Giovanni Vettorio Soderini (1526–1596), an Italian agronomist born in Florence, studied philosophy and law at the University of Bologna. Upon his return to Tuscany, he spoke out openly against the rule of the Medici and took part in a conspiracy aimed at wresting power from them. He was consequently sentenced to death by the Florentine Council, but was pardoned by Ferdinando I de’ Medici (1549–1609) and exiled to his country estates. During his exile, he devoted himself intensively to the study of agriculture.

Soderini subsequently wrote several significant agricultural treatises. It was not until after his death, in 1600, that his work *Trattato della coltivazione delle viti, e del frutto che se ne può cavare* (*Treatise on the Cultivation of Vines and the Fruit That May Be Obtained Therefrom*) was published. It ranks among the most significant Italian works on viticulture from the Renaissance and covers viticulture, winemaking and numerous grape varieties known at the time. This makes Soderini one of the early authors to have also dealt with the description and classification of grape varieties.
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The glossary is a monumental achievement and one of the most important contributions to wine knowledge. Of all the encyclopaedias I use on the subject of wine, it is by far the most important. That was the case ten years ago and it hasn't changed since.
Andreas Essl
Autor, Modena