Italy is the leading organic vineyard and boasts the largest biodynamic winery in the world

Organic wine is a driver. The most recent IWSR report, in 2017, revealed that 671 million bottles were uncorked around the world, mainly in Germany, France, and the United Kingdom. However, in this segment of the wine market it is Italy that can claim a series of interesting records. The Association of Wine Economics, for instance, revealed that Italy has the most organic vineyards, 15.5%, which is the highest percentage in the world. In 2017, the Italian agro-organic information system, SINAB data stated that Italy counted 103.206 hectares of organic vineyards (out of more than 660.000 total), and 33.782 were being converted. Further, Italy is home to what is probably one of the largest organic vineyards in the world - the Orsogna Winery 1964, in Chieti. The winery is in the heart of the Abruzzi Region, where 85% of its 1.200 hectares of vineyards, set at the foot of the Majella National Park are certified organic, and cultivated by the 500 members of the cooperative, plus it is currently the main producer of organic grapes in Italy. But that’s not all. 35% of the vineyards are cultivated with biodynamic, Demeter certified grapes, the most influential voice in this sector in the world. The 2018 International Biodynamic Wine Conference in San Francisco rewarded Orsogna as the largest Demeter certified biodynamic grape production farm in the world.
The Orsogna Winery is a forerunner in the biodynamic sector, investing and being involved in organic agriculture at the academic, institutional and entrepreneurial levels since the late 1980s. The oenologist Camillo Zulli has managed the winery since 1995.
Their investment has paid back also on the markets, since 70% of the 1.5 million bottles produced every year (in Montepulciano d’Abruzzo, Trebbiano d’Abruzzo, Sangiovese, Malvasia, Chardonnay, Moscato, Passerina, Cococciola and Pecorino), ends up exported to 30 markets around the world (Germany in the lead). Additionally, it has made sustainability and heroic viniculture (Cervim, Vegan and Biodiversity Friend are also certified) a philosophy of life reflected also in the participation in projects that go beyond wine, like “Euro Turtles” and the “WWF” SOS Lupo.