AGRICULTURE AND VINEYARDS

Sustainable farm on the Island of Elba: Fattoria delle Ripalte

We are within the Tuscan Archipelago National Park and for this reason, as well, the agronomic management of our farm on the Island of Elba follows the principles of sustainable agriculture:

Producing healthy and safe food by optimising available resources and technical means
Conserve and protect the quality of the environment and natural resources

Fertilization is done with organic fertilizers and involves the practice of "green manure" (sowing of leguminous plants in the rows holding the nitrogen that are then buried at flowering time).
Weed control is carried out by mechanical processing or hoeing and for phytosanitary considerations, the interventions are based on integrated pest control, with minimal use of synthetic pesticides.
No irrigation is carried out due to the scarce water supply.

Within the 450 hectares of the property, the sixteen hectares of vineyards are located in four main areas, all higher than 170 meters above sea level, to ensure greater ventilation and protection from night-time humidity generated by the proximity of the sea.

The vineyards of Poggio Turco are planted with Aleatico; the southern exposure is ideal for perfect ripening.
The area around Gorgaccio, with its exposure to the east, favours morning sunshine that dries the grapes from night-time humidity and protects them from excessive afternoon heat. These are mainly vineyards with Vermentino and Alicante.

The Pascoli Alti Vineyards are located at 300 meters above sea level and their delayed harvest guarantees white grapes a higher refinement and acidity even during the hottest years.

The soils are all of volcanic origin (metamorphic granite) with a considerable mineral endowment. All the vineyards are fenced in to protect the wildlife (hares, wild boars and wild goats) which are particularly attracted by ripe grapes.