La Pesenata began in February 2019 when the Benciolini family resumed working land it had owned since 1868, following around fifteen years of management by contractors. Four family partners—Gianni, his wife and two young relatives—farm approximately seven hectares, four under vine, on Lake Garda’s moraine hills. The name comes from Palù della Pesenata, named in 1778 when Countess Pesenati Falconi acquired it.
The land has been certified organic for decades. The family is introducing biodynamic practices and, according to the original profile, applying for Demeter certification. They belong to the Verona group Arena Biodinamica, with which they make preparations.
Pruning, shoot trimming, suckering and leaf removal are manual. In winter they apply humified manure from their biodynamic compost heap. Green manure grows until it begins setting seed, while machinery passes are minimised. The profile also describes plans to explore horse-drawn work with a Comtois horse.
Two donkeys and two ponies occasionally graze the vineyards. Three Ouessant sheep manage grass, around fifty hens work the soil, and bees add to biodiversity. A vegetable garden and orchard are intended to develop into a food forest.
The family is gradually moving away from the high-yield approach used until 2018. They restored the eighteenth-century cellar and began bringing six early-twentieth-century concrete tanks back into use.
Grapes are selected bunch by bunch and hand-picked into small trays holding around five to six kilograms, then taken promptly to the cellar. Each wine follows its own path, without filtration, fining or chemical stabilisation. The aim is direct, natural wine that expresses its terroir and vintage.
La Pesenata shares the vision of Evoluzione Naturale. Come and discover their stories and wines.
Contact details
LA PESENATA
Località Palù della Pesenata 2a
37017 Lazise (VR)
Tel.: +39 045 9815725
Email: info@lapesenata.it
Web: www.lapesenata.it
https://www.facebook.com/LaPesenata
https://www.instagram.com/lapesenata.it/
https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/lapesenata/
https://www.facebook.com/evo.naturale
