0,32 liters
Water
RESOURCESClimate change and the current hydrological framework urgently require an increasingly efficient management of water resources. The entire wine sector is called upon to adopt new sustainable production models, which leverage on water saving. Aware of the importance of this resource, Firriato was among the first wineries to measure its water footprint. A process that began about 20 years ago through the adoption of the best practices envisaged by the ISO 14046 standard which specifies principles, requirements and guidelines relating to the assessment of the Water Footprint of products, processes and organizations based on the assessment of the Vita (LCA), with the aim of providing a more complete environmental assessment. This tool is used to quantify the use and contamination of fresh water during the entire production process. This activity allows us to certify the absence of significant negative impacts on communities or the environment, both in the vineyard and in the cellar, in the operations carried out by the company.
Water
RESOURCESClimate change and the current hydrological framework urgently require an increasingly efficient management of water resources. The entire wine sector is called upon to adopt new sustainable production models, which leverage on water saving.
Aware of the importance of this resource, Firriato was among the first wineries to measure its water footprint. A process that began about 20 years ago through the adoption of the best practices envisaged by the ISO 14046 standard which specifies principles, requirements and guidelines relating to the assessment of the Water Footprint of products, processes and organizations based on the assessment of the Vita (LCA), with the aim of providing a more complete environmental assessment. This tool is used to quantify the use and contamination of fresh water during the entire production process. This activity allows us to certify the absence of significant negative impacts on communities or the environment, both in the vineyard and in the cellar, in the operations carried out by the company.
The water balance
WaterThe water balance
WaterAn important function of the soil is the storage of nutrients and water that are functional to the vegetative development of the vine. In the event of low water availability, the assimilation of nutrients proceeds only partially or does not occur. The consequences can be varied, depending on whether a smaller or larger amount of water is administered.
The repercussions can be found in the reduction of vegetative development and the productivity of the plant and the consequent loss of quality of the fruit. On the other hand, in the presence of excessive administration of water, it is possible that there is a leaching into the soil of the nutrients with consequent overloading of the aquifer. Irrigation must be adapted to the phenological stages of plant development on the basis of a series of variables that circumscribe its micro and macroclimate: type of vine, exposure and temperature, air humidity, type of soil, degree of humidity of the ground. The annual monitoring of all these variables, allow to intervene if a situation of suffering of the plant occurs. Vegetative development and fruit set are periods closely related to the water balance of the vine. For the entire vegetative phase, the development of the plant is functionally linked to the availability of water stocks. In young hillside vineyards with semi-arid temperatures, it is very important to provide an accurate water supply right in the first phase of development. For vines of strong vigor planted on deep soils, however, emergency irrigation must be implemented only in case of need. As the soil drought increases, the stomata closes in the roots. The screws need this “radical” signal for a “controlled” use of water. In the event of increased water stress, photosynthesis is reduced, causing the slowing of vegetative development and the yield of the bunches. The determination of the water potential of each specimen in the vineyard, through constant monitoring, allows the company to better meet the nutritional needs of the plant, improving the overall health status of all areas under vines.
Favignana
The physiology of the plant is influenced by the immediate marine influence that comes from the coast.
Trapani
Irrigation management involves administration interventions that, in volume and shifts, do not fully satisfy the water needs of the crop, but rather induce a partial condition of water stress.
Etna
The pedoclimatic peculiarities of the volcano's altitudes guarantee the plant from exogenous water supplies.
Favignana
The physiology of the plant is influenced by the immediate marine influence that comes from the coast.
Trapani
Irrigation management involves administration interventions that, in volume and shifts, do not fully satisfy the water needs of the crop, but rather induce a partial condition of water stress.
Etna
The pedoclimatic peculiarities of the volcano's altitudes guarantee the plant from exogenous water supplies.
The use of water
waterThe water indicator is aimed at quantifying the volume of quantity of water resource used directly and indirectly for field and cellar activities, for the creation of a bottle.
THE VINEYARD The graph shows that the supply of water (green water footprint) in the vineyard consists only of rainwater actually used by the crop for evapo-transpiration. It follows that given the dry farming present in the countryside of Trapani and Favignana, there is no water supply, except for relief. Water (or blue water footprint) (irrigation), on the other hand, corresponds to the volume of surface or ground water taken from water bodies and used for irrigation. Vineyard blue water (or water footprint) refers to the volume of surface or ground water taken from water bodies and used for phytosanitary treatments in vineyards, which does not return to the same source from which it was taken, or there back but at different times. It includes the volume of water necessary for the dilution or dissolution of the formulations and the volume of water used for washing agricultural vehicles following the treatments. Gray vineyard water (or water footprint), on the other hand, concerns the total volume of water used that is not contaminated, and therefore free from potential contamination due to the use of pesticides or pesticides not provided for by the organic regulations. The company therefore reaches 94% of uncontaminated water coverage in the vineyard. IN THE CELLAR For cellars, the blue cellar water (or cellar water footprint) denotes the volume of surface or ground water taken from water bodies and used for the cellar activity (vinification + bottling) that does not return to the same source from which it was picked up, or it comes back but at different times.The use of water
waterThe water indicator is aimed at quantifying the volume of quantity of water resource used directly and indirectly for field and cellar activities, for the creation of a bottle.
THE VINEYARD The graph shows that the supply of water (green water footprint) in the vineyard consists only of rainwater actually used by the crop for evapo-transpiration. It follows that given the dry farming present in the countryside of Trapani and Favignana, there is no water supply, except for relief. Water (or blue water footprint) (irrigation), on the other hand, corresponds to the volume of surface or ground water taken from water bodies and used for irrigation. Vineyard blue water (or water footprint) refers to the volume of surface or ground water taken from water bodies and used for phytosanitary treatments in vineyards, which does not return to the same source from which it was taken, or there back but at different times. It includes the volume of water necessary for the dilution or dissolution of the formulations and the volume of water used for washing agricultural vehicles following the treatments. Gray vineyard water (or water footprint), on the other hand, concerns the total volume of water used that is not contaminated, and therefore free from potential contamination due to the use of pesticides or pesticides not provided for by the organic regulations. The company therefore reaches 94% of uncontaminated water coverage in the vineyard.
IN THE CELLAR
For cellars, the blue cellar water (or cellar water footprint) denotes the volume of surface or ground water taken from water bodies and used for the cellar activity (vinification + bottling) that does not return to the same source from which it was picked up, or it comes back but at different times.
The water approach
waterVolume of water per bottle of wine produced
The water approach
waterSicily, as it is often considered, is a wine “continent” where agronomy has very different aspects depending on the area, the soil and the local mesoclimate in which the vineyard thrives. Volcanic soils, calcarenites and clays certainly have a different degree of water retention and transport and moisture retention. Mountain, hilly or marine microclimates, where a single breeze can make the difference in the dew point temperature. In this complex context, the use of water resources in the vineyard is closely linked to the soil and climate context and production objectives. Firriato has for some time evaluated and implemented the approach to the use of water resources, contextualizing it in each single vineyard, classifying the most important requirements in the three main contexts.
Volume of water per bottle of wine produced 0.32 liters
Trapani countryside
Dry farmingTrapani countryside
Dry farmingIn the Trapani countryside, the availability of almost 100% of water in the vineyard is linked both to the presence of natural and artificial water basins fed by rainwater, and to the meteorological component (rain and precipitation). Currently, water requirement is fully covered naturally, with only 2.75% of interventions by the epigeal type drip irrigation systems and only 7% of the hypogeal type cases, thus recording the use of meteoric water in vineyard equal to 98% of the total.
The clayey matrix, in fact, mitigated by the calcareous presence, is able to ensure a good structure to the soils and a high supply of mineral elements, due to the good capacity to retain mineral elements, thus ensuring a constant presence of humidity in the subsoil, ideal for manage the water stress of the vine and cancel the effects of unbalanced ripening. Precisely for this reason, in particularly dry years, Firriato practices dry farming to avoid the excessive concentration of sugars to the detriment of the aromatic component in the vines. Irrigation management involves administration interventions that, in volume and shifts, do not fully satisfy the water needs of the crop, but rather induce a partial condition of water stress. These intervention thresholds determine irrigation methods that fall within the Controlled Water Deficit techniques. The goal of the deficit irrigation strategy is to maintain the vegetative and productive equilibrium conditions of the plant, ie to maintain the photosynthetic activity of the plant, guiding its metabolism. The sub-irrigation distribution systems used in the countryside of Trapani increase the efficiency of water use as they limit losses due to surface evaporation. The total use of water in the vineyard for irrigation in dry farming and / or relief is obviously well below the Sicilian average.
Favignana
AerosolFavignana
AerosolTotally different conditions on the island of Favignana, the Calamoni vineyard, in fact, receives a minimum amount of water whose goal is not so much to restore the plant from drought, as the pedoclimatic component of the island is such as not to create never conditions of excessive water stress in the vine, as to maintain the physiology of the plant able to vegetate in the extreme conditions due to marine influence, in terms of aerosol, sodium chloride concentration in the soil, natural fertilization of marine posidonia and the presence of the marine aquifer a few meters below the ground.
Etna
THE VINEYARDEtna
THE VINEYARDOn Etna, as there are mountain climatic conditions to mitigate the xeric aspect, irrigation is completely unnecessary. The porosity and depth of the soils, combined with milder temperatures and strong day / night temperature variations, ensure that the plants never need irrigation or generally external water supplies. Here the only water used, always of meteoric origin, is that used, of course, to carry out the treatments.
The cellars
WaterThe availability of water varies according to the rainfall recorded during the years which in some cases may have had a drier character than the average. To avoid wasting water in the cellars, an internal water recovery system is used. The phytodepuration plant provides that the waste water is purified through the use of a waterproofed basin in which the gravelly substrate and the vegetable substrate combine their action in order to make the water clean. Constant monitoring of the purification plant, authorized for discharge into surface waters; reuse for irrigation is not convenient, due to the distance between the cellar and the vineyards; while the reuse for irrigation purposes in the green areas of the cellar and for washing the yards and outdoor areas is being evaluated. In the respective cellars, washing and sanitizing procedures have been implemented, but also other operations in order to minimize the consumption of water and its contamination. To reduce the waste of water in the washing of bottles, in the cellar of the Trapani countryside the same water is recovered and carried in a tank placed next to the supply tank; the accumulated liquid is reprocessed in order to be reused in the following days. In the Cavanera cellar on Etna, the recycling of washing water is channeled for agronomic purposes, while the irrigation water is conveyed to the gardens of the resort and the cellar. Firriato has equipped itself with biodepuration plants for the residual mixtures of phytosanitary treatments and / or wastewater purification for the sustainable use of plant protection products in the vineyard, aimed at reducing and controlling point contamination. The company has adequate waterproofed pitches, storage warehouses for plant protection products and waste management practices for used containers.
The cellars
WaterThe availability of water varies according to the rainfall recorded during the years which in some cases may have had a drier character than the average. To avoid wasting water in the cellars, an internal water recovery system is used.
The phytodepuration plant provides that the waste water is purified through the use of a waterproofed basin in which the gravelly substrate and the vegetable substrate combine their action in order to make the water clean. Constant monitoring of the purification plant, authorized for discharge into surface waters; reuse for irrigation is not convenient, due to the distance between the cellar and the vineyards; while the reuse for irrigation purposes in the green areas of the cellar and for washing the yards and outdoor areas is being evaluated. In the respective cellars, washing and sanitizing procedures have been implemented, but also other operations in order to minimize the consumption of water and its contamination. To reduce the waste of water in the washing of bottles, in the cellar of the Trapani countryside the same water is recovered and carried in a tank placed next to the supply tank; the accumulated liquid is reprocessed in order to be reused in the following days. In the Cavanera cellar on Etna, the recycling of washing water is channeled for agronomic purposes, while the irrigation water is conveyed to the gardens of the resort and the cellar. Firriato has equipped itself with biodepuration plants for the residual mixtures of phytosanitary treatments and / or wastewater purification for the sustainable use of plant protection products in the vineyard, aimed at reducing and controlling point contamination. The company has adequate waterproofed pitches, storage warehouses for plant protection products and waste management practices for used containers.
Water Deficit
Water
Of water in the vineyard is linked to both the presence of water basins
Of uncontaminated water coverage in the vineyard
Water consumption in the cellar
Interventions by irrigation systems
Of water in the vineyard is linked to both the presence of water basins
Of uncontaminated water coverage in the vineyard
Water consumption in the cellar
Interventions by irrigation systems
Cantine
CantineLa disponibilità dellâacqua varia in base alle precipitazioni registrate durante le annate che in alcuni casi possono avere avuto un carattere piÃđ siccitoso rispetto alla media. Per evitare gli sprechi di acqua nelle cantine viene utilizzato un sistema di recupero acque dallâinterno. Lâimpianto di fitodepurazione prevede che le acque reflue vengano depurate mediante lâuso di un bacino impermeabilizzato in cui il substrato ghiaioso e quello vegetale combinano la loro azione al fine di rendere pulita lâacqua.
Consumo idrico totale annuo
Cantina di Paceco. Triennio 2016/2018
Consumo idrico totale annuo
Consumo idrico cantina e Nuova Cantina Cavanera Etnea
Costante ÃĻ il monitoraggio dell’impianto di depurazione, autorizzato allo scarico in acque superficiali; non risulta conveniente il riutilizzo per l’irrigazione, a causa della distanza tra la cantina e i vigneti; mentre ÃĻ in fase di valutazione il riutilizzo per fini irrigui nelle aree verdi della cantina e per il lavaggio dei piazzali e delle aree esterne. Nelle rispettive cantine sono state implementate procedure di lavaggio e sanificazione, ma anche altre operazioni al fine di minimizzare il consumo di acqua e la sua contaminazione. Per ridurre gli sprechi di acqua nel lavaggio delle bottiglie, nella cantina dellâagro di Trapani la stessa acqua viene recuperata e portata in una cisterna posta a fianco a quella di adduzione; il liquido accumulato viene ritrattato al fine di essere riadoperato nei giorni successivi . Nella cantina di Cavanera sullâEtna, il riciclo delle acque di lavaggio viene canalizzato a scopo agronomico, mentre lâacqua di irrigazione viene convogliata verso i giardini del resort e della cantina.
Firriato si ÃĻ dotata di impianti di biodepurazione delle miscele residue di trattamenti fitosanitari e/o di depurazione delle acque reflue per lâuso sostenibile dei prodotti fitosanitari in vigneto, rivolte alla riduzione e al controllo delle contaminazioni puntiformi. Lâazienda dispone di adeguate piazzole impermeabilizzate, magazzini di stoccaggio dei prodotti fitosanitari e di pratiche di gestione dei rifiuti di contenitori usati.
