The idea behind Vigne del Pellagroso first took root in 2011, when the project was given the chance to care for a tiny, long-abandoned vineyard of only seven rows of very old vines, planted with both red and white varieties. Even after severe pruning, the decision was made to work without treatments, trusting the vines and the land to find their own balance. In 2012, the first wine was born in the oldest courtyard of the village, a place that had also been left neglected for years.

The name Pellagroso comes from Il Pellagroso, a 19th-century protest newspaper once printed in that same courtyard. It spoke for farmers’ rights, fairer agriculture and a different way of living. The name remains a statement of intent: farming should be cleaner, more attentive and more human, rooted in respect for the people and landscapes that make it possible.

The early years were shaped by experimentation, mistakes and learning. In 2017, the project took an important step forward by renting a 1.5-hectare Merlot vineyard in Monzambano, on the morainic hills near Lake Garda. The vines, between 15 and 45 years old, had been farmed organically since 1985. In 2018, another 5.5 hectares were added and immediately placed under biodynamic conversion, with herbal infusions, propolis and natural preparations becoming part of the vineyard work.

Today, the farm covers around 10 hectares, with 7 hectares under vine. Everything is dry-farmed and harvested by hand, without irrigation, chemical treatments or shortcuts. The work extends beyond grapes: cereals, vegetables and flowers are grown alongside the vines, helping support biodiversity, soil life and pollinators such as bees.

In the cellar, the same trust in natural processes continues. Fermentations are spontaneous, the wines are unfiltered, no sulfur is added and there is no temperature control. The aim is not to correct or standardise, but to preserve the living character of each harvest.

Vigne del Pellagroso is a project built on care, patience and a willingness to begin again with damaged or forgotten places. Its wines are a reflection of that philosophy: direct, alive and deeply connected to the morainic landscape around Lake Garda.