Viticulture has a long history. We have been dealing with grapevine since Neolithic, and enjoyed its fruits. Soon we realized that grape juice may be fermented, and get a very special beverage: wine.
Wine has always had an important role for Mankind: a way to boost ordinary consciousness, that was experienced as a higher and tighter connection to Nature and God. For these special properties, wine entered key rituals in many societies. As such, wine also received a special attention also by Christian religion, which contributed to its widespread diffusion. In modern times, wine still retains a great role in socialization between people.
In a long relationship with grapevine and wine, we gradually understood the complexities of the interactions between plant and its environment, and developed techniques to best match grapevine types with different growing locations and the physical environment. We came to define varieties. We understood what quality is and what it can mean. We started commercial trading, and improved cultural exchanges.
The tight relationships between grapevine, wine and the environment, which has been always pivotal, now is endangered. We destabilized climate, that is now rapidly shifting towards unpredictable and likely unbearable conditions. Viticulture, however, among all the peculiarities it has, is also very static, and actually quite weak and slow in adapting.
The new course "New Challenges in Viticulture" aims at discussing and clarifying the new, unprecedented forcings which are acting on the vineyard, to understand and forecast possible grapevine responses and design and shape strategies to cope with climate change.
The course will be given in English, to train all of us to the proper scale, which is really global and international. Full proficiency in the language is not requested, and all the students of STVE programme are welcome.
Wine has always had an important role for Mankind: a way to boost ordinary consciousness, that was experienced as a higher and tighter connection to Nature and God. For these special properties, wine entered key rituals in many societies. As such, wine also received a special attention also by Christian religion, which contributed to its widespread diffusion. In modern times, wine still retains a great role in socialization between people.
In a long relationship with grapevine and wine, we gradually understood the complexities of the interactions between plant and its environment, and developed techniques to best match grapevine types with different growing locations and the physical environment. We came to define varieties. We understood what quality is and what it can mean. We started commercial trading, and improved cultural exchanges.
The tight relationships between grapevine, wine and the environment, which has been always pivotal, now is endangered. We destabilized climate, that is now rapidly shifting towards unpredictable and likely unbearable conditions. Viticulture, however, among all the peculiarities it has, is also very static, and actually quite weak and slow in adapting.
The new course "New Challenges in Viticulture" aims at discussing and clarifying the new, unprecedented forcings which are acting on the vineyard, to understand and forecast possible grapevine responses and design and shape strategies to cope with climate change.
The course will be given in English, to train all of us to the proper scale, which is really global and international. Full proficiency in the language is not requested, and all the students of STVE programme are welcome.
- Docente: Pitacco Andrea