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Trattato Della Coltivazione Delle Viti by Soderini, Gioanvettorio; Davanzati Bostichi, Bernardo, a rare photograph of the 1610 - wine book.
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  • Trattato Della Coltivazione Delle Viti by Soderini, Gioanvettorio; Davanzati Bostichi, Bernardo, a rare photograph of the 1610 - wine book.
  • Trattato Della Coltivazione Delle Viti by Soderini, Gioanvettorio; Davanzati Bostichi, Bernardo, a rare selected detail of the 1610 - wine book.
  • Trattato Della Coltivazione Delle Viti by Soderini, Gioanvettorio; Davanzati Bostichi, Bernardo, a rare photograph of the 1610 - wine book.
  • Trattato Della Coltivazione Delle Viti by Soderini, Gioanvettorio; Davanzati Bostichi, Bernardo, a rare sample view of the 1610 - wine book.
  • Trattato Della Coltivazione Delle Viti by Soderini, Gioanvettorio; Davanzati Bostichi, Bernardo, a rare example image of the 1610 - wine book.
  • Trattato Della Coltivazione Delle Viti by Soderini, Gioanvettorio; Davanzati Bostichi, Bernardo, a rare interesting detail of the 1610 - wine book.
  • Trattato Della Coltivazione Delle Viti by Soderini, Gioanvettorio; Davanzati Bostichi, Bernardo, a rare image from the book of the 1610 - wine book.
  • Trattato Della Coltivazione Delle Viti by Soderini, Gioanvettorio; Davanzati Bostichi, Bernardo, a rare sample view of the 1610 - wine book.
  • Trattato Della Coltivazione Delle Viti by Soderini, Gioanvettorio; Davanzati Bostichi, Bernardo, a rare illustrated detail of the 1610 - wine book.
  • Trattato Della Coltivazione Delle Viti by Soderini, Gioanvettorio; Davanzati Bostichi, Bernardo, a rare image from the book of the 1610 - wine book.
  • Trattato Della Coltivazione Delle Viti by Soderini, Gioanvettorio; Davanzati Bostichi, Bernardo, a rare image of the 1610 - wine book.
  • Trattato Della Coltivazione Delle Viti by Soderini, Gioanvettorio; Davanzati Bostichi, Bernardo, a rare photograph of the 1610 - wine book.
  • Trattato Della Coltivazione Delle Viti by Soderini, Gioanvettorio; Davanzati Bostichi, Bernardo, a rare selected detail of the 1610 - wine book.
  • Trattato Della Coltivazione Delle Viti by Soderini, Gioanvettorio; Davanzati Bostichi, Bernardo, a rare photograph of the 1610 - wine book.
  • Trattato Della Coltivazione Delle Viti by Soderini, Gioanvettorio; Davanzati Bostichi, Bernardo, a rare sample view of the 1610 - wine book.
  • Trattato Della Coltivazione Delle Viti by Soderini, Gioanvettorio; Davanzati Bostichi, Bernardo, a rare example image of the 1610 - wine book.
  • Trattato Della Coltivazione Delle Viti by Soderini, Gioanvettorio; Davanzati Bostichi, Bernardo, a rare interesting detail of the 1610 - wine book.
  • Trattato Della Coltivazione Delle Viti by Soderini, Gioanvettorio; Davanzati Bostichi, Bernardo, a rare image from the book of the 1610 - wine book.
  • Trattato Della Coltivazione Delle Viti by Soderini, Gioanvettorio; Davanzati Bostichi, Bernardo, a rare sample view of the 1610 - wine book.
  • Trattato Della Coltivazione Delle Viti by Soderini, Gioanvettorio; Davanzati Bostichi, Bernardo, a rare illustrated detail of the 1610 - wine book.
  • Trattato Della Coltivazione Delle Viti by Soderini, Gioanvettorio; Davanzati Bostichi, Bernardo, a rare image from the book of the 1610 - wine book.
  • Trattato Della Coltivazione Delle Viti by Soderini, Gioanvettorio; Davanzati Bostichi, Bernardo, a rare image of the 1610 - wine book.
Trattato Della Coltivazione Delle Viti

The First Whisper of Sangiovese: Soderini’s Ode to Tuscan Vines

Soderini, Gioanvettorio; Davanzati Bostichi, Bernardo

Trattato Della Coltivazione Delle Viti
E La Coltivazione Toscana Delle Viti E D'Alcuni Arbori ... E Del Frutto Che Se Ne Può Cavare. Del S. Gioanvettorio Soderini Gentil'Huomo Fiorentino. E La Coltivazione Toscana Delle Viti, E D'Alcuni Arbori Del S. Bernardo Davanzati Bostichi Gentil'Huomo Fiorentino.

1610, Firenze, Giunti

2nd Edition

$650 USD

Overview

This edition of Trattato della coltivazione delle Viti by Giovanvettorio Soderini offers one of the earliest written mentions of Sangiogheto, now known as Sangiovese, the grape that would later underpin much of Tuscany’s wine identity. Soderini, a Florentine nobleman with a gentleman farmer’s curiosity, praises the grape for being “juicy and overflowing with wine” and declares it “never fails,” a statement that borders on either satire or wishful thinking, considering “the grape’s notoriously fickle nature”, quoting Kerin O’Keefe’s mention of Soderini in her Brunello Di Montalcino.

Inside the book

“In Lombardy the grape Grappella is much praised, being similar, or almost the same, as that called Gallazzone: valued for making wine are the Voltoiane, the Schiavene nere, the Sangiovese - vines praised for making a great deal of wine - the Cornicchioni, the Trebbiani…” The author isn’t praising Sangiovese for finesse or nobility, but for its productivity and usefulness in making large quantities of wine. This reflects early 17th-century viticultural values, where yield and consistency were prized, since wine was both daily sustenance and trade commodity. The reference shows that by 1610, Sangiovese was already an established and recognized Tuscan grape variety, worthy of inclusion in a systematic viticultural manual. What makes this quote fascinating is the contrast with today: Sangiovese is now celebrated not for quantity but for quality, forming the backbone of Chianti Classico, Brunello di Montalcino, and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano. The volume includes both Soderini and Davanzati Bostichi, making it a compendium of Florentine agronomic thought. In one of the many chapters Soderini asks which is better: planting in vineyards, or as rows, stumps, little trees, or pergola. The pergola is presented as one of several possible training methods (others include low vines in rows, arboscelli, etc.). The discussion emphasizes that pergolas allow the vine to climb higher, which fits the plant’s natural tendency. This leads to a cheerful and vigorous vine, producing more clusters. However, the author warns: a vineyard trained too high may make the grapes less concentrated, while smaller vineyards often produce better quality wine.This passage reflects a long-running debate in viticulture between yield vs. quality. Bostichi touched on the subject too explaining how vines trained on pergolas can be pruned and spaced in a way that allows them to spread, giving them room to grow strong and bear fruit. Here pergolas are described as favorable for vines in orchards and gardens, where they can climb and spread, often over trellises or supports. In the Renaissance, the pergola was as much an architectural and social feature as an agricultural one - used to shade walkways, courtyards, and gardens. Soderini acknowledges its aesthetic function but emphasizes that the fruit quality is not diminished by this “ornamental” training system. This places pergola viticulture at the intersection of utility and beauty, which is very Florentine. The historical trajectory from “a vine praised for making much wine” to one of Italy’s most prestigious varietals makes this passage a keystone in wine history. This second edition, rarer than the first, includes detailed guidance on vine training and arboriculture, all shaped by the Tuscan landscape.

Why La Fenice chose it

More than 400 years ago, Soderini understood that Sangiovese (or, in a much cuter antique way, Sangiogheto) was a drama queen which could swing from rustic to regal, and in the right hands it delivered some of the juiciest wines of the region. This rare second edition overflows with Tuscan vine lore, a spirited milestone in Italy’s wine story still referenced today by experts. Productivity meets beauty, long before terroir was a hashtag.
Condition Report

Pp. [1] f.e., [8], 128, [8]; [4], 45, [3], [1] r.e.

Later vellum binding (XIX century?), leather label at the spine with title in gold (very small losses), red sprinkled edges. Traces of old handwritten notes on the title page, illegible; very few contemporary handwritten notes in the margins. Silk green boookmark. Interesting attempt to replace two missing leaves in the dedication [5, 8], substituted with anastatic copies on slightly bluish antique paper, but taken from another edition, so the text between [5] and [6] is not perfectly sequential (with some repeated lines) and the layout is slightly different. Nevertheless, thanks to this probably nineteenth-century contrivance, the text is complete. Old repair to lower corner of p. 13 of the second pagination. Considering the makeshift repair to the dedication a minor flaw (or even a touch of addedd personality), this rare second edition is attractive and in good conditions.

Dimensions (inches): 8 1/4 x 6 1/4 x 1
About the author

Giovan Vettorio Soderini (1526–1596), Florentine agronomist, noted for pioneering works on viticulture and agriculture.

Bernardo Davanzati Bostichi (1529–1606), Italian agronomist, economist, and noted translator of Tacitus, admired for his concise prose style.

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