The vineyards of the Torre Fornello estate cover an area of 55 hectares on the hills around Piacenza, in the commune of Ziano. Here soil and climate are particularly suitable to winegrowing, an activity that has been going on since Roman times. The vineyards are under controlled cover crop, which forces the vines to a natural competition, resulting in lower yields per hectare, but of higher quality and more resistant to moulds.

Sprayings are carried out on the information supplied by the two weather stations of the estate. Thanks to the constant monitoring of temperature, humidity and rainfall, the stations can forecast the exact spreading of the infection, be that mildew, oidium or botrytis.

Moulds are treated by regular sprayings with eco-friendly copper and sulphur solutions following the standards set by the Regione Emilia Romagna.

Treatments start after the infection is under way. This procedure cuts down the number of sprayings in the vineyards by a considerable amount; that is why there are no residual pesticides left in the grapes and man's health is successfully safeguarded.

It is the vineyard that dictates the quality of our wines, and that includes an accurate survey of the soil, which in this area varies from vineyard to vineyard; the search for both clones and rootstocks that can produce high-quality results; and the way the site is exposed to sunlight, an all-important factor affecting flavours and aroma. Keeping all this in mind, every year four hectares of soil are planted, mainly with traditional varieties from the hills around Piacenza. Only the latest grafting and training methods are used, to the detriment of quantity, but to the unquestionable benefit of quality, for the wines produced are rich in colour and flavours, refined, elegant, full of body and character.