Our „Spondinigerhof“ farm is situated right next to Castelbello Castle. The farm’s history dates back to the 14th century when wine was probably already grown on the mighty rock on the left bank of the Adige river. Today, our farm is directly situated at the „Via Vinum Venustis“, a theme path dedicated to wine that has only recently been opened, and we also produce an aromatic and good wine.

I manage our organic farm with my grandson Adrian. We share the passion for everything that is nature-compliant. So there was no alternative to organic for us – be it for our apples, the home-baked bread, the potatoes or my wife’s delicious fresh goat cheese. Adrian learnt a very scientific approach to agriculture at the Fürstenburg agricultural college in Malles but today he also includes a little bit of esotericism. So it may happen that the grandson agrees with his grandpa when he’s driveling on waxing and waning moon. Especially when some tracks across the fields don’t have to be renewed so often because they were built at the right moment.

My grandson is very pragmatic, which he probably inherited from me. As a former logistics manager I’m used to planning processes in detail. A complex problem planned in detail is no longer that complex and can be resolved more easily. This is also true when it comes to planting new apple varieties, measuring the temperature and humidity as well as installing hail nets or controlling pests with organic means.

Organic producers, however, always work with a variable called nature. We can’t plan it down to the smallest detail but we have to include this variable during the „discussion of the situation“. We can measure a lot and rely on empirical values to facilitate decisions. We can keep pests at bay and promote useful insects and, above all, I can delegate to my grandson who likes responsibility. We are on the path of organic production with conviction. And there is no plan B to this path at our farm.