01 August 2023

Enologist Paolo Tiefenthaler talks about Casale del Giglio's “integral” ecological vision, which has become a differentiating factor in their production philosophy.

When it comes to wine in Lazio, one cannot overlook Antonio Santarelli’s Casale del Giglio. Located in Le Ferriere, a small town approximately 50 km south of Rome, Antonio has continued his father's project: the winery founded in 1967. 

The Agro Pontino was not a land for wine. At least not until the post-war period when reclamation works were completed, and vineyards took their first, timid steps. Yet, Dino Santarelli believed in a visionary project. First with his son Antonio and then alongside enologist Paolo Tiefenthaler, they established experimental vineyards. By adopting cultivation methods practiced in Bordeaux and California, they cultivated varieties such as Syrah, Petit Verdot, Sauvignon, Viognier and Petit Manseng. On one hand, they favored international cultivars that – by nature and through targeted management – adapted better to the soil and climate of the region. On the other, they rediscovered native Lazio grape varieties, which were often neglected because they were erroneously considered obsolete: Biancolella di Ponza, Bellone di Anzio, Cesanese di Olevano Romano and Pecorino di Accumoli, just to name a few.

A COMPREHENSIVE ECOLOGICAL VISION 

After pioneering years spent identifying the grape varieties best suited to the climate of the Agro Pontino and the vinification techniques aimed at preserving the quality of the grapes, today Casale del Giglio has turned its attention to an equally compelling challenge: a sustainable production that not only considers the vines but also the entire environmental ecosystem in which they are planted. 

«We have an ambitious goal», says enologist Paolo Tiefenthaler. «For some time now, we have been implementing an economic and technical development program capable of meeting the needs of the present without compromising those of the future». 

Everything starts with the soil, which is fundamental in all types of cultivation. Grass, flowers, and wild grasses are not seen as weeds to be eliminated but as an expression of the environment’s character and a useful component in a harmonious ecosystem. Traditional methods of soil cultivation allow the microflora to thrive in the soil: this provides the vine with the proper supply of water and nutrients, resulting in the harvest of balanced and juicy grapes.  

The monitoring of water sources is ensured by the European project “LIFE”, which Casale del Giglio voluntarily participates in. “LIFE” is an environmental sustainability program specifically focusing on water management: ditches and canals are kept as uncontaminated as possible to allow the plants growing along the edges to act as natural purifiers. 

«We pay particular attention to the health of our vines, protecting them from parasites such as downy mildew or powdery mildew» adds Paolo Tiefenthaler. «But we do this by practicing pest control techniques that allow for the reduction or even elimination of pesticides. For instance, we fight harmful insects using sexual confusion pheromone traps, which prevent the release of chemicals into the environment».  .

SQNPI CERTIFICATE

The attention to the vineyard's ecosystem and the reduction of human intervention have allowed Casale del Giglio to join the SQNPI project, a European-recognized label that certifies the integrated production of the winery. The SQNPI certification attests not only that agronomic management is carried out in an environmentally friendly manner but also that the entire wine supply chain is virtuous, including increasing the level of safety and professionalism of the operators. 

«Ideally», Tiefenthaler concludes, «we have turned the territory into a real Brand: its “image” conveys our wines as healthy and “clean”, ensuring the quality and integrity of our choices. Contrary to Oscar Wilde, who said “Nowadays people know the price of everything and the value of nothing”, at Casale del Giglio, we may not know the price of everything, but we certainly know the immense value of our land».