“ Almost a century has passed since 1928, when Giuseppe, head of the Andreoli family, bought the complex of houses that are now known as “La Zerla” from the retired army colonel Ernesto Galli. The group of nineteenth-century buildings located on the hills of Bardolino in the quiet town of Ca ‘Bottura were divided at the time into three portions, one of which was used for convivial life while the rest were used as tool shed, granary and the farm animals shelter. ”
“ Over the years, the head of the family decided, in order to meet the new family needs, to divide the property and create three distinct homes for future generations. His son Attilio, grandfather of the current managers (Germano and Ivano), was handed over the building today known as “Rustico”. Together with his heirs, Romano and Lionello, Attilio continued his father agricultural activity by taking care of the estate and creating an additional annex for rural work. Later Attilio handed over the business to his heirs who continued the work in the fields for decades.
In the 90s the two brothers Romano and Lionello, decided to divide the property and assign the buildings that will become the current “La Zerla” to Lionello.. In 2000 Lionello, now retired, handed over the property to his sons Germano and Ivano who started the renovations. ”
“ A year later they inaugurated “La Zerla”, at the time a restaurant offering local gastronomic specialties.
Later, Germano and Ivano completed the renovation of the rustic annex, creating the first rooms (the current Main House), giving the guests of the restaurant the possibility of accommodation. Shortly after, the managers added two new rooms, obtained from the renovation of the original house of grandfather Attilio (currently called Rustico). In 2009 the two brothers decided to suspend the restaurant service to fully devote their attention to the guests staying at “La Zerla”, while still offering a rich morning breakfast. ”
WHAT IS “LA ZERLA” ?
“Zerla” is a word of the local dialect with which it defines an agricultural tool used in the past.
The “Zerla” consists of a curved wooden stick with two hooks at the ends of which was used by placing it on his shoulders to carry the baskets of grapes during the harvest or the buckets of drinking water from the well to the house.
“Parole perdute, parole ritrovate”
Ddited by Laboratorio di Narrazione Autobiografica at the Intergenerational Municipal Centre of Verona.
Vendema (la) – 
The vintage.
In my younger days, it was a kind of festivity for everyone, farmers, women and – in particular – for the youngsters, who had the opportunity to participate in this event.
Early in the morning, after a quick breakfast with bread and milk for the young, roasted Polenta and salami for the adults, accompanied by the one or the other „goto de vin“ (glass of wine), on barrows and carts, crouched in the midst of the „sesti“ (baskets).
Arrived at the target location, in a row, the „sesti“ (baskets) along the „bine“ (grapevines), the „vendema“ (vintage) started, a child assigned to every woman with grape scissors. „I sesti impienii de ua“ (the baskets filled with grapes), ranged along the „bine“ (grapevines) were removed by selected harvest labourers with the help of the „zerla“ and carried to the barrows and carts, which – when fully loaded – were brought to the farmstead.
This procedure was repeated several times a day, depending on the location and consistency of the land and vineyard; in other cases the transport was done only once at the end of the day prior to sundown.
About noon „la parona“ (the proprietor; here: the winegrower) came with „polenta brustola’ e renga (formaio per i boce) (roasted Polenta, herrings and cheese for the children), some „goti de vin“ (glasses of wine) to wash down for the adults and pure spring water with a sip of wine for the young. Such a meal was served twice a day, once between breakfast and lunch, and once „ma co’ formaio verdo“ (but with Gorgonzola) in the late afternoon.
“El lunario de la Valpolesela 2016”
Ddited by the Province of Verona and Valpolicella Benaco Banca.
Farse le arte…. I fasea le zerle par portar sece e sesti a spale, le zerle se le fasea con legno de rubina o de figar. Par farghe la sagoma a le zerle se piegaa el ramo de la pianta e se ghe tacaa en sasso en modo chèl restesse en gioma e s’el ghe lassaa en par de ani, dopo se ghe pelaa la scorsa en modo che el ramo el se sechesse e dopo s’el segaa, s’el sistemaaa con na raspa, s’el sbusaa e se ghe metea la nasela (el rampin) da tacar i seci. ….
Tool making…… … set the „zerle“ to carry buckets and baskets on the shoulders, the „zerle“ were made of bastard acacia or fig tree wood. To achieve the typical form of the “zerle” the branch was bend and fixed for two years using heavy stones, then, the tree bark was removed to allow the wood to dry; afterwards, the branch was sawn, ground with the help of a rasp, drill holes were set, hooks were mounted to carry the buckets …
Call us
