OUR STORY IN THE MAKING ACCOUNTABLE BY NATURE
STEWARDS OF THE LAND
TREASURE TROVE OF TALENTS
BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS
Best practices for vineyard management
ERBAMAT — REDISCOVERING A NATIVE GRAPE VARIETY We are one of the leaders in the rediscovery of Erbamat, an ancient native grape variety charac- terised by late ripening. This feature allows it to adapt to the effects of climate change and gives it a sustained acidity, greatly appreciated in the winemaking process. In 2017, the Erbamat variety was officially added to the Franciacorta Production Code. PLANT PROTECTION AND INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT Integrated pest management, which protects crop species, is part of a cultural renaissance in the agrarian sector that began in the late 20 th Century. Nowadays, it consists of a number of practic- es aimed at improving the ecological equilibrium of the climate-soil-vine nexus. Targeted plant protection measures are applied as needed; these employ active ingredients with a low impact on the environment, consumers and workers and that comply with the sustainability principles we firmly believe in. To define a specific defence strategy, we monitor vineyards with chromotropic and pheromone traps to identify and quantify insect populations and evaluate control mecha- nisms. For example, key among the experimentations being carried out is the technique of sexual confusion, targeting the European grapevine moth (Lobesia botrana) to completely eliminate the use of insecticides against this parasite. Female pheromones are released throughout the vineyard to confuse males and stop them from locating females by means of their “scent”, thereby prevent- ing reproduction and avoiding harm to other insect species. This mechanism has proved to be effective in reducing crop damage. Another species under examination is Hyalesthes obsoletus, vector of Bois noir or black wood, a phytoplasma disease of the grapevine with no present cure. A complex use of cover cropping and pruning forces this leafhopper to remain at the edges of the vineyard, thus controlling the spread of Bois noir. In 2021, approximately 501 kg of integrated pest management materials were used, in line with previous years. GREEN MANURING Green manuring is a natural ancient practice to maintain and increase soil fertility by ploughing specific plant residue (either whole or parts of them) into the ground to add nutrients back to the soil. Green manuring also improves soil structure. After carefully examining the soil types, our agronomists use various combinations of crop species for green manuring. These include vetch, garden pea, field pea, fava, berseem clover, squarrose clover, rye, red oats, triticale, rapeseed, sub - terranean clover, white mustard, lacy phacelia, and barley. Thanks in part to our comprehensive knowledge of the condition of the different soils, we are able to imple- ment a series of activities that improve the impact on the environment. Under the rigorous Franciacorta Production Code, the vineyards can only use irrigation in emergencies. We try to avoid this at any cost, to preserve grape quality: this forces the vines to find their own water resources deep underground, where the minerals that give our wines their unique organoleptic qualities are also found. This approach also means we can significantly limit water consumption, which is generally one of the main impacts of agriculture. ORGANIC FERTILISATION In line with the principles of sustainable viticulture, we do not use synthetic chemical fertilisers. As the Biopass project highlights, using manure and compost, and leaving vine shoots from winter pruning on the ground increases organic matter in the soil, thus encouraging healthy and vigorous plant growth. COVER CROPPING Natural cover cropping is a low-impact cultivation practice that brings significant benefits to the vineyard’s microclimate and reduces water evaporation from the soil, making more water availa- ble for the plants and consolidating their structure, therefore limiting erosion and fixing nutrients for the vine.
In line with the principles of sustainable viticulture, we do not use synthetic chemical fertilisers.
Cover-cropping positively impacts vineyard biodiversity, limiting the spread of harmful plant species, protecting soil fertility, stimulating biological activity and encouraging the repopulation of species that are key for the ecosystem, such as bees.
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