I Videoracconti di Roma&Più - ALBANO LAZIALE

Read the translation in English:
THE ANCIENT CRAFTS

COOPERS

This is the fourth generation running this shop, opened by my great grandfather. Nowadays people don't really use barrels anymore, they mainly use different kinds of containers. So coopers have virtually disappeared in the Castelli romani area. I don't know of any other barrel makers still working, I've stayed here in Albano.

The wood is cut and then the timber is left to season. After this, the best, most suitable pieces of wood are chosen to make the barrel. The wood is then planed into staves, assembled with circular metal bands known as "hoops" (in Italian 'modelli') and then we can start to construct the barrels.

Here in the Castelli they used barrels that could contain up to one thousand litres. Those who make wine need to know how to use the barrels, it takes experience.

INNKEEPERS

I'm currently the only innkeeper who makes wine by hand. This inn has been in our family for 400 years. Over there was where my father kept his donkey, which he took up to the vineyards and then brought back here carrying the grapes, where they were left to humidify. When the donkey died we bought a tractor. As the popular saying goes, wine is also made with grapes, and this wine is 100% grapes.

EXPERIMENTUM MUNDI

We have a group of craftsmen brought together by Albano's maestro composer Giorgio Battistelli, for an opera celebrating artisans and their trades. We are 16 craftsmen, from the cooper to the carpenter, the paver, the knife-grinder and the baker and we've put on many shows around the world. Part of the final piece he even conducted himself, adding his finishing touch. It was really moving, seeing the great maestro Abbado in action.

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• roma
• più
• turismo
• enogastronomia
• albano
• laziale
• vino
• vinai
• botti
• bottai
• coopers
• craftsmen
• uva
• fraschetta
• inn
• wine
• grapes
• music
• abbado
• battistelli