The most important points of a continually evolving undertaking are

• SOStain PROJECT: THE FIRST CERTIFICATE IN VITICULTURE FOLLOWING THE EXAMPLE OF CSWA (California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance)• CARE OF THE COUNTRYSIDE• RENEWAL ENERGY• RECYCLED MATERIALS• BIO-ARCHITECTURE• CONDUCT AND PROCEDURES

SosTAIN PROJECT is the fi rst large Italian certifi cation programme of environmental viticulture inspired by various activities

around the world of wine. CSWA in California (California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance); WineWise in Washington State; LIVE (Low Impact Viticulture and Enology) in Oregon, to name the most important. SOStain is a programme of company sustainability of a voluntary kind. It uses knowledge of traditional and organic viticulture, linking it with the most modern scientifi c and technological innovation. The project foresees a course of continual improvement towards growing levels of sustainability. It consists of 4 phases.PREPARE TO: a phase of self-evaluation through the preparation of a check list in each aspect of the whole

production process, from the management of the soil to the management of the eco-systems, up to the point of the quality of the human resources to that of the wine.WORK TO: A phase of interpreting the results through the evaluation of quality and quantity indicators.START TO: A phase of planning useful activities to reduce impact and increase sustainability.ABLE TO: The phase of continuous implementation through research into the indicators of sustainability.SOStain is the fi rst project of its kind in Italy. It has been developed by the University of Piacenza, and the University of Milan will contribute with particular agricultural input. Planeta and Tasca d’Almerita will be involved and we believe it will be a fundamental element in Sicilian viticulture which will be able, due to the reputation of its scientifi c partners, to demonstrate clearly the prime quality of its production from the sustainability aspect, the Sicilian environment being second to none in the world.

CARE OF THE COUNTRYSIDE

CAPO MILAZZO RECLAMATION AND RELAUNCH OF MAMERTINOThe ambitious project of reclaiming and relaunching Mamertino, a great historic wine, favourite of Julius Caesar and the pride of Sicilian winemaking in Roman times, proceeds

through making the most of an exceptional terroir in unique surroundings, the Barony of Capo Milazzo. This is a promontory, almost a peninsula, which points north from Sicily. Excluding the Aeolian islands, it is the island’s furthest point north dedicated to winegrowing. It consists of a plateau of about thirty hectares suspended above the sea, almost nine hectares planted with vines and the rest with ancient olive trees. The Barony of Capo Milazzo belongs to the Fondazione Lucifero. The agricultural part existed for years in a semi-abandoned condition. The Planeta project to relaunch Mamertino will act as a stimulus to winegrowing in the area and will also protect a place which is too beautiful to describe with words. Working with Professor Attilio Scienza the task of retracing history in order to reconstruct the story of this noble wine and attempt to reproduce the wine praised by Pliny the Elder in his Naturalis Historia has already begun. Its cultural recovery begins from research into the so-called ‘treasured’ varieties, typical of the region but abandoned for a long time. Together with Nero d’Avola and Nocera three of these varieties will be introduced experimentally; Vitraruolo, Lucignono and Catanese Nera. The results of these assessments may eventually give rise to the process of approval of the variety, which one day could become part of the grape content comprising Mamertino. This is a real recovery operation of a biodiversity which would otherwise be lost. The renewed cultivation of the area will protect the site for ever, unique in its location and landscape value, from building or other kinds of exploitation.

What is PLANETA TERRA?

It is a play on words though not to be laughed at.Planeta Terra is a trade mark and a logo that, with the clear objective of environmental sustainability, we have attached to many of the activities and projects that distinguish both our present and our future. Decent activities and projects provided with a central concept of sustainability that may be linked in different ways at different times.They are protocols of conduct and procedures that Planeta has adopted as a contribution, through their activities, to the care of the environment. It indicates a new method of communicating to our consumer the marked awareness and sense of responsibility that Planeta feels for them. To leave our children a better land and provide our consumers with products which combine aesthetic and tasting qualities with the contribution of ethical nature. This is Planeta Terra.

SAMBUCA LA SEGRETA NATURE FOOTPATHAt Sambuca di Sicilia we have established the La Segreta Nature Footpaths; three footpaths open to the public, immersed in unspoilt nature and the vineyards which surround Lake Arancio. Paths full of surprises with fl ora, fauna, old fountains, springs and historic vines; an extraordinary oasis just a few steps from the Ulmo winery, a passage through the biodiversity of these unspoilt places, which preserve botanical varieties of great interest and some tree species which are becoming rare in south-western Sicily. Dozens of plants have been identifi ed and catalogued, among them Laurus nobilis (Alloro), Quercus virgiliana (Quercia castagnara), Rhamnus alaternus (Alaterno), Rhamus oleoides (Ranno con foglie d’olivo), Salix pedicellata (Salice pedicellato), Fraxinus rostrata (Frassino meridionale), Celtis australis (Bagolaro), etc.

MENFI RE-ESTABLISHING COUNTRY VIEWSAs a contribution to clearing the countryside, dozens of disused telegraph poles have been removed, while round ‘La Foresteria’ in the Menfi area, new lines have all been placed underground, restoring the country views and improving the whole surrounding area.

CAPPARRINA: THE OLIVE GROVE BY THE SEAAt Menfi , in the Capparrina district, action has been taken to resist the widespread use of concrete in the area as well as the abuses which have arrived over the years with the mass tourism industry. The ‘alternative’ Planeta is represented by a project dedicated to the olive. We have preserved 130 hectares which are now an oasis for local fl ora and fauna; a mecca for birdwatchers with the presence of hoopoes, birds of prey, and, in season, migratory fl ocks, as well as being a haven for porcupines, hares and other small mammals. Sightings of Caretta Caretta turtles are not infrequent; the land slopes down to the beach, through a stretch of Mediterranean macchia characterised by dwarf palms and sea lilies.

RENEWABLE ENERGY300 square metres of photovoltaic panels to produce electricity for the Dispensa winery at Menfi have been operating for some time, while a second solar energy plant heats the water for the ‘La Foresteria’ resort.

The large biomass production resulting from olive and vine pruning, amounting to several tonnes each year, is largely composted.A biomass centre built by the farmers for the farmers will be completed at Menfi in 2012 and the process will undoubtedly be invaluable.

RECYCLED MATERIALSSeveral tonnes of plastic and paper materials are regularly recycled. All packing materials used are recycled cardboard. All information material about the company is printed on paper which is recycled or certifi ed FSC, produced with pure cellulose originating from forests managed according to correct procedures, based on rigorous environmental, social and economic standards.

BIO-ARCHITECTUREAt the Buonivini estate near Noto, the ‘Invisible Winery’ has been built to minimise the impact on the landscape, and rebuilding of the so-called ‘Case Sparse’ (scattered houses) within the vineyard has begun, thanks to the creations of Costanza Algranti, an artist who uses recycled materials exclusively for her work.

The planning of the winery on Etna has begun with rigorous respect for the materials and architecture of the area linked to the most modern architectural requirements for energy saving.

CONDUCT AND PROCEDURESAs the requirement for Sicilian wine producers to consign their pomace to distilleries has fi nally lapsed, it can now be used as an organic addition and can thus be spread in the vineyards. Beginning this year the pomace will be re-used in the estates of Noto and Vittoria. No transport will be needed therefore and energy consumption will be avoided in favour of a certain advantage for the land.

The countdown has begun, it will need two or three years at the most, to reduce the use of the so-called alternative corks, that is, those of silicone and gradually return to using natural corks.

We request all our colleagues to employ practices in keeping with PLANETA TERRA in every activity linked to their own work, also to provide training for their personnel particularly on environmental themes. Energy saving and reduction of waste of every kind are the common objectives of everyone involved in the Planeta family’s fi rm.

Aziende Agricole Planeta s.s. Contrada Dispensa - 92013 Menfi (AG) - ItaliaT +39 0925 80009 / F +39 0925 80072

Marketing & Salesvia Michele Amari, 22 - 90139 Palermo - ItaliaT +39 091 327965 / F +39 091 6124335

planeta@planeta.it www.planeta.it