Dutchman, Pi. Sachs, was the first in
vine-growing history to call "ampelography" a systematic collection
of varieties of vines.
Ampelography originated as a research instrument to unify
under the same designation grapes of the same variety that were
called by different names or synonyms on one hand and to apply
different names to similar but different grapes on the other.
Ampelography was essential not only to face such critical events
for vines as vine-pest but also after weather calamities and
frosts.
Abbot Rozier (1734-1793) created the first ampelographic
collection that was to become the basis for the classification
of vines and grapes and was to be followed by other collections
throughout the whole of the XIX centuty: a large number of scientists
published precious albums and richly illustrated and etched
collections on grapes.
Starting from the turn of the century, etching would be replaced
by photographs. |
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"L'Ampelografia Italiana" ("ltalian Ampelography")
(1879-1890), published by Vallis Mareni, displays twenty-eight
varieties of grapes and ten Italian vine types:
Grignolino, Barbera, Dolcetto, Sangioveto, Trebbiano, Prosecco,
Raboso, Verdicchio Bianco, Sommariello and Frappato di Vittoria.
lt is the finest vine-related work ever compiled in Italy
and is now displayed at "La Vigna" International Library of
Vicenza.
Tables reproduce grapes as they were towards the end of the
XIX century with extreme precision in the drawing of both sides
of the leaves and the real size of bunches down to the smallest
detail. |
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