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Gambero Rosso Highlights Podere Casanova’s Innovation: Anolyte and Zeolite for More Sustainable Organic Viticulture
We are pleased to share the article that Gambero Rosso has dedicated to Podere Casanova and to our ongoing research in the vineyard: a story about organic viticulture, experimentation, and concrete choices for sustainability.
At the heart of the article is a question that has become central to our work: is it possible to practise organic viticulture while going beyond the simple requirements of certification?
This reflection has guided the work of Susanna Ponzin and Isidoro Rebatto, who over the years have chosen to invest in a method aimed at significantly reducing the use of copper in the vineyard. Although copper is allowed in organic farming within specific limits, it remains a heavy metal. For this reason, at Podere Casanova, sustainability is not simply a label, but a daily commitment made of measurable and consistent choices.
The project began in 2017 with experimentation on the combined use of anolyte and zeolite, with the goal of protecting the vines from downy mildew while drastically reducing the amount of copper released into the soil. After the first trials on a small number of rows, the method was gradually extended to the entire vineyard area of the estate.
The result is an approach that has made it possible, in several vintages, to keep copper use at very low levels compared to the maximum limits allowed under European organic regulations. This is not only a technical decision, but also a deeply ethical one.
A clear example came in 2023, a particularly challenging year due to strong downy mildew pressure. In that situation, Podere Casanova chose not to produce wine, rather than increase treatments significantly and compromise the sustainability path built over the years. It was a difficult decision, but one fully aligned with a vision that sees sustainability as a real responsibility, not just a certification.
For Podere Casanova, being organic means constantly questioning practices, seeking new solutions, and taking responsibility for every choice. It means protecting the quality of the wine, but also the soil, the environment, and the future of viticulture.
We would like to thank Gambero Rosso for telling this story and for giving visibility to a topic that we believe is essential for the present and future of wine.