Respect and nurture our planet, safeguard its beauty and its bounties for present and future generations: these are the ethics and principles which form the core of The Earth Charter, created in 2000 with the aim of promoting sustainable development on Earth. They are also the principles which have guided Agostino and Adriana Liuni, owners of the Rolej wine estate set amongst the undulating hills and sinuous valleys of Cavaglià and Roppolo in Piedmont, northern Italy. For more than 35 years they have cared for this corner of Eden: 50 hectares overlooking Lake Viverone, of which five are cultivated with vines among the rolling hills and the remainder being woodland, fields and small gardens. Winding along a path through woods the views open out over a gentle, green landscape studded with tall trees.  Mixed borders, hedges of lavender and rosemary, roses (“Ballerina””Old Blush”, Rosa x odorata “Mutabilis”), spiraea and lavatera all blend in harmony with the extensive meadows, dotted with daisies and poppies, and the serried rows of the vineyard. Crowning the hillsides on either side of the property, the woodland contains the strongly scented robinia as well as beech, chestnut, lime, birch, hornbeam, European nettle tree, oak, cherry and poplar. Following a programme of clearance and selection a further 100 trees were planted many of which were evergreens, such as pine, yew and holly, adding structure and form for the winter months. This intervention has helped to  integrate the garden and the vineyard into the surrounding landscape, respecting the area’s morphology and scenery. The widespread use of rocks and stones, both for paving and retaining walls, is softened by lush vegetation enveloping the homestead, a farmhouse which has been modernised and enlarged to accommodate a growing family. Flowers and colour surround the house in abundance whereas the parkland and vineyard are dominated by shades of green during the summer months and tones of yellow and red in autumn.