WINE NEWS /
Sassicaia in space? No, we're not kidding...
Ancient mariners always carried root stock during
their voyages. The first thing Noah did after the flood was to plant
the vines he had brought with him. The Spanish conquistadores
planted European varietals in the Americas as soon as they discovered
the New World.
As part of a series of experiments to determine the
effects of weightlessness on plants, Sassicaia rootstock will be carried
to space onboard an unmanned space mission later this year by Kayser,
a Livorno-based life science space research company, which regularly
transports materials and supplies to the International Space Station.
Once the vines have returned to earth, they will undergo biological
and chemical analysis at the University of Pisa before being replanted
in Bolgheri, where researchers will continue to monitor their growth.
The mission's purpose is to study how plants might
one day be cultivated in space. The space flight is also intended
to raise awareness of how satellite technology helps winemakers monitor
their vineyards and weather conditions, etc.
To commemorate the occasion, the Marquis Niccolò
Incisa della Rocchetta created a specially shaped bottle of Sassicaia
that traveled to space on an unmanned flight on May 31, 2005 (Mission
Foton M2).
Related Wines and Links: Antinori,
Ca' Marcanda, Castell'in
Villa, Castello
dei Rampolla, Cesani,
Cima, Col
d'Orcia, Felsina, Fontodi,
Fossi, Grattamacco,
Guado al Tasso, Le
Macchiole, Montevertine,
Ornellaia, Podere
Forte, Querciabella,
Sassicaia, Tua
Rita, Vignavecchia
(Beccari).
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