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The Orto winery is found on the island of Sant’Erasmo, in the Venice Lagoon. This island has supplied fresh vegetables to the city for centuries, including the famous “castraure” and the violet artichokes of S. Erasmus, appreciated all over Italy.
In 1500, there were also several vineyards, which were then neglected in the following centuries.

Michel Thoulouze, a French television entrepreneur, along with his family, decided to restart the cultivation of vines and the production of wine, using the traditional organic methods of local farmers. He chose to adopt the technical expertise of Lydia and Claude Bourguignon, an agronomist, and of Alain Graillot Crozes Ermitage, an experienced wine producer.

The ancient drainage system on the island was therefore renovated. It collects rainwater within the canals between the rows of vines and then reaches the lagoon at low tide, through hydraulic locking systems. Before planting the vineyard, the land was prepared with barley, radish, oats and Chinese root, without ever ploughing nor using any fertilizers or herbicides.
Ancient Italian vines were planted (including Malvasia Istriana) directly into the ground, without grafting them into the roots of American species – a system used in Europe after the great phylloxera epidemic of the late XIX century.

The wine produced here, called Orto, is aged underwater: the bottles are stacked in the “sandoli”, typical boats with a flat bottom, and left there for a long time.
This wine features a high mineral content that enhances the flavours of the territory; it is suitable for all foods, but, in particular, for typical dishes of the Venice lagoon based on fish, seafood, artichokes, asparagus, and fresh vegetables.

This post is also available in: Italiano (Italian)