Laguna nel Bicchiere Association was born from the curiosity of Flavio Franceschet, who in 1993 discovered the vineyards of the lagoon—particularly the garden-vineyard of San Francesco della Vigna on the island of Sant’Elena. He then began involving the students from the middle school where he taught in the exciting stages of winemaking, having them crush the must with their feet.
Participation gradually extended to other schools, and over the years the harvest locations diversified: from San Francesco della Vigna to Sant’Elena, from the former Veneziana Gas area to Sant’Erasmo, and finally to the Scarpa Volo area in Mazzorbo.
Laguna nel Bicchiere – Le vigne ritrovate is a non-profit association with the goal of restoring the abandoned vineyards of the Venice lagoon, safeguarding a tradition and protecting an original and almost unknown landscape by revealing its hidden relationship between city and countryside. Its educational mission is to cultivate knowledge of the territory by perceiving the colors, scents, and flavors of the seasons and the land.
The association takes part in the foundation of the Urban Vineyards Association through its President and legal representative, Renzo De Antonia—an architect and retired teacher who has long been involved in volunteer work, especially in sports, first as a sports club director and later for 15 years as head of the Provincial CONI of Venice. He has been leading the association for the past three years, following the untimely passing of its founder, Flavio Franceschet.