BioIntegrale I Olianas Wines beyond Organic and Biodynamic

BioIntegrale

More than just a working method. It is a frame of mind, a philosophy of life.

Vineyards

PHILOSOPHY

OLIANAS IS THE CASADEI FAMILY’S FIRST BIOINTEGRALE WINERY

Making influential choices today is critical to having a good life tomorrow. Choices capable of protecting nature, and allowing its regeneration.

The BioIntegrale method, a sequence of farming practices and winemaking techniques that comprehends, adapts and improves upon the precepts of organic and biodynamic agriculture, stems from this philosophy of life.

On the Olianas estate BioIntegrale practices start with a vital choice: growing only autochthonous vines, those special Sardinian varieties that are part of the local tradition and reflect the region’s characteristics and local culture.

This variety grows in sandy-clay soil, and accounts for approximately 66% of our red grapes. We then have vermentino, another local grape passionately grown by Sardinians for hundreds of years, which covers over 75% of our white grape vineyards.

"Cannonau is a reason to live for the Sardinian people"

Method

WHAT IS BIOINTEGRALE?

At Olianas BioIntegrale means encouraging the vines’ to root naturally by working the vineyards’ soil with traditional plows pulled by Vegas and Biscotto, our wonderful Comtois horses.

No crawlers and no rubber-wheeled vehicles, to avoid soil compaction, and no herbicides, chemical fertilizers nor chemical by-products.

To farm our land and nurture our vines we rely on sound, time-honored, traditional practices, such as organic manuring and green manure.

We hand-harvest our grapes, make them into wine without using foreign yeasts, and age our grape nectar in amphorae, to bring out the heart and soul of the vine and soil.

We put nature first in every agricultural choice, grow indigenous vines in the name of local identity, and safeguard natural resources. The principles of our BioIntegrale philosophy perfectly suit Sardinia, a region where vast stretches of unspoiled wilderness are protected by strict laws.

Organism

Living Organism

We plant and grow vines to make wine, and nurture other forms of life to support and promote biodiversity

This ever-present idea lies behind, and within, every single daily action at Olianas. Aromatic herbs, ancient fruit trees, and rare and abandoned cultivars bloom and thrive alongside our vines, providing a paradise of flavorful sweet-scented food for the insects.

The Guidelines

Kinship

Integrating the work of men and animals: geese and sheep help us remove leaves and keep our grounds neat, animal traction allows us to limit the use of tractors.

1 / 10

Philosophy

We employ local labor and neighborhood enterprises, and make use of domestic resources to redistribute wealth throughout the community and support the local culture and traditions.

2 / 10

Respect

Using time-honored cultivation techniques and modern technology to minimize the use of mechanical field equipment.

3 / 10

Practices

Choosing sensible farming practices to reduce human intervention on the vines.

4 / 10

Soil

Enriching our fields’ stamina by nourishing the soil, rather than the vines.

5 / 10

Input

Eliminating synthetic chemicals: the maximum quantity of copper compounds and byproducts shall not exceed 3 kg per hectare, save for particularly unfavorable vintages.

6 / 10

Principles

Honoring the fundamentals of biodiversity and of our farm’s multiple purposes by implementing permanent or temporary cover crops.

7 / 10

Planning

Rational planning allows us to avoid periodic grubbing up.

8 / 10

Naturally

We handle the raw materials as little as possible, to preserve our wines’ natural features and maintain the bond between the land and the organoleptic properties without impacting quality.

9 / 10

Vinification

We believe wine to be an alcoholic beverage that results from the total or partial fermentation of grape juice. Vinification is to be carried out fully respecting the fruit, restricting the use of additives to a minimum.

10 / 10