After the great success of the first edition, which took place in 2019 in Franciacorta, Chianti Classico will host the 2nd Pruner Festival conceived and organized by Simonit&Sirch Vine Master Pruners , known for having developed a pruning method that preserves the health of the screws keeping them strong and long-lived, successfully exported all over the world. The appointment is for March 16, 2024 in Castelnuovo Berardenga (SI) , where the Pruning Contest will take place, a hard-fought and exciting vine pruning competition, which will reward the best pruners and the best arborists . The competition will take place in the vineyards of Agricola San Felice , a leading company in the area and partner of the Festival, which has been applying the Simonit&Sirch pruning method for years and hosts the courses of the Italian School of Vine Pruning.
The Festival will be preceded on March 15th by the technical conference "Vigna and Water: sustainable design" , which will feature important speakers from all over the world (detailed program on the website: www.festivaldelpotatore.it
The conference will start at 10.00 and will be held in the rooms of Agricola San Felice. Reservation required at this link https://festivaldelpotatore.it/convegno/
The topic is a hot topic : water is in fact a resource to be conserved, to avoid water stress on the vines, but also to be removed, to avoid excesses, stagnation and erosion. A good "design" of the vineyard and the use of accumulation systems respond to both these needs within the framework of an efficient use of water aimed at improving production. Participation in the conference provides for the recognition of professional training credits from the Order of Agronomists and that of Agricultural Experts.
After a light lunch, a round table will be held at 3.00 pm with Italian and foreign producers who will illustrate the paths undertaken, the relative benefits and the critical issues that have emerged. The day will end with the tasting of 2-3 wines from different soils (reservations required, 100 seats, price €70.00 including light lunch and tasting).
Pruning Contest
The Contest is open to all those, Italians and foreigners , who want to show their skills in a competition that will reward accuracy of cuts and speed. 100 competitors will take part and will compete in individual competitions and in teams of 3 members . Registration at this link: https://festivaldelpotatore.it/iscrivati/
The jury, made up of Simonit&Sirch technicians and international pruning experts, will decide the best classified in the two categories. The public will be able to closely observe the competitors intent on pruning the plants. Speaker of the competition will be Francesco Quarna , DJ and winemaker, voice of Radio DEEJAY, passionate about viticulture and food and wine.
A day of celebration dedicated to "know-how in the vineyard"
The Pruning Contest will be the heart of a day of celebration dedicated to "know-how in the vineyard" open - with free entry - to everyone, pruners, vineyard people, farmers, families, friends and nature and countryside enthusiasts , who will be able to spend a pleasant and unusual day. To surround the competition, music, stands, tastings and a series of collateral activities linked to the agricultural world, including craft workshops and technical ateliers , starting with the scissors workshop held by FELCO , technical partner of the event, which enjoys the patronage of the Chianti Classico Consortium , of the Municipality of Castelnuovo Berardenga and of the ASA Italian Agri-food Press Association . Media partner is Radio Toscana and Main Sponsor FINE RARE of London, which since 1994 has been a leader in the purchase, sale and management of private cellars, allowing the global public of collectors to have access to the most valuable products. FINE RARE is based on a passion for the exceptional.
The program
The day will start for the competitors at 8.00 with the blessing of the pruners by the Parish Priest of Castelnuovo Berardenga, followed by the Pruner's Breakfast organized by the Differently Eroici association. The stands will open at 9.00 and the competitions will begin at 10.00, as will the collateral activities . Among others , Da Move will be present with an adrenaline-filled display of freestyle and acrodunking basketball, the Lumberjack Athletes who will perform spectacular cutting demonstrations with axe, saw and chainsaw, and local artisans intent on their ancient crafts. You will discover the secrets of making barrels from a master cooper , you will be able to watch the working of the vineyards with horses and take short tours to admire the beautiful hills of Chianti and Siena from above on the helicopter of record mountaineer Simone Moro . In collaboration with the Chianti Classico Consortium, stations will be set up where you can taste the best Chianti Classico labels and there will be several truck-food points with local specialties .
Wannabe at pruninguy
A corner of a vineyard will be reserved for the little ones , where they will be involved in "Wannabe a pruninguy" : each child will choose a vine cutting and plant it, marking it with their name and the date, thus giving life to a symbolic vineyard, good omen for the future. Other activities have been created for them, including saddle baptism and a horse-drawn carriage ride through the vineyards and educational visits to the Orto Felice , the natural vegetable garden of San Felice, which sees elderly residents of the area involved in the work. and some young people with disabilities.
All the details of the races, registrations, the program of events on: www.festivaldelpotatore.it
For information: info@festivaldelpotatore.it
