The Territory
DonnaLia and Notes on Canavese Geology
The regulations governing the area in which the winery is located refer to the Canavese DOC; the vineyards are located on the southeastern slopes of a prominent morainic amphitheater of glacial origin (Serra Morenica d’Ivrea) on the border with the Aosta Valley, in the province of Biella. The land is ideal for growing grapes thanks to its mild microclimate, protected by the hills and balanced by the presence of two important rivers (Dora Baltea and Orco) and numerous lakes scattered across the flat area, including Lake Viverone.
The Canavese morainic amphitheater is a relief dating back to the Quaternary period, created by the transport of sediments towards the Po Valley during the ice ages by the large glacier that ran through the Dora Baltea valley and covered the Gran Paradiso and Monte Rosa mountain ranges, whose hilltops have an average altitude of between 300 and 600 meters. The name amphitheater given to these geomorphological structures refers to their characteristic semicircular shape, which is easily visible on a geographical map.
DonnaLia and Biodiversity and Sustainability in the Vineyard
Conventional agriculture, especially in its most intensive forms, sometimes contributes significantly to the transformation and reduction of the biological diversity of the territory. The use of pesticides and the excessive simplification of ecosystems inevitably lead to a decrease in biodiversity. Even viticulture, understood as a productive activity aimed exclusively at generating income for the business, can pose a threat; often, the vineyard area and the “surrounding” area are two separate and well-defined situations, managed according to different rules.
Sustainable viticulture, on the other hand, aims to contribute to the formation of a mosaic of habitats, alternating between cultivated areas, woods, and meadows in order to ensure a balance in the territory with the conservation and development of native species. The richness of biodiversity ensures the development of a food web that guarantees a balance between predators and pests, limiting their excessive development to the detriment of crops. This can lead to a significant reduction in the use of pesticides in the vineyard.
The abandonment of chemical weed control and the gradual reduction in pesticides, together with respect for the complex landscape surrounding the vineyard (deciduous woods, permanent meadows, orchards, vegetable gardens), is leading our company’s vineyard agro-system towards ever greater richness in ecosystem biodiversity. We have always applied the “Integrated Pest Management” regulations, which led to SQNPI certification in 2023.
