The values of craftsmanship, sustainability, and the beauty of the landscape unite the Radicepura Garden Festival and Donnafugata. Futuro Anteriore is a symbol of productive excellence—from grapes to Passito di Pantelleria—and of the heroic challenge, successfully met by humankind, on this volcanic island: a garden with ancient roots that tells the story of the present while looking toward the future.
For centuries, people in Pantelleria have managed to cultivate vines in an extreme environment: windy, with little rainfall, steeply sloped terrain, and no natural water sources. The vineyards grow on terraces supported by dry-stone walls made of lava rock, skillfully built by expert winegrowers. These terraces help prevent soil erosion and make the island’s landscape truly unique.
The Zibibbo grapevine is cultivated almost at ground level, within small hollows called conche, keeping the plant low and protected from the wind. The conca, like the dry-stone walls, also serves to collect dew that condenses overnight, helping to meet the plant’s water needs. Recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, the alberello pantesco training system is considered a “highly sustainable and creative agricultural practice.”
Pantelleria harmoniously integrates agricultural activities, flora, and fauna, creating an extraordinary biodiversity heritage.
The illustration by artist Stefano Vitale completes the garden, depicting heroic viticulture as a product of immense dedication and manual labor. Futuro Anteriore offers a tangible response to the questions of tomorrow: a garden that inspires, an example of harmony between humans and nature, to be preserved and passed on to future generations.