well see in the video, all did not go as planned.
Instead of climbing up the seven to eight metres to pick the grapes, the owner of the very successful bed-and-breakfast establishment Casa Fontana decided to lower the vine with a system of wires and chains.
A slight technical hitch meant that one of nature’s oldest forces, that of gravity came into play and the large vine with its abundant crop of ripe grapes came crashing to the ground.
Would Newton have smiled? maybe, but for certain Ron was not quite such a happy man this morning. Apples are one thing, grapes another.
In the end actually very few grapes actually hit the ground, most were picked quite easily, this time from a vine at chest height and not up in the clouds.
We also wrote then So, let’s see what next year brings…… in fact each year the vertical vendemmia seemed to get easier.
This morning all he needed was a small step ladder and in a couple of snips, the vertical vendemmia at Casa Fontana 2018 was easily accomplished.
