ESAV (Agricultural Development Board of the Veneto Region), in collaboration
with the University of Milan and the Istituto Superiore per la Viticoltura
di Conegliano, is subdividing the D.O.C.G. Prosecco di Conegliano and
Valdobbiadene lands into zones. This involves a detailed pedological,
climatic and cultural survey of the local area in order to identify the
most suitable zones.
The survey, which has taken several years, will be shortly published.
It shows that the Riva di Rocca estate has been classified as a privileged
site for grape production for sparkling wine.
The survey reveals that in the Riva di Rocca hills there suolo Almost
all the hills in the Susegana area comprise blue clays and conglomerates,
largely dating back to the Pliocene period (about 5 million years ago).
These hills were later raised in a second phase during the Quaternary
period (Pleistocene).
During this phase, warmer periods (interglacial periods) alternated with
cold periods (glacial periods), which caused the formation of extensive
ice sheets.
Advancing, the ice deeply changed the morphology of the local area, changing
the course of rivers, modifying the existing orography a are: slopes favourable
for optimum reception of the sun’s rays, resulting in an above-average
sugar content; pronounced day/night temperature changes during the grape-ripening
period, which enhances the aromatic, spicy and mature sensations, improving
the overall aroma of Prosecco grapes; highly calcareous soils, with marls
mingled with conglomerates and gravels, which add a large amount of mineral
salts, providing a strong flavoured and full-bodied wine.
All grapes come from our own vineyards. The oldest vines are cultivated
with the Sylvoz training system, with a planting density that ranges from
3,000 - 3,500 vines per hectare.
New vines are cultivated with a bilateral Guyot training system, with
a planting density of 4,000 vines per hectare. The yield per hectare and
the quality characteristics of the grapes fully meet the strict regulations
governing the production of D.O.C.G. Conegliano e Valdobbiadene wine.
The various vineyards on our estate alternate with wood and meadow areas.
Vineyards are surrounded by olive trees and shrubs so that they are deliberately
located in the most integral and diverse environmental context possible,
where the use of anti-parasite treatments is kept to a minimum and the
products used always respect the environment and protect consumers.
The wines from these areas are free from plant protection product residues,
safeguarding the health of consumers. The assistance of a group of agronomists
ensures that Riva di Rocca devotes meticulous attention to its vineyards
and production of quality grapes.
Almost all the hills in the Susegana area comprise blue clays and conglomerates,
largely dating back to the Pliocene period (about 5 million years ago).
These hills were later raised in a second phase during the Quaternary
period (Pleistocene).
During this phase, warmer periods (interglacial periods) alternated with
cold periods (glacial periods), which caused the formation of extensive
ice sheets.
Advancing, the ice deeply changed the morphology of the local area, changing
the course of rivers, modifying the existing orography and destroying
vegetation. At the glacier fronts, meltwaters opened up new routes for
watercourses and covered plains with debris.
The nearest glacial formation to us was the Pieve glacier, which covered
a much more extensive basin than the course of the river of the same name.
At Ponte nelle Alpi, the glacial front split into two branches. The largest
branch moved in a south-west direction entirely covering Val Belluna.
Instead, the smallest branch moved down Val Lapisina, on one side, invading
the Soligo valley (currently Longhere, Revine, Lago, Follina). On the
other side, it crossed the Serravalle gorge, stretching towards the plain
and, on thawing, created a morainic amphitheatre around Vittorio Veneto
and the neighbouring areas of Conegliano, including Susegana.