The vine-growing method Bellussera was born at the end of the nineteenth century in Tezze di Piave, in the province of Treviso, when the Bellussi brothers invented a real eco-system by arranging the vines in rays, more than 2 meters from the ground, around a support. It usually was a grid of mulberry trees, whose leaves were used to raise the silkworm, a very common production in the countryside of the time.

The invention, unique in the world, had the dual purpose of making the most of the land below the vineyard, for grazing poultry and other crops, and at the same time keeping the grapes away from the humidity of the earth in order to counteract the onset of diseases such as downy mildew.

Like the most daring architectural works, the Bellussera is also based on iron geometric principles. From each support the shoots radiate out to capture as much sunlight as possible.

(Gianni Moriani, historian)

In these fertile lands bathed by the Piave river, the history of vine cultivation goes back to the dawn of time considering that one of the first wine roads, the Postumia, which connected Genoa to Aquileia, was created in Roman times. Pliny the Elder already praised its red wines as “intense as pitch”.

Among these, one of the autochthonous vines of the Piave, still cultivated by some wineries in the Piave area that maintain their tradition (such as Anna Spinato, Antonio Facchin, Bonotto Delle Tezze, Bonotto Vini, Cantina Pizzolato, De Stefani, Le Magnolie, Le Rive, Ca’ di Rajo, Ornella Molon, Rechsteiner, Tenuta San Giorgio), is Raboso. It gives life to Malanotte del Piave DOCG – minimum 70% Raboso Piave and maximum 30% Raboso Veronese vine – which is the maximum expression of these fertile lands, combining the strength typical of these grapes with the elegance given by their drying.

To visit them, you can go right to the village to which where this wine was born, Borgo Malanotte, from the name of the family once owner of all the surrounding lands, miraculously remained unchanged from its completion at the end of the 17th century until today. A short distance away, you can still see some beautiful fields cultivated according to the Bellusera by the producers of the area committed to the preservation of this ancient production method, which has fallen into disuse over the years due to the social changes that have taken place in the Venetian countryside in favor of city life.

For guided tours and tastings, if the season allows it under the rows of centenary mulberry trees, a true spectacle of nature, you can contact Consorzio Vini Venezia or one of the main producers of Malanotte del Piave, such as Ca’ di Rajo, Ornella Molon e Bonotto Vini.

The Secret

The origins of the name Raboso are still a mystery: it could derive from the homonymous stream that flows into the Piave river or from the Venetian term “rabioso” (angry) for its strong and decisive flavor.

Useful Info

Consorzio Vini Venezia
Via Businello 3
31040 Portobuffolè, Treviso
Tel. +39 0422 850045