Speaker highlights include... Katia Nussbaum. I had the privilege of visiting Katia a few years ago at San Polino, the Montalcino estate she shares with her husband, Luigi. That visit profoundly changed my perspective on viticulture. Her insight into the delicate microbiome that constitutes a vineyard is truly remarkable. I am eager for her to delve deeper into the intricate relationships among soil health, fungi, and bacteria, and how these elements contribute to vine resilience, fostering a genuinely living vineyard. Katia is more than just a viticulturist or winemaker; she is a visionary in sustainability, an exceptional storyteller, and a champion for biodiversity.
Organic winegrowing is... crucial because it equips us with the necessary tools to reverse ecological damage, bring health back to our wine, and empowers us to effectively combat climate change from our own backyard.
My route to organics... began when I became Coal Pit’s winemaker in 2018. The vineyard was in a state of ecological imbalance. My goal was to repair fractured cycles, restore the vineyard’s functional ecosystem, and rekindle a connection to the land that had been lost over time. The first and most important step involved discontinuing the use of conventional systemic sprays. Following that, I focused on enhancing biodiversity within the vineyard. With the land’s potential gradually re-emerging, we saw a significant and direct improvement in the quality of the fruit over time. We became fully certified organic under BioGro in 2023 for both the winery and vineyard.
The future of winegrowing... lies in a commitment to sustainability that extends beyond the vineyard itself. For any vineyard to thrive for generations, it is crucial that every organism within the surrounding ecosystem also thrives.
