The growing environment is defined by hot, dry conditions, tempered by sea breezes moving inland from the coast, while high solar radiation drives canopy development and fruit composition. Together, these factors shape both ripening dynamics and wine style, producing structured red wines with clear varietal and regional identity.

Within this context, Principi di Butera, part of the Zonin1828 group, has embarked on a major operational rehabilitation—focused on vineyard recovery, water management and long-term sustainability.

Site conditions

Leading the transition is Paolo Tealdi, a Piedmont-born winemaker with extensive experience across the Langhe and Monferrato, appointed estate director in 2023.

“We’re on calcareous hill formations at 250–350 metres above sea level, only about 10 kilometres from the sea,” Tealdi explains. “That gives us constant natural ventilation, strong light, and a meaningful day–night temperature variation—factors that help keep ripening balanced.”

Compared to northern Italy, he notes, vine phenology runs earlier.

“Sicily’s mild winters mean we see an advance of roughly one month compared with the north. This year, even with late pruning, the canopy was already well developed by March.”

Summer conditions then slow the pace.

“High temperatures and prolonged dry periods limit vegetative growth. Harvest typically runs from early August for sparkling wine bases—where acidity is critical—through to early October for still red wines.”

Climate variability has added further complexity.

“When I arrived in 2023, vineyard condition was poor and required extensive recovery work. But the site potential was immediately clear. The task was to rebuild the vineyard system and translate that potential into consistent, identifiable wines.”

A tight team, vineyard to winery

Tealdi works closely with Gianluca Peirano, the estate’s viticulture manager and a long-time collaborator from Piedmont. Their approach is based on communication and joint decision-making.

“Gianluca and I are on the same page. I trust his experience, which is critical—especially in a climate like this, where conditions can force quick decisions.”

Together, they have restructured the estate’s operations: 125 hectares of vineyards, partial replanting with indigenous varieties including Nero d’Avola, Grillo and Inzolia, a full upgrade of irrigation infrastructure with systems designed for fertigation, winery workflow adjustments, and a gradual shift toward more sustainable vineyard practices.

Sustainability as an operating framework

For Tealdi, sustainability is not a buzzword, but an operating vision made tangible through through daily management choices.

“We’ve implemented phytoremediation systems, rainwater recovery, cover cropping, and composting of winemaking residues,” says Tealdi. “We also grow wheat, almonds and olives for agritourism, all within the estate. The goal is an integrated agricultural model where inputs and outputs are connected.”

In Sicily’s climate, water management is central. Summer drought can last for months, and vine water stress may occur as early as June. Under these conditions, irrigation decisions directly affect vine balance, yield stability and wine quality.

Using decision support to manage irrigation

To support irrigation planning, the estate has used the Vintel® decision-support system since 2018. Today, it is fully integrated into vineyard management.

“We don’t irrigate to push yields,” Tealdi says. “The objective is to maintain the vine’s physiological balance. Vintel® helps us identify when intervention is necessary—and when it isn’t.”

The irrigation module is the most actively used component. It allows the team to anticipate water stress, compare seasons, and estimate vine water requirements at different phenological stages.

“In 2023, we had virtually no rainfall from March through October. In 2024, rainfall continued until May. In that kind of variability, experience alone isn’t enough. You need objective data to make clear decisions.”

Precision where it matters most

Tealdi’s objective is clear: produce wines that reflect their Sicilian origin while remaining consistent, balanced and genuinely enjoyable to drink. Vineyard management decisions—from pruning to harvest timing—are made with defined quality targets and long-term vineyard performance in mind.

“Technology doesn’t replace the technician,” he says. “It helps us make better decisions—especially when climate becomes unforgiving.”

As Principi di Butera continues to expand its presence in international markets, the priority is building a resilient production model—one that can adapt to climate variability while remaining sustainable and maintaining wine quality year after year.

“True sustainability means making quality wines today without compromising our ability to do the same tomorrow. And to get there, every drop counts.”

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L’article Every Drop Counts : How Paolo Tealdi Is driving the sustainable turnaround of Principi di Butera in Sicily est apparu en premier sur Vintel®.

In France, sanitary pressure has reached record levels. Cognac vintages 2023 and 2024 made it clear: downy mildew is striking earlier every year. Mild winters and frequent rain boost contamination risks and make vineyard operations harder to conduct.

And the pressure isn’t just biological. Regulation is tightening too. Active substances are being withdrawn, and allowed spray doses are shrinking. Growers must now rethink protection strategies and adapt them to both the new climate conditions and the rulebook.

Three levers: practices, optimal spraying, and data

How do we respond? By working on three fronts.

• Cultural practices such as leaf removal and careful nitrogen management improve canopy aeration and limit vigor, making vines less susceptible.
• Optimized spraying is also crucial: precise sprayer calibration and targeted applications boost efficiency while reducing inputs.
• Technology brings the final lever, helping growers anticipate risks instead of reacting to them.

Decision support: the grower’s co-pilot

Decision Support Tools (DSTs) analyze agronomic and weather data to deliver clear answers. Is the vineyard at risk of downy mildew in this moment? When will the next contamination event strike? By modeling vine growth and pathogen cycles, these tools highlight critical windows for action.

“With the climate becoming more unpredictable, DSTs are turning into essential allies — especially when paired with accurate weather forecasts. Cross-checking several sources of data sharpens decision-making.”
— Nathalie Poppe, Technical Manager, Phloème Conseil

Vintel®: seeing the invisible

Among crop protection tools, Vintel® is making its mark. It combines phenological models, epidemiological simulations, and treatment performance analysis. Its edge? The ability to “see the invisible.” By estimating pathogen development before symptoms appear — from winter egg maturation to first infections — Vintel® gives growers a head start.

Drawing on weather station data and forecast models, it helps pinpoint the best moment to spray and renew coverage, saving time and inputs while increasing effectiveness.

Innovation meets experience

Of course, no tool replaces the grower’s eye. But they can enrich it.

“Vintel® stands out for its ability to anticipate symptom emergence and track winter egg maturation. It helps growers fine-tune their protection plans. Experience remains essential — but DSTs bring valuable support alongside it.”
— Nathalie Poppe, Technical Manager, Phloème Conseil

A new roadmap for vineyard protection

Climate change and regulations are rewriting the rules of vineyard management. The only sustainable path combines good vineyard practices, precise treatments, and technological innovation. By blending field experience with digital precision, the wine industry has the keys to building durable protection strategies — and safeguarding vineyards for the next generation.

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L’article Fighting vine fungal diseases in times of climate change est apparu en premier sur Vintel®.

We sat down with Alessandro Gallo, a winemaker from Piedmont and director of the estate, to explore how Rocca di Montemassi is rethinking sustainability—not just in the vineyard, but across its entire agricultural ecosystem.

“We’re not just a winery. We’re a wine farm,” says Gallo.

Born and raised in Piedmont, Gallo began working with the Zonin group in 2004 at Castello di Albola in Chianti. In 2016, he also took the helm at Rocca di Montemassi. “Both estates are in Tuscany, but they couldn’t be more different—soils, climate, grape-growing potential—everything,” he explains.

That contrast has given Gallo the freedom to innovate. Unlike Chianti, with its stricter DOCG rules, Maremma offers more flexibility.“Here, we can experiment more freely with grape varieties and wine styles. We focus mainly on international reds like Cabernet, Merlot, and Syrah, often blended, along with a small amount of Sangiovese. For whites, it’s Vermentino—which thrives in this region—and Viognier.”

From day one, Gallo envisioned a holistic, integrated farming model where every piece of the estate supports the others. “We began the transition to organic in 2016 and completed it in 2021. But our real leap was in designing Rocca di Montemassi as a true wine farm—a complete agricultural system that prioritizes local production, reduces waste, and enhances biodiversity.”That vision is now visible across the property. Alongside the vineyards are olive groves, wheat fields, pastures for native Maremmana cattle, and a wine tasting room.

“Our goal is to build an agricultural ecosystem that regenerates local resources and nurtures biodiversity. For instance, we plant fava beans between vineyard rows in the fall and plow them under in the spring to enrich the soil. The cows’ manure becomes fertilizer. We use no synthetic chemicals. It’s a closed, circular system that touches every corner of the farm.”

“It’s a closed, circular system that touches every corner of the farm.”

Smart tech for transparent sustainability

The Role of Digital Innovation

At Rocca di Montemassi, sustainability is as much about data as it is about field work. The team has embraced cutting-edge tools to support their goals.
“We’ve invested in recovery sprayers that minimize copper and sulfur loss during treatments. And since 2018, we’ve been using Vintel, a decision support system for irrigation planning” says Gallo.
“Vintel helps us irrigate precisely, based on both plant needs and our winemaking goals. It’s a big part of reducing our water footprint.”
He adds : “Using the platform, we can monitor the water status of each vineyard block and irrigate only when necessary—keeping vines in their sweet spot for optimal expression.”

“Vintel helps us irrigate precisely, based on both plant needs and our winemaking goals. It’s a big part of reducing our water footprint.”

Transparency Through Certification

To back up their sustainability claims, Rocca di Montemassi joined the italian Equalitas Sustainability Certification program in 2018. This gives them a structured way to track, measure, and report their environmental, social, and economic impact annually.

Telling the story: Wine tourism as an ally of sustainable wine making

The estate is also home to the Museum of Rural Civilization, housing more than 3,000 tools and photographs that tell the story of traditional Tuscan farm life. It’s a tribute to the butteri, the region’s traditional cattle herders.

“The winery tasting room and museum are essential parts of the farm experience” says Gallo. “They help visitors truly understand what it means to make wine sustainably, with respect for land and history.”Wine tourism, he believes, is a key ally in agroecological transition. “It creates both cultural and economic value rooted in the territory.”

Climate change, markets, and the road forward

Like many farms in southern Europe, Rocca di Montemassi is facing the challenges of climate change.“We’re seeing shifts in rainfall patterns and more frequent droughts. We have to rethink our grape varieties and how we manage the vineyards. Adaptation and planification are crucial” .”

But the challenges aren’t just environmental. “The market is changing, too. Consumers are more demanding, and global competition is fierce. That’s why we focus on quality, identity, and innovation.”

In short, Rocca di Montemassi is betting on a future where great wine comes from resilient farming, smart tools, and storytelling.
“We need to stay flexible, make smart decisions, and create value across the board,” Gallo concludes. “For us, innovation and sustainability aren’t just buzzwords—they’re how we plan to thrive.”

“We need to stay flexible, make smart decisions, and create value across the board”

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L’article Rocca di Montemassi: A Wine Farm 4.0 at the Crossroads of Sustainability and Tech est apparu en premier sur Vintel®.

Phenology is the study of recurring events in the life cycle of plants and animals and how these cycles are affected by seasonal changes or environmental factors. Examples of phenological events in the plant world are flowering and bud-burst and in the animal world, egg hatching and insect emergence.

In agriculture, the timing of plant phenological events is a crucial driver of agroecosystem functioning and productivity. Not only phenology determines the length of the productive season and its synchronization with favorable climate conditions, but its knowledge is necessary to time and optimize agricultural practices.  For example, the impact of water stress varies according to the different crop phenological stages. For this reason, irrigation may be scheduled depending on this variable. Crop phenology is also important for fertilization scheduling, pest management, and harvesting operations, to name a few.

Due to the key role of phenology in crop management, it is important to understand how the yearly cycle of plants unfolds and how it is affected by its environmental drivers.

Grapevine phenology

Similarly to other crops, grapevine develops following a well-defined yearly cycle, marked by phenological events.

In temperate zones with cold winters, grapevines actively grow from March/April  to October/November, i.e., “the growing season.”. A cultivar’s ability to successfully ripen fruit during the growing season is critical, and most wine grape cultivars require 155–200 frost-free days to reach harvest maturity. Additionally, some post-harvest frost-free days are required for the vines to build up reserve carbohydrates prior to dormancy.

The stages in the growth cycle

The grape starts its annual growth cycle in the spring with bud-break which begins around March when daily temperatures begin to surpass 10 °C. In pruned vines, the start of this cycle is marked by a “bleeding” of the vine when sap exits the cuts left over from pruning the vine. Leaf unfolding follows shortly after bud-break.

Depending on temperatures, approximately 2 months after bud-break, flowering begins with small flower clusters appearing on the tips of the young shoots. This is usually occurring in May. The flowers then start to grow in size with individual flowers becoming observable, pollination takes then place.

The stage of fruit set follows flowering almost immediately at the beginning of June, when the fertilized flower begins to develop a seed and grape berry to protect the seed.

Following fruit set, the grape berries are green and hard to the touch. They have very little sugar and are high in organic acids. They begin to grow to about half their final size when they enter the stage of veraison, which occurs around the end of July. Veraison corresponds to the onset of fruit maturation and starts  with  an  abrupt softening  of the berry, followed  by sugar loading and acid degradation. In red and black cultivars the biosynthesis of anthocyanin results in berry skin colouring.  The weather during this phenophase is crucial for berry quality and future wine aromatic profile.

At the end of maturation, usually around September, grapes are harvested to be transformed in wine, in the wine making process, or to be eaten as table grapes.  The time of harvest depends on a variety of human and environmental factors. Indeed, this decision very much depends on the subjective evaluation of grape ripeness which in turns depends on the production objectives of the grower/winery The threat of detrimental weather or disease can also play a role in the time table. The balance of all these factors affect the timing of harvest.

Finally, in October /November, senescence takes place, involving chlorophyll break down, leaf colouring and leaf fall. Dormancy, or inability to grow in warm conditions, sets in at the end of September and deepens until it is released by chilling temperatures and long photoperiod. Grapevines are then ready to resume growth and start a new season.

Phenology prediction for a better vineyard management

The precise monitoring of these stages on the scale of a vineyard is essential in ensuring a successful technical management. It provides the means for ascertaining the developmental status of the grapevine and hence to decide when and how to conduct technical operations.

Irrigation

A precise knowledge of phenological phases is crucial to have an effective irrigation strategy in the vineyard.

Indeed, the effect of water deficit on berry growth varies according to the phenological phase during which it is applied. Research shows that it is greater when it is applied during berry formation (between flowering and veraison) when can limit cell division and expansion and decrease the final size of berries and total yield. Similarly, a stress applied at the time of flower bud differentiation can negatively impact fruitfulness and production the following year.

Phytosanitary treatments

Many diseases respond to specific weather conditions, and attack their host during specific vulnerability windows, which often correspond to particular phenological phases. For example, grey mould (botrytis cinerea) penetrates into senescing flowers at the end of flowering but only develops at a later stage, between veraison and harvest. Powdery mildew on the other hand, can produce primary infections on green  parts only before veraison, due to its inability to penetrate old and thickened leaf tissue. To optimize phytosanitary planning the prediction of phenological vulnerability to specific diseases is thus crucial

Cover crop management

A precise and informed management of cover crop can benefit vineyards and grape quality in many ways. However in order to avoid excessive competition between the cover crop and the grapevine the vigor of the cover crop should be limited during the period where water is a limiting factor for grapevine growth, which corresponds to specific phenological phases.

Harvest

The precise knowledge of the phenological status of grapevine allows to assess the relative ripeness levels of the parcels and characterize the current vintage to decide  when harvest should take place, given the oenological objectives of the grape grower. For example, in a vineyard dedicated to the production of dry whites or spumante-style wine, harvest might be conducted relatively early to ensure high levels of acidity and freshness.

To time these operations so that they are conducted during the right phenological phase, phenology modelling comes to the aid of on-field monitoring. Phenological models use the relationship between weather variables and plant development to simulate and predict plant phenology so that growers can plan their technical operations effectively.

Vintel, predict your vineyard phenology and plan your viticultural operations

To make vineyard management easy, ITK has developed a smart digital solution: Vintel®. The Decision Support System (DSS) Vintel® helps to manage irrigation and nitrogen fertilization in real time according to vine water and nitrogen needs, by taking into account the phenological phase of your vineyard, which is predicted using phenological models.

If you want to know more about  Vintel® see here.

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L’article Grapevine phenology est apparu en premier sur Vintel®.

Nestled in the heart of Puglia, in the south of Italy, Masseria Altemura lies halfway between two seas, enjoying cool sea breezes from the Ionian and saline air the Adriatic.

The estate, acquired by the Zonin1821 group in 2000, covers 140 hectares of vineyards set in a unique terroir.  The soils, a blend of rock and clay, paired with a Mediterranean climate—hot, dry summers and mild winters—create the perfect environment for high-quality viticulture. The estate hosts a variety of prestigious grape varieties, including local gems like Aglianico and Primitivo.

Since 2005, the estate has been under the watchful eye of Antonio Cavallo, the vineyard manager and winemaker. A native of Puglia with a degree in Agricultural Sciences from Bologna, Antonio brings a no-nonsense mix of traditional know-how and scientific curiosity to his work. “My goal,” he says, “has always been to let the native varieties speak for themselves—while giving them the right tools to do it.” explains Antonio “It’s about taking everything into account: from the climate and soil to the style of wine —every detail guides our decisions in the vineyard.”

Antonio gives us a picture of the estate vineyards: “Around 70% of the vineyards are planted with reds, with Primitivo making up about half of our production. We also grow Aglianico and Malvasia Nera. For white grapes, we have Malvasia, Fiano, Moscato, and Falanghina.” Yields vary depending on the variety: “For Primitivo, we are around 70-80 quintals per hectare, while for Fiano and the rosé production, yields are a bit higher, around 110.”

  “My goal, has always been to let the native varieties speak for themselves—while giving them the right tools to do it “.

A changing climate

Like many growers across southern Europe, Antonio has watched the local weather patterns slip out of sync. “Rain is coming at the wrong times, and it’s not just a few days—it’s entire seasons that look nothing like they used to,” he says. Take spring 2023, for example:  humid, wet, and unpredictable, it ushered in one of the worst downy mildew seasons in recent memory of the region, which is not usually exposed to high disease pressures. “But luckily we were not affected” Antonio says “We were prepared. We acted fast, monitored closely, and protected the fruit.”

Warmer winters are also accelerating vine growth. “This year Moscato budded in early March,” he says  “and within two weeks we were at two leaves. This precocity makes vines vulnerable to spring frost damage—a risk that used to be rare here.”

« This (phenological) precocity makes vines vulnerable to spring frost damage—a risk that used to be rare here. »

An irrigation strategy tailored to each variety

According to Antonio, the key to resilience is precision. Masseria Altemura uses a drip system which is triggered only when vines are exposed to real water stress—what is called ‘rescue irrigation.’ It’s a system designed for a region where the dry, hot summers can quickly turn punishing. “The idea isn’t to irrigate routinely,” he explains, “but to act when the vines actually need it—and in a way that fits the character of each variety.”

The Mediterranean climate—with its long, dry, and sun-soaked summers—offers both a challenge and an opportunity for viticulture. In the ripening season, when rainfall is scarce, irrigation becomes not just a support, but a strategic tool. “At that point, the vines rely almost entirely on us,” says Antonio. “And that means we can adjust irrigation to obtain a certain wine style.”

At Masseria Altemura, irrigation isn’t about simply quenching thirst—it’s a fine-tuned balancing act. Strategies are tailored to each grape variety, guided by the wine style they aim to achieve and informed by weather patterns and lessons from previous harvests. “If one year we ended up with overly tannic musts or yields that were too low, the following season we make adjustments to ease a bit more the water stress,” Antonio explains.

Precise water management is essential—not only to maintain the vine’s vegetative balance, but to shape wine style itself. “Every variety reacts differently to water, to stress, to the rhythm of the season” Antonio emphasizes. “Understanding the water behavior of each variety is key to striking the right balance between vigor and ripening, and create good wines”.

Over time, they’ve built detailed irrigation profiles for each grape. For example, white varieties are protected from excessive water stress to preserve their freshness and minerality. “For reds, we can stress a bit more, but it depends,” he says. “Negroamaro, for example, has very little resilience to drought—once it’s stressed, it hardly recovers. So, we make sure it never crosses that stress threshold. Primitivo, on the other hand, has delicate skins, so we pay very close attention not to water in excess in the last two weeks before harvest, to avoid berry splitting.”

“Everything comes back to knowing how each variety behaves under pressure,” Antonio adds. “That knowledge is what lets us guide the vine—and the wine—in the right direction.”

« Understanding the water behavior of each variety is key to striking the right balance between vigor and ripening, and create good wines. »

From manual to digital

Such precision might seem difficult to achieve, but for years, the estate has been fine-tuning its water management practices with monitoring tools like the pressure chamber. This device measures leaf water potential—the pressure needed to draw water from a leaf—providing a direct indicator of the vine’s hydration status. Unlike soil moisture sensors, this method offers a plant-centered perspective, especially valuable in viticulture. Yet, it’s a technique that demands experience and manual effort, requiring daily dedication to maintain consistent monitoring.

“When I first arrived in 2005,” Antonio recalls, “given the size of the estate, measuring leaf water potential throughout the summer meant having one person working full-time for three straight months.”

That’s why, since 2018, the estate has adopted Vintel®, a decision support system for precision irrigation. Vintel® offers daily simulations and forecasts of leaf water potential, making vineyard monitoring more accessible and strategic. From the beginning, it proved to be an ideal partner for Masseria Altemura’s approach. The platform is powered by multifactorial agronomic models that consider soil, climate, grape variety, and winemaking objectives, tailoring its recommendations accordingly.

Thanks to this integration, the estate now benefits from highly accurate water stress forecasts, drastically reducing the need for manual measurements. The result is a streamlined, time-efficient process that doesn’t compromise on quality.

“Today, thanks to Vintel®, we can simulate and forecast leaf water potential with precision,” Antonio explains. “We only use the pressure chamber to confirm the data. It lets us work more efficiently—and with greater peace of mind.”

« Today, thanks to Vintel®, we can simulate and forecast leaf water potential with precision [..] . It lets us work more efficiently—and with greater peace of mind. »

Innovation, Sustainability, and Terroir

Masseria Altemura stands as a prime example of how thoughtful agronomic management and innovation can meet today’s viticultural challenges—enhancing the potential of a unique terroir while ensuring sustainability and resilience.

That path, however, hasn’t always been smooth. “In the beginning, there was a lot of trial and error,” Antonio admits. “It took time and effort to calibrate the DSS, to define irrigation strategies and the water response profiles of each variety.”

And each year, the challenge begins anew.  As climate patterns shift and conditions evolve, strategies must be constantly reassessed. What worked one year may no longer apply the next. But at Masseria Altemura, years of field experience, combined with a data-driven approach, have shaped a resilient and adaptable system—one that not only navigates uncertainty but showcases the full potential of Apulian viticulture.

Today, thanks to Vintel®’s predictive power, Antonio can finally step away from the vines for a few days, even during the peak of summer. A short break, perhaps, but one that was once unthinkable.

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L’article Masseria Altemura: where terroir and innovation meet to create resilient viticulture est apparu en premier sur Vintel®.