Corporate social responsibility can translate into extraordinary life experiences, as happens at the Cecchetto winery in Tezze di Piave, which for twenty years has produced a line of Raboso almost entirely managed by a group of people with Down syndrome.
Twenty years of inclusive wine
The fortunate experience began in 2005, when a member of the Raboso del Piave brotherhood proposed to Giorgio Cecchetto and his wife to organize some Sundays in the cellar together with families with people with Down syndrome. The idea was to be together, eat, and harvest.
One Sunday after another, the initiative continues over the years. Families with children with Down syndrome organize themselves and found the Treviso section of the Italian Association of People with Down Syndrome (AIPD). Today, twenty years after its inception, the project continues with the children of Giorgio Cecchetto, who lead the company (benefit corporation) with an interest in common, environmental, and social well-being.
From harvest to bottling
'We have reached the twentieth harvest. The participants – including 'boys' now in their fifties – come on the first warm Saturday afternoon of October, along with families and educators, and dedicate themselves to harvest two varieties of Raboso. Then, with a machine, they separate the grapes from the stems.
They crush the grapes and go as far as obtaining the must, collected in demijohns. We then take care of the winemaking', says Sara Cecchetto, head of sustainability at the family business.
In March-April, the boys return to bottling using the traditional method and manual capping with shrink capsule. A safe system that only requires the use of a hairdryer. Finally, they glue to the bottles the labels they designed during the winter, complete with a QR code linking to harvest video.
Two thousand bottles a year labeled AIPD Treviso
Every year about two thousand numbered bottles come from the project that the AIPD Treviso association sells for self-financing at Vinitaly (at the Veneto Region stand), in markets, as solidarity favors or to companies for Christmas gift baskets.
The Raboso project is one of many that the association organizes to promote the social autonomy of its members. But over the years it has turned into a close relationship with the Cecchetto family, nurtured by meetings and joint initiatives.
Inclusion that works
'It's nice to be with them, talk, know about new engagements', says Sara Cecchetto. A special observer (due to closeness and continuity) of the growth of the boys who arrived at the winery twenty years ago. And today they keep in their wallet a photo of Giorgio Cecchetti, who passed away a few years ago.
Of the fifteen people who participate in the project, some work in companies, others do sports. Personal growth is palpable. The 40-50-year-olds coordinate activities and follow the novices. They are very cohesive and sensitive. When a girl had a crisis during her first harvest, the whole group stopped to hug and encourage her. Then everyone resumed work together.
Working skills of people with Down syndrome vary, obviously. Generally, in the winery experience, there is a tendency to perform methodical, simple, repetitive tasks. And a reduced ability to maintain concentration compared to the standards required in an eight-hour workday.
From wine to ancient grain pasta
In the partnership between the Cecchetto family and the AIPD Treviso association, a second project matured two years ago: the cultivation of an ancient grain of the Montana variety and the production of pasta and flour.
The highlight It is the threshing, in July, with early 20th century machinery provided by the group 'I Frascassati'. As with wine, boys with Down syndrome design the labels to be placed on pasta and flour packages. The event, on July 13, 2024, is open to all families with children.
Nurturing the territory
Social responsibility In the Cecchetto farm, it is expressed as a form of inclusion embracing the entire territory and its inhabitants.
Among other initiatives, we recall the training meetings for children about the life of bees, in the farm's apiary, and the forest events (FSC certified) with middle school students on environmental topics, including planting new trees and creating a herbarium.
Marta Strinati
(On the cover, some labels made by the kids of AIPD Treviso)
Professional journalist since January 1995, worked for newspapers (Il Messaggero, Paese Sera, La Stampa) and magazines (NumeroUno, Il Salvagente). Author of investigative reports on food, published the book 'Reading labels to know what we eat'.
