A Bouquet of…Pesticides

We want to express our special thanks to the editorial board of Mille Vigne (Link: https://www.millevigne.it/), and to the journalist Marco Tenzoni for his article about “A bouquet of… pesticides” in the edition 03/2019 in which he published also some details about our work in the careful and accurate vine management. 

The article starts with a recent study of the Regione Toscana and the advisor Roberto Salvini who emphasized the consequences of exposure to pesticides, examining the situation both in Italy and abroad. The aim was not only to understand the health problems caused by the impact of pesticides on humans, but also what the olfactory impact of pesticides in wine could be. We now know that the most frequently detected active substances are: Boscalid, Captano, Chloropyrifos, Fosmet, Metalaxil, Imidacloprid, Dimethoate and Hypridione, but how much can they affect the sensory and olfactory analysis of wine?

According to two French experts Gilles-Eric Seralini, specialized professor in GMO and pesticides, and Jerome Douzelet, famous chef and taste specialist, pesticides inhibit the taste revelation of other aromas, both on the tongue and in the nose, and could confer distinctive characteristics to the product. Especially for those looking for a quality wine this result is not very desirable. 

After this study, Tenzoni talks about our research that focuses not only on reducing the use of pesticides, but on managing the entire calendar of treatments. We focus on avoiding copper and sulfur, using plant extracts and natural essences with the aim that plants can defend themselves. Of course, the deep knowledge of the specific ecosystem in the vineyards is at the basis of this kind of vine management, especially in the canopy. It should be studied case by case, because “there is no perfect recipe valid for everyone”.