Cheo’s vineyards climb up the hills that surround the village of Vernazza and consist of about 70 terraces positioned in the best locations for grapes growing. The terraces preserve the local toponyms of Fossà, le Croci, Lamma, Contra, Mavà and Vernazzola, and their altitude varies between 30 and 150 meters above sea level. Vernazzola is located inland, about 1km from the coast, and there we grow most of our red varieties. The rest of the vineyards dominate the sea, surrounded by a vegetation of agaves, holly oaks, heather, prickly pears, myrtle and giant euphorbias. Spread over a surface of approximately 2.5 hectares, our vines are grown in an espalier system rather the traditional “pergola”, whose benefits have proved less significant than the problems it creates in the spraying and harvesting process. Plants are pruned with a single Guyot, in a density of 8000/6000 plants per hectare, providing an average productivity of 1/1,5 kg per plant (5-7 clusters). The soil is only ploughed once, on planting new shoots, then, all through the winter months, we allow it to regain the grass and weed carpet that naturally feeds it and protects it.
Fossà
Here is where our project started and we are proud to say that we managed to recover a whole hillside, presently the only one in Vernazza covered in vines from top to bottom. 360 stone steps that we climb everyday with extreme satisfaction!
Vernazzola
Along the Vernazzola creek, set in a cool valley protected from the sea winds: here we produce the majority of our red grapes.
Mavà
Recently acquired, a location gifted with breath-taking views and the ideal exposure for the Sciacchetrà grapes.