Research

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Research

We are bound to traditions but at the same time we seek innovation, dedicated to research and the rediscovery of the riches of Calabria. In the Rosaneti estate there is the “varietal garden” of the Librandi family, the collection of autochthonous vines that currently contains about 200 varieties recovered throughout the region and arranged in a vineyard with a characteristic spiral shape.

Why

Stages

Results

Insights

Research and experimentation

Why

We started with two simple thoughts in mind: our awareness of the extent and richness of our wine-making heritage, and the notable absence of scientific literature about our main varieties. It was therefore a desire to preserve, modernize and promote the characteristics of our varieties that led us to begin this adventure.

Research and experimentation

Stages

1993

In our Duca Sanfelice estate, located in Ponta, Cirò (Kr), we planted our first experimental field with the following grape varieties: Magliocco, Arvino, Mantonico Bianco and Pecorello. The vinification tests would then determine their various winemaking potential;

2000

The Rosaneti vineyard in the Rocca di Neto (Kr) area had been acquired three years before; after a systematic study of the soil, an experimental field was planted to compare presumed clones of 25 native varieties. Pre-harvest samples were taken and comparative vineyard microvinification was carried out for 5 years.

2001

A systemic research was conducted throughout Calabria, in search of undiscovered and endangered native varieties, in collaboration with Professor Attilio Scienza of the University of Milan.

2002

At the Rosaneti vineyard in the Rocca di Neto (Kr) area, an experimental field was planted with 2,786 plants grown from seeds (seedlings) as well as non-grafted plants obtained through self-fertilisation, with the aim of allowing Gaglioppo and Magliocco Dolce to express their intra-varietal variability and to achieve maximum genetic expression.

2003

A collection field of native Calabrian vines was planted, a proper varietal garden that currently holds about 200 varieties collected from throughout the region and arranged in series of 10 plants for each type, in a vineyard with the traditional spiral shape.

2004

An experimental comparison field of Magliocco Dolce was planted at the Rosaneti vineyard in the Rocca di Neto area with different rootstocks, including 4 experimental M series rootstocks from the University of Milan.

2005

The study of the collection's native varieties included: a DNA study to determine their genetic relations, conducted by Dr Maria Stella Grando of the San Michele all’Adige Agrarian Institutie (IASMA); a careful historical, bibliographic and ampelographic study conducted by Dr Anna Schneider of the Institute of Plant Virology at the Turin office of the National Research Council; a virological study to determine the plants' health led by Dr Franco Mannini of the Institute of Plant Virology's Grugliasco Unit at the Turin office of the National Research Council; a very articulate enological study led by Dr Donato Lanati, Enology Professor at the University of Turin, at its ENOSIS MERAVIGLIA Centre of Cuccaro Monferrato.

2008

The result of this technical and scientific work carried out on native varieties was published in the book IL GAGLIOPPO E I SUOI FRATELLI – I vitigni autoctoni calabresi (GAGLIOPPO AND ITS BROTHERS - Native Calabrian vines), complete with historical and anthropological notions as well as technical and scientific concepts, which allowed us to re-order questions about the regional grapevine germplasm and collect information on the enological potential of the cultivated varieties.

A homologation field was planted at the Rosaneti vineyard in Rocca di Neto (Kr) for the clonal selection of 24 virus-free clones (Gaglioppo, Magliocco Dolce and Pecorello) in repeated plots; clonal selection began with these plants along with a careful analysis of their genetic expression.

2012

At our Critone estate in Strongoli (KR), we planted an experimental field to compare 22 seedlings that had been selected and analysed in collaboration with the Research Council of Conegliano Veneto.

Publication of the scientific essay entitled VITIGNI DI CALABRIA – Selezione e Potenzialità Enologiche (GRAPES OF CALABRIA - Selection and Wine-Making Potential), which explains the agronomic and enological characterisation of three important Calabrian grape varieties through clonal selection.

2014

Publication of the book CALABRIA - valorizzare con metodi moderni un'antica vocazione vinicola (CALABRIA - enhance an ancient wine-making tradition with modern methods), which was the result of scientific and experimental work, as well as the synergy of several researchers of the Council for Research and Experimentation in Agriculture CRA-VIT of Conegliano, the National Research Council in Turin and Enosis Meraviglia in Fubine (AL). The work carried out and recorded in the book aimed at further improving the overall quality of Calabrian wine.

Registration of the first Calabrian cultivar clones in the Italian Register of Grapevine Varieties: 4 Gaglioppo, 4 Magliocco and 2 Pecorello b.

2015

Publication of the book I vignaioli del Cirò (The winemakers of Cirò) - the voices and faces of a story, Rubbettino. It is the story of our company's experience with the association of winemakers.

2016

A homologation field was planted at the Rosaneti winery in Rocca di Neto (Kr) for the clonal selection of minor native Calabrian recovered varieties (Gaglioppo, Arvino, Guarnaccia, Marchesana, Toccarino, Iuvarello, Mantonico and Greco bianco).

2019

Registrazione ufficiale del Magliocco Dolce nel Registro Nazionale delle Varietà di Vite.

Research and experimentation

Results

Detection of interaction between vines/rootstocks/land

In the phase prior to the widespread use of new selections, it is particularly useful to test, in the field, the suitability of several graft combinations that can be used with the selected material.

To this end, in 2012, in our Critone estate in the Strongoli countryside, we created an experimental vineyard by grafting the same Gaglioppo clone onto 20 different rootstocks. The selected clone is well-suited in terms of its ability to resist viral diseases and its optimal farming and wine-making potential. The clone can therefore fully express the grape's potential. Based on the data collected, the results allow us to identify certain graft combinations that can positively reinforce the quantitative and qualitative characteristics of the Gaglioppo in the warm and dry environment of the Cirò region.

The results of this technical-scientific task were published in a scientific essay entitled Studio per l’individuazione dei portinnesti più adatti alla coltivazione del Gaglioppo (Study to identify the most suitable rootstocks for the cultivation of Gaglioppo), Rubbettino, 2015.

Recovery of clones affected by viruses

Alongside our homogenisation activities, we are also working to recover clones affected by viruses using meristem culture and in vitro thermotherapy techniques, to broaden the virus-free clonal base of the main cultivars and to recover healthy progenitor plants for minor or rare varieties.
The "primary source" of each clone is kept in safe conditions at the screenhouse of the Vivalb nursery in the suburb of Vaccheria in Alba (province of Cuneo), in collaboration with the National Research Council of Turin.

In 2016, the healed clones were finally planted in one of our company's new experimental homogenisation fields.

Registration of the first clones of three important Calabrian cultivars in the Italian Register of Grapevine Varieties

In 2014, the long-standing collaboration between Librandi, IPSP-CNR and Enosis allowed us to select and register the first Calabrian cultivar clones in the Italian Register of Grapevine Varieties: 4 Gaglioppo, 4 Magliocco Dolce and 2 Pecorello.

Collection of germplasm from local grapevines at risk of extinction

In 2003 a field was specifically created for native Calabrian vines; it currently houses around 200 species collected from throughout the region and arranged in a vineyard with the traditional spiral shape.
A very complex project was launched using these varieties, which includes, respectively: a DNA analysis; a thorough historical, bibliographical and ampelographic analysis; a virological analysis and finally, an oenological analysis. The results were published in the book IL GAGLIOPPO E I SUOI FRATELLI – I vitigni autoctoni calabresi (GAGLIOPPO AND HIS BROTHERS - Native Calabrian grapevines).

Genetic and health improvement of Calabrian cultivars through clonal selection

Calabria is the most important source of vine germplasm in Italy, the region which boasts the largest number of vine varieties.
We carried out a clonal selection alongside an health-based selection in order to obtain healthy clones which were homogeneous in terms of their behavioural profile and had significant wine-making potential.
In 2012, the results of this study led us to publish the scientific essay VITIGNI DI CALABRIA – Selezione e Potenzialità Enologiche (GRAPES OF CALABRIA - Selection and Wine-Making Potential).

Genetic improvement through the inbreeding of two varieties

In 2002 the second experimental field was set up, hosting 2.786 plants of the most important red grape varieties grown in the region: Gaglioppo and Magliocco Dolce.
After these presumed clones had self-fertilised, we selected the plants with better features than their parent plants.

First screening and cultivation of local varieties

In 2000 an experimental field was set up to compare presumed clones of 25 native varieties. For five years we took pre-harvest samples and carried out comparative microvinification, which allowed us to identify the most interesting varieties.

Research and experimentation

Insights

Screening and collection of local varieties

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Genetic improvements through the inbreeding of 3 native varieties

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Genetic improvement in native varieties

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Targeting the most suitable rootstocks for the cultivation of Gaglioppo

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Pubblicazioni

BOOKS

Librandi. Storia di uomini, vigneti e vini

(2020) A long story, begun a century ago, that of Librandi wines, told by Gianfranco. The 270 pages of the book, published in two languages for the series Storie d'impresa by the publisher Rubbettino, evoke it with a rich photographic compendium that amplifies the value of words with iconic images of what, says Manfredi, "was and is the story of one of the most interesting Italian wine families in today’s landscape". "With their initiatives" - emphasizes Cesare Pillon in the introduction of the volume - "the Librandi have filled the void in which the wine of Calabria was abandoned. A void that the majority of the Calabrian people themselves did not perceive as such".
Acquista
Il gaglioppo e i suoi fratelli

THE INDIGENOUS CALABRIAN GRAPE VARIETIES

(2009) Through the voice of consultants, researchers in the wine sector, agronomists, oenologists and geneticists, the company recounts its adventure, begun in the nineties, to the rediscovery of a viticulture that enhances local varieties, first of all the Gaglioppo, often forgotten or otherwise rare. The journey undertaken by the company, still in progress, has led it to recover in various areas of Calabria numerous native varieties, to plant them in its experimental fields, to study their behavior in the field and finally to test their wine making potential. The results of this extensive research work, as well as having direct effects on the winery’s wine production, remain available to the entire Calabrian wine community.
CALABRIA. VALORIZZARE CON METODI MODERNI UN’ANTICA VOCAZIONE VINICOLA

(2014) The history of Calabrian agriculture has been intertwined with that of wine since ancient times. The presence of native vines in Calabria, in fact, has allowed the rural civilization of the territory to accumulate, over time, a wealth of knowledge and experiences of inestimable value. In this volume, the company offers valuable advice to winegrowers and winemakers eager to deal with the indigenous varieties present in the region. The aim is to give life to vineyards that lead to the production of "perfect" grapes.
I VIGNAIOLI DEL CIRÒ. VOCI E VOLTI DI UNA STORIA

(2016) The journalist Squillace, new Virgil in the folds of his land, tells an extraordinary journey through the vineyards, among the rows from which you can see the sea, among men and women who, today as two thousand and seven hundred years ago, with their intelligence they transform at best what the earth spontaneously gives. The volume tells of the association "I vignaioli del Cirò", established in 2008, an association that has immediate practical purposes, as Squillace emphasizes: to promote the quality of the wine produced in the territory of Cirò, to value the viticultural productions, promoting training and refresher courses to develop modern entrepreneurship.
VITIGNI DI CALABRIA. SELEZIONE E POTENZIALITÀ ENOLOGICHE

(2012) From the collaboration of the company with the Institute of Plant Virology - CNR - UOS of Grugliasco (TO) and Enosis - Center services and research in Enology and Viticulture of Fubine (AL), born this volume, spiritual follow-up of "The Gaglioppo and his brothers". The idea was born with the aim of preserving a heritage that, from the first variety to the last, has always been used in the past, applying modern knowledge to these ancient varieties, analyzing the results.
INTERVENTI PER IL RECUPERO E LA CARATTERIZZAZIONE DELLE CULTIVAR CASTIGLIONE E TOCCARINO

(2015) After the recovery of the varieties of greatest cultural interest, the interest has shifted to the enhancement of two "minor" but interesting wine varieties. These are the cultivars Toccarino and Castiglione. The work involved ampelographic, genetic and agronomic surveys of the various accessions recovered. The data collected, in collaboration with a rich scientific team, were intended to characterize and evaluate the potential of these two varieties in order to potential future uses in purity.
UN VIAGGIO ALL’INTERNO DEL GENOMA DEL GAGLIOPPO E DEL MAGLIOCCO

(2015) Technical volume analysing the DNA of Gaglioppo and Magliocco. In order to characterize the selected biotypes, a multidisciplinary methodology has been employed, which after a first screening with molecular DNA analysis has provided morphological and phylometric analysis as well as the evaluation of the production and qualitative performance of the grapes.
STUDIO PER L’INDIVIDUAZIONE DEI PORTAINNESTI PIÙ ADATTI ALLA COLTIVAZIONE DEL GAGLIOPPO

(2015) Compendium born from the historic collaboration Librandi - CNR - Enosis, with the aim of studying and identifying the best rootstocks for Gaglioppo. The lack of a line of study was the main reason, which allowed to detect the behavior of Gaglioppo when grafted on different rootstocks, with the aim of knowing the most suitable for the cultivation of this important grape variety in the pedoclimatic environment of the hinterland Cirotano.