Undoubtedly, most of the inhabitants of Mendoza have heard of "Don Bosco". Besides being the birthplace of various technicians in the sector, sommeliers and oenologists, the "Mary Help of Christians" parish was one of the first churches founded in the province, and is still active, together with a nursery, primary, secondary, higher and university oriented school to the study of viticulture.
The history of the Salesian house in Mendoza dates back more than 120 years, with a group of Salesians who came from Italy. The arrival of the first religious took place in 1898. And the start of the works was possible thanks to the donation of land by Lucila Barrionuevo Pescara de Bombal.
A year later, the blessing of the school's foundation stone and the first chapel took place. Finally, in 1901, the school was born, aimed at teaching viticulture and enology, and in the same year the construction of the Experimental Cellar, one of the first buildings erected, also began. In addition, on April 17, 1901, the first Mass wine was filtered by Fr Paolo Rebotti - a date that in a certain sense symbolizes more than any other the "birth" of the "Don Bosco" work in Mendoza.
The work quickly grew and expanded, including over time the teaching of olive growing. The Salesian house had a huge impact in the region: just think that Don Bosco's university courses were the first in all of Latin America to be able to award a degree in Oenology, already in 1965; and even today the center remains a point of reference in the sector, at the provincial and national level.
The importance of the Salesian work for Mendoza is declared in the presentation of the anniversary: "In its path, the School, the Technical Institute and the 'Don Bosco' Faculty have followed a path of success, positioning themselves at the forefront of national and regional agro-industrial development, accompanying the growth of wine in all its areas and for all its exponents."
Among other things, the Salesian house also offers a contribution to regional tourism, being, rightly, the object of attention as the "Cradle of Argentine Enology".
Melisa Morales
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