From the very start they worked in harmony with nature and chose a sustainable approach. Consequently, Mezzacorona has always set an example.
Nowadays the winegrowers are assisted by a well-trained team of enologists and agronomists who advise them on everything from vineyard management, via harvesting techniques, to bottling.
Perfect conditions for local grapes
Trentino, in the heart of the Dolomites, not only forms the backdrop, but also a perfect habitat for a plethora of different grape varieties, primarily Pinot Gris. The vineyards’ locations and the associated geographical conditions are key to the wine acquiring a flavor that reflects the area where it is grown.
The best positions for local grapes have also been selected having regard to the climate. The Teroldego grape therefore grows on the Rotaliana Plain, Müller-Thurgau in the Cembra Valley, Pinot Gris and Chardonnay in the Adige Valley, and Merlot and Cabernet in the Valle dei Laghi (Lakes Valley) and beside Lake Garda. Every variety is turned into superb wine.
“If one considers the Trentino region’s characteristics, it is immediately apparent that there are very few areas suitable for agriculture”, is how Maurizio Maurizi, Mezzacorona’s enologist, describes the region.
The majority of the area is alpine, a small percentage consists of hills and wonderful valleys through which rivers flow and where the majority of the agricultural areas is concentrated, especially the vineyards. This is where the towns and villages are too, and therefore the population.
“This makes it easy to understand the close connection between the people who live in these valleys, and nature”, explains Maurizi. “It is why Trentino has increased its focus on sustainable cultivation over 50 years, as this directly influences people’s quality of life Initial trials of the use of “sexual confusion” as an alternative to insecticides were conducted here as long ago as the 1970s. And together with the whole region we have developed a management system that minimizes the use of synthetic chemicals and allows fertilization based on ecological, economic and toxicological principles.” We are pledged to tradition.
Grape health and quality
Work is planned in accordance with nature down to the very last detail. Many of Trentino’s vines are still trained using the classic pergola system, which requires laborious manual work. “We do so because with the pergola system you can protect the grapes from direct sunlight and so prevent the skins from burning and the color components from oxidizing”, says Maurizio Maurizi. The result is fresh, vivacious and elegant white wines that clearly reflect their origins.
Grape health and quality are paramount. The co-operative’s members have therefore been following the autonomous province of Trento’s regulations on integrated production for growers since the 1980s. The voluntary agreement includes criteria for cultivation that require respect for the environment. Mezzacorona is, and has always been forward looking and has long relied on ecological and social sustainability.
In 2016 the winegrowers’ co-operative was awarded SQNPI (Sistema di Qualità Nazionale per la Produzione Integrata), or National Quality System for Integrated Production certification, which guarantees a sustainable, healthy, high-quality and traceable product. All Mezzacorona members received certification that all the winery’s activities comply with the protocol that prohibits the use of pesticides or permits the use of only those that are extremely safe.
In 2017 certification was then extended to all wine production. Even the Cittadella del Vino, the company headquarters, is sustainable. Electricity is provided by a photovoltaic system, water is heated by solar power and it has invested in a water treatment plant. Seventy-five percent of the cellars are underground, which ensures that they remain at a constant temperature and optimum humidity. Attention has also been paid to recycling, with waste separation to ensure that rubbish is disposed of appropriately.
The voluntary agreement focuses on a respectful and conservative approach to nature and covers cultivation criteria, the grapes, the environment, the people and the consumer.
