La Malvasia di Milano
tell us a story
When Leonardo arrived at the court of the Sforza, many works were commissioned by Ludovico Il Moro, Duke of Milan.
On all the assignment to paint inside the refectory of the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie "The Last Supper", a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which will give him a Vineyard as a gift; Vineyard that will then be quoted by Leonardo in his will and donated, along with the Mona Lisa, to his faithful Giangiacomo Caprotti, the Salai.
In 2007 the research started, with manual excavation, of the living biological residues of the original vineyard: research that led 8 years later to the replanting of Malvasia di Candia Aromatica in an underground site, in the garden of Casa degli Atellani.
Fruit of the scientific project curated by the University of Milan (Faculty of Agricultural Sciences), in 2018 it was possible for the first time to harvest the revived Vigna di Leonardo. Its grapes were harvested and left to ferment in a large earthenware jar, then buried according to the ancient Greco-Roman method.
"La Malvasia di Milano", reborn under the High Patronage of the President of the Republic and thanks to the valuable work of the team of Professor Attilio Scienza, is contained in limited 330 specimens (Year I - 2018).
Decanter number 1/330 (made by Alberti Alessi inspired by Leonardo’s drawing in folio 12690/91 of the Windsor Codex) is now on display in the Sala dei Ritratti by Bernardino Luini in Casa degli Atellani, After the journey that in July 2021 I brought him to be presented in Venice - in the Scuola Grande della Misericordia - as part of the celebrations for the Biennale.
On 15 September 2021, the largest Italian Foundation that collects funds for the fight against leukemia, the Maria Letizia Verga Committee, organized at the Museum the first auction and the first 3 bottles of 330 were beaten in world premiere.
The entire proceeds of the auction was allocated to the research project on the genetic passport that aims to identify the genetic profile of every child suffering from leukemia and lymphoma, in order to study a more targeted personalised therapy and thus provide an additional opportunity for healing from the disease.
Since that day the history of Leonardo’s vineyard and that of the Maria Letizia Verga Committee has been inextricably linked, renewing itself every year and forever.
From the heart of Leonardo to the hearts of men, an endless story. The History of Stories.
A geometric jewel with a sphere containing the original earth's 2.2 grams and an anastatic parchment certifyng the Piece's authenticity are also enclosed inside the glass case where the 1/330 is kept. For further information send an email at [email protected]
An urban vineyard kept in the garden of Casa degli Atellani and open to visits since 2015, when the scientific project was launched on the occasion of Expo. Today Leonardo's Vineyard is part of the Urban Vineyards Association (U.V.A.) born with the aim of protecting the rural, historical and natural heritage represented by urban vineyards.
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