working with, rather than against nature
Demetra farm expands over an area of eight hectares (about eighteen acres) where we follow the idea of permaculture, a long term vision about the management of the natural environments. It’s an agricultural sustainable system based on the concept of a design that utilizes the patterns of natural ecosystems.
Vineyard
In Montalcino, surrounding the farmhouse is the Sangiovese Grosso vineyard from which we produce our wines. This vineyard is one of the oldest surviving in the Brunello territory: planted in 1964.
In 2015, when we began taking care of it, we started restoring it after many years of neglect by previous owners. Since 2019, we have been producing our “Sogno Demetra” IGT Toscana Rosso.
In 2020, during the pandemic, we replanted more than four hundred Sangiovese young vines to replace the gaps. Since 2024, we have been producing Rosso di Montalcino DOC.
Olive Groves
In Montalcino we have two olive groves that produce high-quality extra virgin olive oil. The first has about three hundred olive trees and the second, rescued in 2024 after years of neglect, has about sixty. Both are located on a beautiful slope at 450 m above sea level (about 1500 feet) facing East-North East to the Val d’Orcia. The olive varieties are typical Tuscan ones: Leccino, Moraiolo, and Frantoio.
In Seggiano, we have a centenary olive grove at 500 m above sea level (about 1650 feet) with five hundred Olivastra Seggianese olive trees, a particularly prized variety from which we obtain a very delicate and fragrant extra virgin olive oil. It is said that this stunning historic olive grove was planted by the monks of the Abbey of Abbadia San Salvatore centuries ago.
Vegetable Gardens
Surrounding the main building in Montalcino, at the heart of our farm lie our three beloved cherished regenerative vegetable gardens. Here ancient wisdom meets sustainable innovation. We employ carefully tailored mulching techniques – heavy mulch in winter to protect soil life and lighter applications during growing seasons – creating a thriving ecosystem beneath our feet.
The nutrient-rich compost, meticulously crafted from farm waste, restaurant leftovers and organic matter from the chicken coop, forms the foundation of our soil management system, returning vital nutrients to the earth and closing the natural loop of growth and decomposition.
The small greenhouse nurtures heirloom vegetable varieties, preserving agricultural biodiversity that might otherwise be lost to time. Each seedling is tenderly propagated before transplanting into our nutrient-rich beds, honoring traditional growing methods while embracing regenerative principles.
The vibrant produce harvested from these gardens flows directly to our small farm-to-table restaurant, where guests experience the authentic flavors of our land. Every bite tells a story of sustainability, connecting diners to the complete journey from seed to plate in the most delicious way possible.