We learned that the value of earth lies in its biodiversity, in the ability of the environment to adapt again and again to life conditions , that have continually evolved through the geological eras and continue to evolve also today.
In history, the farmer has always worked the land, applying his intelligence to the use of natural resources to the benefit of human species through specialization of cultures. The plow invention made it possible to bury the weeds in order to allow the most useful plants to grow on the surface. But limitation of weeds reduces the biodiversity of that field, specializing its production to the advantage of the human species.
The game is not to offend nature too much, because this would cause long-term damage for all living species. And the concept of environmental respect lies in balance between the benefit for man in short and very long term.
The farmer, the tree and the vineyard. The old farmer knew that the life of his tree was much longer than his. He worked hard to grow it beautiful and robust. He didn’t do that thinking of his children and grandchildren, but for himself. In the tree he saw the mirror of his face, and if the tree was healthy he felt healthy himself.
Also the vineyard was his environment. He already planted one long time ago, and 30 years later another one on the same land. It had always borne good fruit and lived with him the good and bad seasons, with sun, frost and storms. The farmer has been taking care of his vineyard personally or had it worked by others, and the vineyard has lived a life of her own, like a stable and affectionate companion ………( Giovanni Foffani, 2010)
Vineyard cultivation. First step is not to use herbicides (glyphosate) and to cover with grass the vineyards after the third year of age. The weeds in the sub-rows are treated with a re-entry blade cutting their roots, grass in the inter-row is simply cut and left on spot to replenish the soil with nitrogen supply. Phosphorus, responsible for plant’s lignification, is recycled, leaving the shoots in place after pruning at winter. Potassium, responsible of grapes ripening, is partially returned to earth by spreading in the fields the marc after harvest and the wine lees discarded from the cellar.
Every four to five years a chemical analysis will identify any deficiencies of the soil, that will be reintegrated with organic fertilizers or nutrients and microelements.
voluntary certification of integrated defense
Today, roses as sentinel of vineyard diseases are no longer useful, as detailed forecast of diseases attacks are available on Internet area-by-area. These sites precisely indicate if, when and how treatments are to be carried out, for each type of protocol of environmental respect: normal, integrated or organic.
We chose the integrated one, officially monitored by an external body on the basis of in- house registers and through sampling at the end of the year on grapes and leaves, to chemically certify the absence of any harmful or unplanned substance.
In addition, also cellar practices are inspected, to give wines the SQNPI (National Integrated Production System) Quality Certificate, for a limited and targeted use of products in the vineyards and correct operations in the fields and the cellar, aiming at leaving the natural balances as intact as possible.
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