Chris d Craiker
As I drive around Napa, it’s hard to ignore all the “Vanity Vineyards” in front yards. Sometimes 20 vines are jammed together to show the owner is a part of the wine culture. But what about a 200 square foot vineyard on a roof with a winery below?
In the small Italian town of Reggio Emilia in Emilio-Romagna by Bologna sits the smallest vineyard and winery in the World, at least according to the owner. Squeezed on the tiny roof of the historic villa is a 200 square foot patch of vines and trellises owned by Tullio Masoni. He fertilizes the vines with eggs, bananas, seaweed and nightingale droppings. A former investment banker, Masoni had inherited a vineyard near Reggio Emilia but regretted selling it. To satisfy his desire to have a vineyard he planted the rooftop vineyard and processes the grapes downstairs. He sells the 29 bottles produced each year in a local art gallery as an art project. He’s not ashamed to ask about $5,000 per 750 mm bottle. They’re not to be opened and drank, after all, arrogant collectors of fine wines never open their sacred ancient bottles of wine but show them off as part of their prized possessions.
The trellises for the vines were made by a sculptor and the oak barrels designed by local artists. Masoni says, "My grapes reach for art as soon as they are born" insisting his wine bottles be treated like works of art and never opened. The wine is not to be drunk but honored. "My wine is a form of artistic expression, a philosophical provocation, something you keep in your living room to chat about with your friends and tell them about the crazy guy who planted a vineyard on his roof" Masoni says.
The Villa has undergone multiple restorations over three centuries, housing various locally prominent families. The east facing facade entrance provides a narrow 61 step staircase to the roof vineyard, four floors up. The original 16th century foundations support the grapevines, bottling equipment and barrels, all two of them. In the central courtyard grapevines have been planted and climb upward, struggling to acquire light.
The villa has interesting historic roots. In 1786 it was the headquarters of a famous charity of that period. A plaque commemorates the arrival of Giuseppe Garibaldi, one of the most famous Italian unification champions, riding a white horse on August 19, 1859, and was greeted by an enthusiastic crowd. Garibaldis visit was like, “ Washington slept here” to local lore. Eventually the building became known as a princely villa, then a palace and still has its own well water. Over the years over 100 children have been baptized from its waters.
Building gardens on a roof is not a simple matter. The first and most important issue is confirming the foundation and roof structure are sound and strong enough to support the weight. Here's where a structural engineer can give you a good idea of what your building can support.
Of course, a good waterproof membrane is essential with sufficient drainage that can be monitored to maintain continuous run off. Start with a drainage membrane layer, a layer of gravel and sand make a good base. There are light weight base materials that might help, but the long-term viability of such products is not known. The drains should be treated like french drains and wrapped properly with periodic clean-outs. Four to six inches of good soil should be applied:
1 formula is one part vermiculite,
1 part compost,
2 parts loam or good topsoil,
3 parts course perlite
3 parts filler such as old bark, peat moss or decayed wood chips or fiber.
Expect to fertilize regularly and to replace the mixture every 5 to 10 years. A good viticulturalist should give you more advice about what and how to plant your grapes. One interesting aspect of planting on a roof is the heat, or lack of it, generated by the structure below. The roof structure should be well insulated as well below.
A roof top garden or vineyard is not for everyone but besides improving air quality, reducing air pollution and lowering heat-gain for the structure, it makes a beautiful addition to one’s property, especially in high-density urban areas. Maybe some of Napa’s Downtown buildings could benefit from a roof top vanity vineyard.
Chris d Craiker AIA/NCARB has a garage rooftop patio with potted plants and synthetic grass.
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