Le Manzane: success for the 12th edition of the Solidarity Harvest with Luca Zaia, Kristian Ghedina and Lele Marcassa

ow of true winemakers. Over 500 people took part yesterday in the 12th edition of the Solidarity Harvest organized by the Le Manzane winery of San Pietro di Feletto (TV). Participants had the opportunity to live one of the most authentic experiences in the world of wine: the manual harvesting of grapes immersed in the splendid scenery of the Prosecco Hills of Conegliano and Valdobbiadene, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The event had a charitable purpose: to raise funds for the non-profit organization Unico1 of former footballer Diego Murari, to help sick children regain the desire to dream. Young and old alike took ritual selfies with the award-winning Italian ski champion Kristian Ghedina on stage together with Lele Marcassa, presenter of the 2023 Solidarity Harvest.

«This year - declared the owner of the Le Manzane winery, Ernesto Balbinot - we wanted to change and harvest in the most inaccessible vineyards: the terraces that cover the cellar (3,500 square meters of vineyard). We have harvested around 35 quintals of grapes which will be implemented on Monday (today ed.) when our guys finish harvesting for a total of a hundred quintals of grapes. It is my duty to thank all the sponsors, partners, entities that have given patronage to the event and all the staff of the Le Manzane winery who, with their enthusiasm and work, make this event possible every year. Special thanks to the Association for the Heritage of the Prosecco Hills of Conegliano and Valdobbiadene for the support and contribution given to the project.».

The president of the Veneto Region, Luca Zaia, complimented the Balbinot family and all the volunteers "because they were courageous and threw their hearts over the obstacle". The governor then extended a warm hug to Diego Murari who participated in the event despite health problems. Also on stage is the award-winning Italian ski champion Kristian Ghedina. «When I dealt with the candidacy of the Milan Cortina 2026 Olympics - said Zaia - I immediately thought of Kristian because behind a great candidacy there is always a great champion».

«Thank you for giving me this dream - began Diego Murari - thanks to the champions who are here like Kristian Ghedina. We will try to bring hope to children. My priority is to succeed, that's why I fight every day."

«12th edition, the numbers are now high - declared the mayor of San Pietro di Feletto, Maria Assunta Rizzo - I must congratulate the Balbinot family for this day». «For our hills - added Elvira Bortolomiol, president of the Consorzio Tutela del Vino Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco - having companies that move in this way is a source of great pride».

The event began at 9.00 with the grape harvest, continued with visits to the cellar, live Italian music by the Magirus Band & Alberto Ceschin and the aperitif with Prosecco Superiore Docg Le Manzane accompanied by the delicious fish cicchetti from Ca' del Poggio .

Mid-morning, after the interventions of the authorities, Lele Marcassa entertained the public with the Gin Tonic competition. The cocktails are prepared by Enrico Brunello who, with his family, manages the smallest artisanal distillery in Italy. 9 jurors and 3 teams led by the volcanic president of the "Marca XI" Marco Varisco, by the ski champion Kristian Ghedina and by Yoshiyuki Kawazu, agent of the Le Manzane winery. The winner of the challenge was Gin CR42 Falco dedicated to Giandomenico Brunello, a pilot born in 1916 and 3rd generation distiller, who sailed the skies from Africa to Northern Europe with his CR 42 FALCO biplane.

The day continued with the lottery, puppet shows by the Alberto De Bastiani Company, green test drives with an electric car by Manzotti Automobili and lunch in the "caneva".

The day was attended by the pilots of the 132nd Gruppo Volo Buscaglia of the 51st Wing of Istrana and some members of Simone Menin's Super Simo's Family association which promotes sporting activity among people with disabilities. Simone will soon be able to realize his dream of running in the New York marathon aboard his new wheelchair.