Vineyard of Leonardo da Vinci

The Vineyard of Leonardo da Vinci is a historic vineyard property in Milan, Italy, remembered for its connection with Leonardo da Vinci during his Milanese period. It is not primarily a conventional commercial wine brand or a large winery group; its importance comes from the intersection of Renaissance patronage, Leonardo’s personal history, Milanese urban history, and modern grapevine research. The vineyard was given to Leonardo in 1498 by Ludovico Maria Sforza, Duke of Milan, commonly known as Ludovico il Moro. The gift was made while Leonardo was working nearby on The Last Supper in the refectory of Santa Maria delle Grazie. It appears to have been intended as recognition for Leonardo’s artistic, engineering, and courtly service. The property lay beyond the Porta Vercellina area, near the Borgo delle Grazie and the land associated with the San Vittore vineyard. Historical notes attributed to Leonardo describe a roughly rectangular holding of about 15 Milanese pertiche, approximately one hectare, arranged in sixteen rows, although the precise original boundaries were not initially fixed. The vineyard’s ownership was interrupted by the political upheaval of the Italian Wars. After French forces entered Milan and Ludovico Sforza lost power, Leonardo left the city. Before departing, he arranged for the vineyard to be rented to Pietro di Giovanni da Oppreno, the father of Leonardo’s apprentice Gian Giacomo Caprotti, known as Salaì. In 1502, the French administration confiscated the property and assigned it to Leonardo Biglia, a Sforza official. Leonardo later returned to Milan after Charles II d’Amboise requested his services. In 1507, he successfully secured the restoration of the vineyard without being required to bear administrative costs. Leonardo retained the property through the later stages of his life. In his final will, prepared in Amboise shortly before his death, he divided the garden into two equal portions. One portion went to Salaì, who had built a house on the site, and the other to Leonardo’s servant Giovanbattista Villani. Subsequent transfers and inheritances fragmented the property. Villani transferred his share to the nearby San Gerolamo Monastery in 1534, while Salaì’s portion passed through his family after his death in 1524. The location was studied again in the modern period. In 1920, architect and politician Luca Beltrami used documentary evidence to identify the likely position of the original vineyard, probably parallel to what is now Via De Grassi. At that time, cultivation was being removed as the area was prepared for subdivision and new construction. The historical site later gained renewed public visibility through a preservation and scientific project connected with the Casa degli Atellani and the Portaluppi Foundation. Research conducted in 2007 by Serena Imazio and a team led by grapevine geneticist Attilio Scienza examined biological remnants found in the garden of the Casa degli Atellani. The project identified material associated with Malvasia di Candia Aromatica, the grape variety traditionally linked to Leonardo’s vineyard. The vines were replanted as part of the restoration associated with Expo 2015, bringing the site back into cultivation. The first recorded harvest from the restored vineyard took place on September 12, 2018. Today, the vineyard functions chiefly as a cultural, historical, and scientific heritage site in Milan. Its identity rests on the preservation of a place connected with Leonardo, the interpretation of Renaissance Milan, and the recovery of a historically significant grapevine rather than on a broad portfolio of branded consumer products. Ownership, commercial structure, and any current retail or wine-distribution arrangements are not established in the supplied sources.

The vineyard’s documented history begins in Milan in 1498, when Ludovico Maria Sforza, Duke of Milan, granted Leonardo da Vinci a vineyard near Santa Maria delle Grazie. Leonardo was then engaged in major work for the Milanese court, including The Last Supper in the nearby Dominican convent. The donation was first recorded in a notarial deed dated October 2, 1498, and formally confirmed in a ducal letter of April 26, 1499. The property was located beyond the Porta Vercellina district, near the Borgo delle Grazie and the San Vittore vineyard. Leonardo’s surviving notes, including material in the Codex Atlanticus and Manuscript I of France, give dimensions of approximately 100 Milanese braccia by 294 braccia. These measurements correspond to an area of roughly 15 Milanese pertiche, or about one hectare, and indicate that the vineyard consisted of sixteen rows. The exact boundaries were not initially established, but Leonardo recorded neighboring lands and measurements that later assisted historical researchers. Political events soon disrupted Leonardo’s possession. The Italian Wars led to the French invasion of the Duchy of Milan, Ludovico Sforza’s flight, and Leonardo’s departure from the city. Before leaving Milan, Leonardo leased the vineyard to Pietro di Giovanni da Oppreno, whose son Gian Giacomo Caprotti, known as Salaì, was Leonardo’s apprentice. Following the French takeover, the administration reviewed recent Sforza grants. In 1502, it confiscated Leonardo’s vineyard and awarded it to Leonardo Biglia, an official associated with the former Sforza government. Leonardo returned to Milan after Charles II d’Amboise, acting for Louis XII, asked him to resume unfinished work. In 1507, Leonardo raised the matter of the confiscated vineyard and obtained its restoration. The order required that the property be returned to its previous condition and specified that Leonardo should not have to pay even a small administrative expense. He remained in Milan until 1513, after which he moved to Rome and later to France. Leonardo’s final will, written in Amboise about a month before his death, addressed the vineyard again. He ordered that the rectangular garden be divided equally between Salaì and Giovanbattista Villani, a servant who had followed him to France. Salaì already had a house on his portion, and the testament granted the land and house as a perpetual reward for the services provided by the two men. Later history fragmented the property. In 1534, Villani transferred his share to the nearby San Gerolamo Monastery. Salaì’s portion passed to his family after his death in 1524. The original vineyard’s precise urban position became uncertain as Milan expanded. In 1920, Luca Beltrami used historical documents to identify its probable location, running roughly parallel to modern Via De Grassi. Beltrami photographed vines still growing in the area while cultivation was beginning to disappear and the land was being prepared for subdivision and construction. The site was revived in the twenty-first century through cooperation involving the Portaluppi Foundation, the owners of the Casa degli Atellani, and the University of Milan. In 2007, Serena Imazio and a research team led by Professor Attilio Scienza investigated living biological remnants in the Atellani garden. Their work supported the identification of Malvasia di Candia Aromatica as the grape variety associated with Leonardo’s original vines. The vines were replanted in a project developed in connection with Expo 2015, turning the location into a functioning historical vineyard again. On September 12, 2018, the restored vines produced their first recorded harvest. The modern vineyard is therefore best understood as a preserved historical landscape and research-supported reconstruction. Its significance derives from documentary continuity, Leonardo’s personal connection, the property’s role in Renaissance Milan, and the recovery of an old grapevine variety. The available reference material does not establish a separate corporate owner, listed entity, executive team, or broad commercial product range.

• 2018

  First harvest of the restored vines

  [1]Leonardo da Vinci's Vineyarden.wikipedia.org

  The restored vineyard produced its first documented harvest on September 12, 2018.

• 2015

  Restored vineyard presented in connection with Expo 2015

  [1]Leonardo da Vinci's Vineyarden.wikipedia.org

  The vineyard was replanted and brought back into cultivation through a heritage and scientific project associated with Expo 2015.

• 2007

  Grapevine research began

  [1]Leonardo da Vinci's Vineyarden.wikipedia.org

  Researchers led by Attilio Scienza examined biological remnants in the Casa degli Atellani garden and identified material associated with Malvasia di Candia Aromatica.

• 1920

  Historical location reconstructed

  [1]Leonardo da Vinci's Vineyarden.wikipedia.org

  Luca Beltrami used historical records to identify the probable position of the original vineyard and documented its remaining cultivation before urban redevelopment.

• 1534

  Villani transferred his share

  [1]Leonardo da Vinci's Vineyarden.wikipedia.org

  Giovanbattista Villani transferred his half of the property to the nearby San Gerolamo Monastery.

• 1519

  Vineyard addressed in Leonardo's final will

  [1]Leonardo da Vinci's Vineyarden.wikipedia.org

  Leonardo directed that the garden be divided between Salaì and Giovanbattista Villani as a perpetual reward for their service.

• 1507

  Leonardo recovered the vineyard

  [1]Leonardo da Vinci's Vineyarden.wikipedia.org

  After returning to Milan, Leonardo obtained restoration of the property without being charged administrative costs.

• 1502

  Property confiscated under French administration

  [1]Leonardo da Vinci's Vineyarden.wikipedia.org

  After the French takeover of Milan, the vineyard was confiscated and assigned to Leonardo Biglia.

• 1499

  Donation formally confirmed

  [1]Leonardo da Vinci's Vineyarden.wikipedia.org

  A ducal letter dated April 26, 1499, confirmed the transfer of the vineyard to Leonardo.

• 1498

  Vineyard granted to Leonardo

  [1]Leonardo da Vinci's Vineyarden.wikipedia.org

  Ludovico Maria Sforza granted Leonardo da Vinci a vineyard near Santa Maria delle Grazie while Leonardo was working on The Last Supper.

• 1498

  First documentary mention

  [1]Leonardo da Vinci's Vineyarden.wikipedia.org

  A notarial deed dated October 2, 1498, recorded the vineyard and its connection with Leonardo.

A Renaissance heritage vineyard and living cultural landmark rather than a conventional mass-market winery. Its positioning combines Leonardo da Vinci provenance, Milanese history, conservation, grapevine genetics, and place-based cultural tourism.

• Historic grape variety · 2015

  Malvasia di Candia Aromatica grapes

  The restored vineyard is associated with Malvasia di Candia Aromatica, a grape variety identified through modern research into biological remnants found in the Casa degli Atellani garden. The vines were replanted to recreate the historic agricultural character of Leonardo’s property. The supplied sources document cultivation and harvesting, but do not establish a separately marketed wine range or current commercial distribution.

• Cultural heritage property

  Leonardo-associated vineyard site

  The principal offering of the site is its preserved and cultivated vineyard landscape, interpreted through Leonardo da Vinci’s Milanese history. It serves as a heritage and educational landmark rather than a conventional packaged-goods brand.

• 2015Expo 2015 vineyard revival project

  Italy

  The Portaluppi Foundation, the adjacent Casa degli Atellani property owners, and the University of Milan supported the revival of Leonardo’s historic vineyard in connection with Expo 2015. The project combined historical interpretation, conservation, and grapevine research.

  Outcome. The site returned to cultivation with replanted vines associated with Malvasia di Candia Aromatica and gained renewed visibility as a Milanese heritage attraction.

  Source

• 2015

  Decision to restore the vineyard as a living heritage siteStrategy

  Background

  Research into surviving biological material provided an opportunity to reconnect the modern site with the grapevines historically associated with Leonardo.

  Action taken

  The participating foundations, property owners, and university researchers replanted Malvasia di Candia Aromatica vines and integrated cultivation into the site’s heritage presentation.

  Aftermath

  The vineyard became an active historical landscape again and produced its first recorded restored harvest in 2018.

  Source

• 1507

  Restoration of Leonardo's propertyOther

  Background

  The vineyard had been confiscated in 1502 after the French administration took control of Milan and reassessed Sforza-era grants.

  Action taken

  Charles II d'Amboise’s administration ordered that the vineyard be returned to Leonardo in its previous condition without charging him expenses.

  Aftermath

  Leonardo regained the vineyard and later disposed of it in his final will by dividing it between Salaì and Giovanbattista Villani.

  Source

1. 1Leonardo da Vinci's Vineyarden.wikipedia.org