Climate and microclimate


Light (exposure to light rays, their intensity, then duration of solar radiation), temperature (minimum, maximum, average, temperature range, heat accumulation ), humidity, winds and rainfall (periods and duration of rainfall, intensity, frequency , time of leaf wetness), are the climatic parameters that most affect life and metabolism of the vines.

They can also vary considerably from year to year, which determines the specificity of each vintage. Affecting the metabolism of the vine, the combination of different climatic parameters determine each year a different and unique ripening.
The aging of the plants is therefore accompanied by a cycle of years with specific characteristics, each of them may be suited to ehance finesse rather than flavor or phenolic ripeness or freshness. The idea of best or worst vintage applies only to those who follow a different approach, seeking a common, conventional wine, focusing on high yields of grapes to ensure a huge production, but with little personality and quality. When working with low yields in the vineyard (1 kg. grapes/plant, ie 1 bottle per plant) and taking care of the vines in a customized manner according to the climatic indices, there's no more room to talk about a good or bad vintage: just talk about that single unrepeatable vintage.
We try to understand what nature gives, adapting and shaping from year to year our approach on the vines according to the climate. We give value to the all the differences in climate, producing only wines from grapes of a single year (vintage), so only vintage wines.

Apart from year to year, the climate varies from area to area. The different exposure of the vineyards and their slope give, for example, a different intensity of solar radiation on the leaves, a higher altitude often lead to an different expression of the parameters of the temperature, the vineyards exposed on one side of the hill are more or less ventilated than those present in other directions, and so on.
Our vineyards face south or south-west, with steep or very steep slopes and have an altitude of 350-400m above sea level: these conditions provide a direct, intense light, not veiled by mist and low clouds. The index of rainfall is one of the lowest in the whole area.
The altitude and the constant thermal breeze present throughout the day (hence the name Cà del Vént), strongly limit the excessive summer heat during the day and ensure hight temperature range during the night time, enhancing the flavor and the acidity of the grapes.
The low rainfall and constant thermal breeze greatly restrict the development of the main vine diseases (downy mildew, powdery mildew, botrytis) and consequently the use of defense products. Even in the case of any and prolonged dry periods, the nature of clayey soil ensures a sufficient and constant supply of water available to plants.
For each land unit identified with the micro-zonation, we also monitored and studied the relevant climate parameters (micro-climate), in order to adopt strategies where man is serving nature and not vice-versa. This results in grapes and wines that are "children" of the soil, the single vintage, respectful of our terroir.