How the Ricci Curbastro Estate In Franciacorta Tackles the Sustainability Question

Discussions of climate change go back to the late 19^th century and earlier. As they relate to growing grapes and making wine, the number and breadth of research projects on this topic are vast. A common thread is the complete loss of regions that previously produced outstanding wines and grape varieties not able to handle heat and water stress.

While research will help with multiple grape growing decisions, a pressing question of wineries and grape growers centers on what eco-friendly steps they’re taking in their vineyards and wineries. Yet that doesn’t encompass the entire picture. The realm of social and economical impacts of a winery is important too.

These discussions and questions aren’t new to me. Each time I visit a producer I ask them. Each time I purchase wine, I look at the sustainability of the winery operation. Do you ever think about the carbon footprint of shipping that super thick and heavy bottle the winery uses to make a marketing statement? Or what someone does in the vineyard to make the rows between vines immaculate without one weed or blade of grass?

This month gave me an excuse to dig deeper into this topic. Katarina from Grapevine Adventures challenged our group of wine writers and bloggers to look closer at aspects of sustainability in the Italian wine world. You can find us investigating different topics each month with our group hashtag #ItalianFWT .

Tackling the Bigger Sustainability Question

During lockdown Cindy from Grape Experiences introduced me to Franciacorta producer Ricci Curbastro via a live Zoom session. One thought crossed my mind during the call: Ricardo Ricci Carbastro, the 18^th generation of the family to make wine, is one progressive and down-to-earth guy. Taken by their approach and the discussion of the estate sparkling wines, I followed the session with research, noting the enormity of their sustainability commitment.

 

Sustainability: The property of being sustainable; to last over time.

Additionally, I contacted the 19^th generation of the family, Gualberto Ricci Curbasto, to converse about their program. Note their website is fantastic containing abundant and useful information. It lays out their sustainability program and provides sustainability reports.

I caught him during harvest in the vineyard earlier this week. Italian voices floated in the background along with his footsteps crunching under grasses between vine rows and an occasional truck taking grapes to the winery.

My first question was why they chose to seek a sustainability certification.

Gualberto explained they eschewed pesticides and herbicides for over 30 years. In the mid 1980s they build a cellar underground so it didn’t need heating or cooling. They used the same idea for a second cellar built in 2000 incorporating levels versus length.

Solar cells (can you see them in the photo above?!?) on three estate buildings supply more energy than they need and excess is sold back to the local energy company. The operation is almost 100% self-sustainable, requiring outside sources on rare peak occasions.

And when it comes to the nine employees- some third or fourth generation on the estate- their relationships are very much reciprocal. Time clocks and checking-in and out don’t exist. Employees have keys and respect the operation like it was their own. Their relationships are based on trust and self-management, a concept that has always been a part of the estate culture.

Finally, he shared they always look for ways to improve the operation. Given these points, the idea to pursue a sustainability certification made absolute sense.

The Equalitas pillars – Why work with them?

According to Gualberto, the Equalitas program is one of the most complete and advanced in terms of Italian winery sustainability. It was created with the support and political backing of Federdoc (National Confederation of Associations for the Protection of DOC Wines) and other partners aiming to create a unique standard and approach to sustainability. Researching Equalitas I found that in the background, a technical and scientific committee supports the standard and its practical development. And independent third party certification bodies work with the wineries at certification time and for assistance along the way.

Gualberto’s father, Riccardo Ricci Curbastro is the current president of Federdoc with past and present involvement in multiple agriculture and wine related organizations over the years.

The Equalitas objective is “…to spread in Italy a unique approach to sustainability in the wine industry, built on the social, environmental and economic pillars, and a collective brand offering the best guarantee for consumers.”

The purpose of the ‘standard’, based on three pillars- environmental, social and economic- is building environmental and social protections to increase economic viability of the winery.

It’s a long process with a path helping you increase sustainability each year. For Gualberto, it fits their ‘strive to be better’ motto.

“We look, review, establish benchmarks and strive to always be better. Some things can be healthy for the environment but if not sustainable, they shouldn’t be done.” Gualberto Ricci Curbastro

The Equalitas pillars:

• Environmental (carbon and water footprints, biodiversity, and agricultural, winery and bottling practices)
• Economical (business, supplier and employee practices)
• Social (employees, training, community relations)

On Environmental Responsibility – This is the biggest pillar in terms of what needs to be checked and necessary data collection. You thoroughly review your entire estate’s process, analyze the results and establish benchmarks.

On Economical Responsibility – These activities describe the sustainability of the winery operation and include economic practices for employees and suppliers.

On Social / Ethical Responsibility – The most difficult area with a longer process because it’s more qualitative in terms of winery actions and harder to benchmark.

“Being ethical is a mindset, you have to have it inside of you. You cannot read in books. It might or might not come natural. It’s part of our estate culture.”      Gualberto Ricci Curbastro

PIWI Grapes

In 2012 Ricci Curbastro started working with fungi resistant grapes. They planted four PIWI varieties and as of 2016 are vinifying each. PIWI is an acronym for the German word Pilzwiderstandsfähige. They are a hybrid between the European vitis vinifera and various other vitis species mainly from North America. They don’t require treatments thus feed into the environmental and economical pillars.

Surrounding their PIWI vineyard are trees, flora and fauna. It’s really an agricultural laboratory, an outdoor classroom of sorts hosting local school outings to teach children about eco-farming. The type of classroom any parent would want their child to visit, don’t you think?!? This example is just a fraction of their current research.

In wrapping up our discussion I asked what items they feel are most important for combating climate change. Gualberto’s answer follows.

“We are a small drop in the ocean. It’s much bigger than what we as small farmers can do. But maybe we can make a lake. Sustainability is like one brick at a time. To build a wall you need all the bricks. For the biodiversity analysis in our vineyard we are working on a benchmark. It’s about incremental increases there and the other areas too. We need to continually look for new ways to be sustainable, things that are better for the environment.”

There’s a lot more I could write about from our fascinating conversation. However I’m ready for a glass of Franciacorta!

Franciacorta is a sparkling wine made the exact same way winemakers in France make Champagne. Allowed grapes are Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Bianco.

Ricci Curbastro produces from 140 to 150,000 bottles of Franciacorta each year, of which I purchased a handful. Today I’m sharing two with you.

Franciacorta Satèn Brut  – Vintage 2016

This is 100% Chardonnay. In fact Satèn (meaning silk in Italian) is a unique style always produced from Chardonnay and having less pressure in the bottle- five bars versus six that are found in Champagne.

Fermentation here is in oak barrels followed by 40 months of aging- “en tirage”- in the cellar. After disgorgement, a dry dosage (7g/l of sugar) is added to the wine followed by corking and aging another seven to eight years. That drier dosage is the reason for lower pressure in the bottle. As a comparison, typical dosage is from 12 to 32g/l for brut sparkling wine.

It pours a pale lemon with persistent and fine bubbles in my glass. Notes of mixed citrus, pear, acacia, freshly baked bread from the oven and a damp forest floor character are medium-intensity. The crisp attack is balanced by elegant structure and medium-intensity flavors- citrus, pear, light toast, fennel and almond. A lengthy, fizzy lemon finish reminds me of freshly picked and crushed almond. A beautifully structured, very good quality elegant wine.

This wine paired with white seafood- Halibut, Sole or Cod poached with butter or coconut oil, lemon, and chervil would be wow! But also with hard Italian cheese and nuts like we enjoyed it here, or solo all by itself.

It has an abv of 12.5% and retails for about $40 or 24€.

Franciacorta Dosaggio Zero “Gualberto” Vintage 2010 – 70% Pinot Noir 30% Chardonnay

Fermentation in stainless vats and oak barrels is followed by 60 months of lees aging before the addition of a zero sugar dosage.

A similar color to the Satèn, here we have crispness, precision and focus. Fresh and expressive aromas remind me of a mixed citrus and nectarine fruit salad sprinkled with orange blossoms, almond slivers and toasted bread crumbs. The attack is a brisk and linear “Wow!” followed by Dreamsicle (vanilla ice cream coated with orange sherbet) drizzled with lemon.  An overall impeccably  balanced structure with lingering flavors.

We enjoyed this wine with grilled oysters, I couldn’t say no! It will pair nicely with grilled salmon and vegetables, seafood pasta or risotto.

This wine has an abv or 12.5% and retails for about $55 or 35€.

Join the Italian Food, Wine, Travel Group

We’re live on Twitter today, September 5^th at 8am pacific time / 17:00 in Italy at #ItalianFWT  Take a look at our articles below!

• Camilla from Culinary Adventures with Camilla takes inspiration from Sicily in Pasta alla Norma + Tasca d’Almerita Lamuri Nero d’Avola Sicilia 2016.
• Terri from Our Good Life shares the article Che Fico: A Wine that Supports Sustainability in Italy.
• Linda from My Full Wine Glass heads to Alto Adige with Alois Lageder – Driven to Create Wines in Harmony with Nature.
• Gwendolyn from Wine Predator posts her Interview: Antonella Manuli’s and Lorenzo Corino’s Patented Method + Wines, Lasagna, and Dogs.
• Lynn from Savor the Harvest heads to Franciacorta with How the Ricci Curbastro Estate In Franciacorta Tackles the Sustainability Question.
• Robin from Crushed Grape Chronicles explores the question Climate Change, Finding Sustainable Italian Wines and Why You should Care.
• Susannah from Avvinare tells us more about Sicily with Tasca d’Amerita, A Longstanding Focus on Sustainability.
• Nicole from Somm’s Table looks closer at A Sustainable Sampler Pack with Umani Ronchi.
• Jennifer from Vino Travels shares VIVA Sustainability at the Forefront with Michele Chiarlo.
• Deanna from Asian Test Kitchen shares Italy’s First Vegan Certified Winery.
• Our host Katarina at Grapevine Adventures talks about Torre Bisenzio where Authenticity And Quality Is All About Sustainability.

Information sources:

• Equalitas
• Kerin O’Keefe article about organic wine in Italy
• Franciacorta