Podere Casanova: Organic Farming as a Vision, Blending Environmental Ethics and Innovation
In Montepulciano, where wine meets environmental consciousness, AGRIGEO is redefining the very meaning of organic viticulture
Today, there comes a point where organic farming ceases to be merely a category and becomes a choice once again. This happens when agricultural practice meets a broader vision—one rooted in responsibility, knowledge, and a deep respect for the land.
In Montepulciano, amidst hills that tell the story of centuries of viticulture, Podere Casanova — a project of the AGRIGEO farm — embodies this evolution with rare clarity: organic farming not as a goal, but as a starting point.
In recent years, the wine sector has begun to question itself. The slowdown in conversions to organic farming and the difficulties linked to climate change, disease pressure, and the limited availability of protective measures have opened a crack in the system.
But more than a crisis, it is a call for depth.
And this is where the difference between applying a set of regulations and adhering to a philosophy comes into play.
Podere Casanova was born from the experience of Isidoro Rebatto and Susanna Ponzin, who turned to winemaking after a long career in environmental restoration, geotechnical engineering, and the remediation of sites contaminated with heavy metals. This background has radically shifted their perspective: the soil is not merely a medium for production, but a living organism, a repository of memory, and a source of responsibility.
It is from this awareness that their concept of organic farming takes shape.
Because while it is true that copper is permitted, it is equally true that it remains a heavy metal. And for those who have worked for years to remove it from contaminated soil, ignoring its accumulation is not an option.
In the vineyard, this reflection translates into concrete choices: Isidoro Rebatto has progressively reduced the use of copper, introducing innovative technologies such as anolyte—an electrolyzed solution based on hypochlorous acid, capable of controlling pathogens without leaving residues, and completely biodegradable.
The result is measurable: in some vintages, copper use has dropped to as low as 800 grams per hectare, well below European limits.
But it is in the most radical decisions that the consistency of this philosophy emerges.
In 2023, a challenging vintage from a climatic standpoint, the winery chose not to produce wine. Not due to a lack of expertise, but to avoid increasing copper use. This decision serves as a statement of intent: organic farming is not merely a minimum standard to meet, but a balance to be preserved.
Alongside organic farming, Podere Casanova has chosen to further expand its commitment by obtaining certification under the Equalitas standard, which integrates environmental, social, and economic sustainability, offering a systemic view of the agricultural enterprise.
“Organic farming is not in crisis,” observes Susanna Ponzin. “It is simply asking to be interpreted in a more conscious way.”
In a country like Italy, where wine embodies identity, landscape, and culture, this evolution is not merely technical—it is cultural.
Because the future of viticulture will not hinge on the contrast between organic and conventional methods, but on the ability to restore meaning to agricultural practices, going beyond labels.
And in this sense, Podere Casanova tells a deeply Italian story: that of those who choose quality not only in the product, but in the philosophy behind it.
Because true sustainability, as Ponzin reminds us, is not a promise.
It is a daily act.
