Araldica attains SQNPI sustainable certification

One of Italy’s leading producers of Barbera d’Asti and Barbera d’Alba, Piedmont-based co-operative Araldica, has achieved the SQNPI sustainable certification.

Based in Castelvero in Piedmont, Araldica now boasts 900 hectares of certified sustainable vineyards in the region

Having initially set out to attain the certification for its three estates – Il Cascinone, La Battistina and Senta Seraffa, the SQNPI (Sistema Qualità Nazionale Produzione Integrata) has now been achieved across all of its member growers.

Araldica’s commitment to sustainability and the attainment of the SQNPI certification means that all bottles produced by the co-op will now bear the ‘sustainable quality’ bee logo on their labels.

“We can now proudly display the bee logo on our labels, which is the result of numerous initiatives from grape to bottle that reflect the important sustainable path that our company is on,” said a spokesperson for the co-operative.

Araldica has achieved SQNPI certification across all its grower members

“All preparatory work on our soils is undertaken with the aim of safeguarding and improving fertility, avoiding erosion and compaction, and looking after the microflora and fauna in the vineyards.

“We are the custodians of our hills, which represent our greatest heritage and our children’s future. Our wine grower-members represent the first link in a long chain that starts in the vineyard and ends in the glass,” the spokesperson added.

Based in Castelvero, Araldica now boasts 900 hectares of certified sustainable vineyards. In addition to Barbera d’Asti and Barbera d’Alba, the co-op also produces Gavi, Moscato and Prosecco.

Founded in 1954 by Livio Manera, Araldica has grown to become a major winemaking force in Piedmont and owner of the largest winery in the region. Today the co-op is run by Manera’s son Claudio and his wife Leila.

Lella heads up quality control at the co-op and is responsible for the blending and approval of all wine, while their son Carlo is on the winemaking team.

Araldica works with 230 grower members, many of which joined the co-op in the 1950s. Its vineyards are spread across the Langhe, Monferrato, Roero and Gavi.

The co-op’s members grow native grapes like Barbera, Nebbiolo and Dolcetto for the reds and Cortese, Arneis and Moscato for the whites. In addition to its winery, Araldica owns a temperature-controlled bottling plant and warehouse with ample storage for its Slovenian oak barrels.