(ANS – Verona) – Work continues on the plan to get the Wine Cellar of the Salesians in Cremisan operating again. In addition to being an attempt at dialogue between the  Israelis and the Palestinians, there is also a study going on of some types of local grapes some of which were presented at Verona on 10 April, in the context of the “Vinitaly” an important  Italian exhibition of vine-growing and wine-making. These were the “Dabouqy 2009”, the “Hamdany-Jandaly 2009” and the “Star of Bethlehem 2009”. At the presentation held in the Umbria Region pavilion were several experts and other guests.

Thanks to the collaboration of the International Voluntary Service for Development (VIS), for a number of years the Salesians have been conducting an experimental programme for the assessment of the local vines. In particular they have concentrated on those known as Hamdàni-Jàndali, Daboùki and Bàladi. This study was undertaken in collaboration with Andrea Bonini, and Roberto Paglierini  from the University of Hebron and the S. Michele Agrarian Institute in Adige di Trento, Italy.

Wine, an important symbol for the Hebrew and the Christian religion represents an attempt at dialogue between Israelis and  the Palestinians. In fact the vine-yards are cut in two between Palestine and Israel, but are able to produce various qualities of wine with one label: Cremisan. The local agriculture in which winemaking constitutes an important source of work could play its part in the process of dialogue  in the current long-lasting conflict.

The project also aimed at providing local employment and training, would also include Muslims. To manage the concern from a technical point of view it is hoped to use two young Arab Christians after three years training at the University of S. Michele in the `Adige. 

Riccardo Cotarella, a wine maker of world-wide repute  and a collaborator in the project s has said: “As a technical person I always find it very enjoyable to study the performance of vines in localities, the qualities of which were previously unknown to me and to others. At the same time we cannot forget that there the vine is history, passion, religion. So just putting together these two factors is a reason for someone like me to become passionately involved.”

Published 16/04/2010