The sun begins to be felt again, the days grow longer, and the vines stretch towards the sky. Between the rows, every step is a dance suspended between peasant prayers and rapidly growing buds: come down to the vineyard with us to discover the work of May!
Talking to those who have lived with the land for a lifetime is like opening a book of ancient knowledge, made of subtle observations and words full of meaning. Recently, an elderly farmer reminded us of a simple yet powerful truth: in the face of nature, we are all equal.
In a world often dominated by gramizia and blaga (malice and arrogance), the persistent rain of these past months reminded us how insignificant our will is in front of natural cycles. Those who grew up in the vineyard know this humility well. In the past, just as today, when the harvest was threatened by bad weather, farmers would rely on the last resort, invoking ëȓ bin or ëȓ ben (“the good”) as the final act of hope and respect for the land.
The Rogations: Ancient Rites for the Blessing of the Fields
Among the deep-rooted traditions of May, we find the rogations (rugassiun): religious processions that took place during the three days before the Ascension Feast (which this year falls on May 29). During these ceremonies, the fields were walked while chanting litanies and prayers, touching votive chapels and sacred sites of the countryside. A gesture of deep connection between human work and the forces of nature.
Originating from 5th century Gaul, the rogations spread widely in Piedmont, becoming a collective moment of invocation for the protection of crops against drought, storms, and diseases. As Beppe Fenoglio recalls in his story Pioggia e la sposa, during times of excessive rain, the mother herself would order her priest son to “recite a piece of the rogations,” thus relying on a higher power to restore balance. A strong blend – once again – of beliefs, myths, traditions, and peasant work.
The Vineyard Work of May: The Growth of Vines Between Rain and Light
May in the vineyard is a month of running, literally. After weeks of abundant rain, the heat has slowly started to make itself felt, stimulating an impressive growth in the vines. The days grow longer, the sunlight is abundant, and the plants — driven by an unstoppable inner force — stretch towards the sky, seeking the precious rays that fuel photosynthesis.
The rich presence of water and nutrients in the soil, favored by recent rainfall, has given a vigorous push to the young vines. Thus, in rapid succession, we moved from the end of the bending to the beginning of the scarcelling, fundamental operations to guide and contain the growth.
During the month, we will proceed with scarcelling operations (removing unnecessary or excess shoots to favor better energy distribution in the plant), trimming, passing the under-row disc (to shorten the grass that has grown luxuriantly due to the rain), and replanting (replacing old, damaged, or unproductive vines with younger specimens).
In the vineyard, time runs fast, and keeping up with nature requires organization, attention, and a lot of adaptability.
The New Vineyard of Pugnane: Observing and Learning
This year there is an extra challenge: our new vineyard in Pugnane. With patience and respect, we are learning to know it. Every vine tells a different story, every clod of earth has a unique character. Understanding the composition of the soil, observing the plant’s response, adapting the small daily actions: it is a silent study work that will bear fruit in the glass, expressing all the richness of the microterroir.
For us at Agricola Marrone, this is the deep meaning of agricultural work: listening to the land, adapting to its rhythms, and accompanying nature with respect and passion.
May teaches us to trust the rhythm of nature. Between peasant traditions lost in the mists of time and new challenges in the rows, our task remains the same: to care for the vineyard with care, patience, and gratitude. Because every season, every bud, every harvest is a precious gift, to be honored with daily work and with the smile of those who deeply love their land.