The Azienda Agricola di Breganze participated with the Rosso Veneto IGT wine from Merlot Khorus grapes , a clone of the PIWI grape selected by the Vivai Cooperativi Rauscedo for its resistance to the main adversities of the vine, such as downy mildew and powdery mildew. These characteristics of the plant allow only two treatments to be carried out in the entire production season, unlike the ten to be performed with the systemic ones and the eighteen necessary with organic. This results in a reduced use of fuel, water resources and lower emissions. Once harvested, the grapes are vinified according to the best current winemaking techniques, bringing the characteristics of the specific Merlot variety from which they derive into the glass.
"We took the proposal of the University of Padua with the aim of improving the environmental footprint while remaining faithful to our philosophy and production quality - says Maria Vittoria Maculan , oenologist - Through the study path we have verified how the cultivation and management of vineyards were two items on which to work by exploiting the peculiarities of the PIWI. Furthermore, in all our vineyards we have eliminated the use of herbicides thanks to the manual mowing. In addition to the practices certified by CSQA, we have decided to market wines from resistant grapes in lighter bottles, equipped with more recyclable caps and capsules, for a further step in favor of the environment ".
Maculan is one of the seven companies in the Vicenza mountains to have joined the Environmental Passport initiative, together with Rigoni di Asiago, Bianchi Group organic farm, Pennar Asiago Dairy, Colline di Marostica, Latteria di Soligo and Lunardon Michele. The entrepreneurial realities have designed and created 7 new products with reduced environmental impact, the study of which has been successfully subjected to rigorous verification by the CSQA Certifications body, according to international standards ISO 14040-44 for life cycle assessment, and recognized by the Ministry of the Environment and the Protection of the Territory and the Sea.
The Environmental Passport has the aim of promoting the design and marketing of new agri-food products that are more environmentally friendly. The pilot project was conceived by the Environmental Quality Studies Center (CESQA) of the Department of Industrial Engineering (DII) of the University of Padua and is financed with funds from the Local Development Program of the LAG Montagna Vicentina.
