In the vineyards of Corsignano with Leonardo Imbimbo

Since 2007, agronomist Leonardo Imbimbo of Studio CEAA has been overseeing wine production at Fattoria di Corsignano and has witnessed firsthand the journey the winery has undertaken, from its traditional management in the early years to its conversion to organic farming, with certification achieved in 2014.

The primary focus over time has been to draw out the best expression of the terroir and soil-climate characteristics from the grapes, as well as to monitor the initial results (and limitations) encountered in the application of organic farming.

“A fundamental element is achieving balance on the farm—the plants’ own resistance to pests and diseases. The next goal, which doesn’t always go hand in hand with the plants’ condition, as we’ve also observed at Corsignano, is to increase soil fertility: wine, when grown as a monoculture, tends to deplete the soil, so intervention is necessary. Three or four years ago in Corsignano, the nutritional aspect was examined, as a decline in fertility had been detected that required more work without, however, depleting the organic matter. At the Corsignano Farm, the soils are complex, composed of clay, sandstone, and calcium carbonates—a variety and composition that makes Sangiovese so distinctive but can make it more difficult to understand how and when to work the soil.”.

The goal was to increase soil fertility, and 2017 was the time to make some business decisions: this led to the adoption of mulching, which keeps the soil at a temperature lower than the ambient temperature, and the shift toward integrated farming—which has now extended to the vegetable garden.

“Currently, we have one row with green manure and one with permanent grass cover and mulching, and we never drive a tractor over them to avoid trampling.”

The result of this vital soil care is a balance that complements the complexity of the wines with a very pronounced aromatic profile that is deeply tied to the vintage as well as the structure. This complexity, as a direct consequence, requires the patience to wait for the right moment to drink the wines of Fattoria di Corsignano, knowing that waiting means being able to enjoy the wine’s longevity.