Fontanafredda and the “Bio-nature Reserve” project
Bionatural Reserve
Preliminary analysis has shown - albeit still in an approximate way - that the company’s production system is well capable of producing low amounts of carbon dioxide. That’s not all.
It has also been calculated - at present as an indication only - that the processes relating to the production of grapes and their transformation into wine result in the emission into the atmosphere of fewer tons/year of CO2 than the amount absorbed by the vegetation represented by the vineyards and other crops, without taking into account the woodland on the estate. At the same time plant material is produced, releasing oxygen into the environment.
So what is in any case a positive, or - to put it better - “green” balance is guaranteed by the total of 122 hectares making up the estate. Of these, 84 are planted as vineyards, 6 are hazel groves, 2 are meadows and allotment, 13 are woods, while the remainder are given over to buildings, the historic cellars, the Royal Villa and the park.
This first reading of data represents an essential premise to the launching of a major eco-sustainability project which has already had a decisive influence for some years on the company’s entire production process, from vineyard to bottle.
We do not use chemical fertilizers or herbicides
Chemical fertilizers and herbicides have no longer been used in the vineyards since 2009, and pest treatments have also been reduced by 60% so as to obtain “clean” grapes, with plant protection product residues bordering on zero.
By applying the latest natural integrated farming techniques, in 2010 Fontanafredda became the first in Piedmont to be awarded official “Integrated Farm Management” Certification.
Rispettiamo gli animali e le piante
Peacocks, swans, pheasants, herons, mallards, partridges, foxes, badgers,
squirrels, roe deer, hares, carp, tench, turtles and other species live in
the Bio-nature Reserve.
All in complete freedom.
The woods and park are home to sequoia, plane trees, walnuts, beeches, lindens, oaks, hornbeams, firs, cypresses, cherries, ashes and paulownias.
We collect rainwater
The water used is then 100% bio-treated and returned to the environment. The rainwater conveyed from the surrounding hills and park is collected in the lake and used for irrigation.
Zero Sulphites Project
For years the sulphite content in wines produced by the estate has already been cut to 50% of the legal limit, and since 2009 the target has been to gradually reduce it to zero with the support of technology provided by Air Liquide, the company’s partner in the project.
The partnership with Air Liquide
The target will be achieved thanks to a system created with Air Liquide which, starting from the crushing of the grapes, provides for the use of two natural elements protecting the product:
- • carbon dioxide (drawn from the environment, and used in gaseous, liquid and solid form) in the first stage of the vinification;
- • nitrogen (in gaseous form) in the subsequent steps
…and “natural yeasts”
A special research project has been commissioned by Fontanafredda from Turin University’s Faculty of Agriculture to select native yeasts - i.e. yeasts sourced from the estate vineyards. This research, which began from nebbiolo grapes on the Lazzarito vineyard, aims to ascertain the actual indigenous nature (typical character) of the yeasts, and their use in obtaining the intended products (quality).
Fontanafredda’s Territory
I Volumi Bollati
Each Volumi Bollati contains exactly two 125ml glasses per head.
And two glasses – if they are accompanied by something worth eating – are the right portion for enjoying good wine in a responsible, safe and healthy way.
Serralunga d’Alba Barolo, Marne Brune Nebbiolo d’Alba,
La Lepre Dolcetto di Diano d’Alba, Briccotondo Piemonte Barbera,
Pradalupo Roero Arneis, Moncucco Moscato d’Asti
The Volumi Bollati bottles are produced using 85% recycled glass.
An exclusive Fontanafredda project in cooperation with Saint-Gobain Vetri.
