THE ROLE OF BEES IN THE ECOSYSTEM

Among the commitments of our company for the preservation of biodiversity there is the sensitivity to the world of bees in the ecosystem.

Bees are an important indicator of the health of a place, they perform the function of "environmental sentinels". In fact, these insects are very sensitive to the changes that occur in the ecosystem following the action of man. The decline in their number indicates a deterioration in the quality of the environment in which we live.

Our lives and those of the entire planet depend on the tireless work of these insects. Bees are responsible for pollinating as many as 400 plant species necessary for the life of humans and animals. They are also able to disseminate plant seeds in the surrounding environment and their work affects the quality of the fruit.

In recent years we have witnessed the death of entire hives in different areas of Italy and the world.

The main threats consist of:

- The reduction of food resources, determined by industrialization and mono cultures

- The loss of habitat for nesting, caused by excessive urbanization

- The use of agricultural chemicals, in particular pesticides

BEES IN THE VINEYARD

The joint work of winegrowers and beekeepers can save bees from extinction and simultaneously improve the health of the environment!

The presence of these insects in the vineyard becomes a tangible sign of the use of eco-sustainable processes and the absence of chemicals.

The benefits of bees for grapes: bees show greater vitality, wine production is improved. The action of these insects acts as a carrier of the yeasts on the skin and helps, through the healing action they perform on the grape, to control diseases such as acid rot and any wounds caused by atmospheric agents such as hail.

In the vineyards where there are beehives, the ability of plants to increase grape production has been observed, especially in rainy years. This is because the bee acts as a pollinator in vine plants as well. Furthermore, being a carrier of yeasts, fermentation in the cellar are more regular.

WHAT IS THE ROLE OF US WINEMAKERS AGAINST BEES? 

We are required to carry out phyto-sanitary treatments in the evening, in the absence of wind. Furthermore, the installation of hedges, groves, buffer strips at the edge of the vineyards helps maintain biodiversity.

Among the commitments of our company for the preservation of biodiversity there is sensitivity to the world of bees. We started in 2021 to sow between the rows a mixture of green manure seeds composed of grasses, legumes and cruciferous useful both to improve the fertility and structure of the soil, and to provide nectar and pollen for the bees during their flowering.

There is an indissoluble relationship between bees and agriculture. It is easy at this point to understand their importance and the need to make a collective effort to preserve their existence.