Poggio Foco’s Vineyards are at the center of the 550 hectare estate which is managed entirely with an organic approach and that is protected by the forest that surrounds it. Primary harvests are wine, olive oil, and grains which feeds 700 sheep, 50 cows and 50 wild boars.
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The Vineyards
Total area: 12 Hectares Altitude: 190/250 mts above sea level
Consisting of: 80,000 plants Seaside: 12 Km south
Year of plantation: 2000,2001 and 2002 Plant yield: 1 Kg.
Planting density: 6,650 vine per hectare BIO certified since 2002
Producer: Francesco Kovarich Oenologist: Katia Guerrini
Reggimene da Agricoltura Biologica Certificato ICEA dal 2002/ COR & NOP
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Grape Varieties:
Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Alicante, Cabernet Franc and Sangiovese.
The Poggio Foco vineyards derive their character from the climate and soil of the place where they were planted. We have studied wind directions in respect of the sun, for two years in order to give rows the right orientation. Moreover, a complete and detailed analysis of the soil's characteristics was done to select the proper grape varieties.
Soil Management Policy
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We adopted a “close-circle” system in which organic compost used to fertilize our soil, a product of our cows and sheep that are born, raised and fed exclusively at our farm. Cover crops of barley, broad beans and clover are planted in alternating vine rows to contribute to the organic richness of the soil.
The vineyard has drop irrigation system which is used in the summer months only if its too hot and dry. We believe that only by providing the plant a stress free environment, we can obtain a nice grape. Harmony in a plant’s life means harmony in the wine.
All the work is done by hand (pruning, hoeing, fertilization, green pruning and harvesting) seeking to stimulate and enhance the vineyard’s biological energy and activity. A variety of efforts are done throughout the year to stimulate soil's vitality and health in order to provide beneficial nutrients and oxygen to the wines.
The Soil
We are located on a geological anomaly of quartzite and chalk, with a sedimentary origin that can be traced back to the Cretaceous Era (120-90 million years ago) circumscribed in an area of
about 16 miles around us.
The geology of a territory influences wine in a variety of ways, since it influences the landscape’s shapes and gives them certain morphologies that make it a distinct productive area with respect to others. Geology is of paramount importance as it highly influences the characteristics of the soil in terms of depth, granularity, composition as well as nutrients. Besides, the nature of rocks determines the content of minerals present in irrigation water, influencing, in this way, the characteristics of the wine.
In the case of Poggio Foco’s vineyards, the presence of “Flisch di Santa Fiora”(clay, marl and limestone) favors the evolution of clay loams that may contain a good amount of water even during the summer. Limestone and marl are very compact rocks that reduce erosion and the superficial evaporation.
Soil that derives from chalky rocks favor decomposition and humidification of organic substances helping maintain a neutral PH of the soil.
In general, the presence of a certain amount of limestone, not an excessive one, as in the case of Poggio Foco’s vineyards, is related to the production of high quality wines.
