To the questions of RIPRESO answers Andreana Burgazzi, owner of Azienda Agricola Baraccone.
Company name, location, surface area, 3 key words to describe your company and business philosophy: Azienda Agricola Baraccone, 10 ha, territory, passion, knowledge.
Do you consider intra-parcel variability to be a recurring problem on your farm? Absolutely yes. It occurs in almost every vineyard. Exposure changes, the soil changes, the performance of the plants changes.
Which vines do you consider most susceptible to such problems? Malvasia di Candia aromatica, Barbera, Merlot. Croatina and Cabernet Sauvignon, on the contrary, show a much inferior susceptibility.
Do you think that intra-parcel variability affects the economic performance of your company? I am certain of it! Managing a vineyard with significant variability becomes more challenging. It is necessary to work out the localisation of interventions, to plan work in the vineyard at precise moments, very often passing 3-4 times in the same vineyard to complete a specific operation at the most appropriate time. It is important to focus on the conditions of each individual plant. One of the most obvious examples occurs at harvest time: in order to cope with the varying degree of ripeness of the grapes and their different oenological potential, harvesting takes place on different days, in a gradual manner. Vineyards are subdivided according to type and stage of ripening, very often in the same vineyard there are even 3 different harvest stages that are completed in 3 different weeks.
Have you ever addressed the issue of intra-parcel variability with traditional techniques (from pre-planting choices to annual management in the vineyard and/or cellar)? Yes, we have always set ourselves the goal of compensating for them with interventions both in the vineyard and in the cellar.
Did you ever carry out precision viticulture experiences before joining the RIPRESO Operations Group? No.
What do you expect from the RIPRESO project? I expect to find insights on which to reflect and on which to act to remedy problems.
