Organic viticulture

Ecology and respect for the environment, but not because it’s trendy.
A special three-way relationship: Vine-man-nature.
Running the vineyards along the lines of sustainable and organic agriculture.

Since 1992 we have applied the EC Reg. 2078/92 then became EC Reg 1257/1999 and in particular the articles 22,23 and 24 of the latter which provide for Agri-Environmental Measures or “agricultural production methods compatible with the protection needs of the environment and with the care of the natural space”.

In recent years we have been committed by the so-called “Measure F” of this Regulation to practice cultivation and fertilization techniques of less impact, in practice:

  • we have not used herbicides or herbicides for over twenty five years;
  • the treatments of the grapevine against downy mildew and powdery mildew were carried out according to a strict standard that includes few mineral and non-synthetic products and according to a calendar of interventions dictated by our weather shed, therefore according to actual needs and not according to a predetermined calendar that does not take into account atmospheric conditions and implies greater treatments at the vineyard;
  • the fertilizations were made only after analysis of the land and therefore according to the actual needs of the single vineyard;
  • the soil has been grassed between the rows to reduce mechanical processing, erosion, washout and return humus, through cutting the grass, to the soil itself.

Along our vineyards hedges, especially hawthorn, and rows of trees (mulberry, oak and chestnut) have been maintained or recreated so as to reconstruct the traditional agricultural landscape but above all provide hospitality to a wildlife – insects, birds, small mammals – useful for biodiversity and the fight against vine pests. The artificial nests already placed in some vineyards recall birds typical of the areas under vines, such as great tit and red-tailed. The presence of these insectivores in the vineyards with their predatory activity towards harmful insects helps the work aimed at biological balance and its stability over time.

But since there is no end to the search for the best since 2015, we began the conversion of the entire company to organic viticulture and in 2018 we made the first harvest with the first entirely organic Franciacorta grapes.

Also 2018 was the year of our certification according to the SOPD Equalitas sustainability standard – Sustainability of the wine supply chain: Organization, Products, Designations of Origin (SOPD).

The result of the 2017 work (certified in 2018) is reported in our 2017 Sustainability Report, also published online.