VECCHIE TERRE DI MONTEFILI ADDRESSES CLIMATE CHALLENGES WITH COMPETENCE, RESEARCH AND ETHICS IN THE FOOTSTEPS TRACED BY THE DIVERSITY ARK CERTIFICATION

" Despite the difficulties encountered, our vineyards have shown a remarkable capacity for adaptation, made possible also by the sustainable and environmentally friendly agricultural practices that we adopt, as demonstrated by our Diversity Ark certification ," says Serena Gusmeri, winemaker and director of Vecchie Terre di Montefili .
It was precisely to respond to these challenges and adopt the most coherent measures to address them that the winery joined the Diversity Ark certification. " Diversity Ark was the response to the desire to certify a work undertaken for years where research, technical skills and ethics have come together. The in-depth knowledge of our vineyards, of their state of health based on scientific data and constant checks, has allowed us to improve and strengthen the microcosm that lives within them, thus enhancing the biodiversity composed of insects and plants. The consistency of this path has demonstrated how fundamental, in such challenging times, maintaining a correct agro-ecological balance is for the health of the vines, strengthening their ability to adapt to different environmental stresses. This choice fits perfectly into our company philosophy, which for years has been dedicated to an ethical and responsible viticulture that protects not only the vineyards but also the area in which we are located ," comments Serena Gusmeri.
At the heart of the certification is respect for soil and environmental biodiversity , pursued through a holistic approach to agriculture. This includes monitoring the state of soil health, certifying the fauna and flora biodiversity of the plot, and soil sampling. Also essential is the prohibition of the use of herbicides and pesticides that are harmful to human health, and checking that the soil is free of plastics.
Analyzing the 2024 vintage , the winery highlighted how the season began about three weeks earlier than usual for the Montefili area, starting already in mid-April. The spring, characterized by moderate but essential rains, and the moderate temperatures until mid-July, favored a correct development of the flowering and fruit setting phases of the vines.
However, in August, a surge in temperatures forced the plants to quickly adapt to stressful conditions, which were effectively managed thanks to an early selection of the grapes carried out in July, which was necessary due to a higher-than-normal load per plant.
September brought surprises, with the arrival of abundant rains and a drop in temperatures, which slowed the ripening of the grapes and increased the size of the bunches. Contrary to the forecasts of an early harvest, the harvest was therefore postponed to the first ten days of October .
" This year more than ever, the challenge was to wait patiently for the right moment to harvest, making sure to select the bunches at their optimal point of ripeness. The 2024 Sangiovese will be characterized by a lower concentration but greater freshness, an evolution that promises to be very interesting ," continues the winemaker.
Thanks to the holistic approach adopted, the company was able to face adversities, in particular the incessant rains without being overwhelmed, maintaining the quality of the grapes and ensuring a totally satisfactory harvest.