Tenuta Sorsei

Family origins

The Bettili family originated in Soave and has cultivated vines on the hills of Verona since the first decades of the twentieth century. Alongside growing grapes, the family vinified its own harvest and traded wine.

The move to Cavaion — 1965

In 1965, Siro Bettili left his family’s vineyards and acquired a farm at Cavaion, in the Garda hinterland. He initially concentrated on raising chickens for Pollo Arena and producing eggs for consumption. The family nevertheless continued its winegrowing tradition on the property, tending pre-existing vines described as more than forty years old. The farm also included olive trees.

Cristiana Bettili and organic conversion — 1999

Cristiana Bettili joined the family business permanently at the end of the 1990s, working alongside her father. Her concern for the relationship between quality of life, the environment and business decisions led to the conversion of the entire operation. In 1999, both the poultry activity and the vineyards at Tenuta Sorsei were converted to certified organic agriculture under BIOS control.

Vineyard renewal — 2002–2005

Between 2002 and 2005, the three-hectare vineyard was renewed with modern Guyot training. The estate vineyard is also described as trellised, while the family retained its long-standing connection to the Cavaion property and its view towards Lake Garda.

A shared Veronese winery — 2005

A winery opened in Pescantina in 2005, enabling Cristiana Bettili to vinify grapes from the family’s Veronese estates, including Tenuta Sorsei. It occupies a stone farmhouse with an original vaulted cellar dating to the fifteenth century. Production tanks were installed in the restored spaces formerly used as stables and haylofts.

Certified organic farming

Tenuta Sorsei has followed certified organic agriculture since 1999. BIOS—BIOS srl of Marostica, Vicenza, an external control body authorized by Mipaaf—checks compliance throughout the production chain.

The organic program excludes genetically modified organisms and synthetic fertilizers, herbicides, insecticides and crop-protection products. Vineyard protection instead relies on materials of organic origin. Sulfur is used against powdery mildew, while copper is used to prevent downy mildew.

Reducing copper use

Because copper can accumulate in soils, reduce soil biological activity, damage earthworms and affect beneficial insects, trials seek to reduce its application well below the cited ceiling of 6 kg/ha per year. The program employs bacterial antagonists against downy mildew and tests natural citrus-based alternatives. These citrus preparations are described as fungistatic, bacteriostatic and antioxidant, with an invigorating effect on foliage.

Pyrethrum and Bacillus thuringiensis are used against harmful insects.

Soil fertility and biodiversity

The wider organic approach seeks to develop a more self-sufficient agricultural system based on local resources, protect the soil’s natural fertility, avoid pollution originating from agricultural techniques and produce nutritious, high-quality food in sufficient quantities. Green manure fertilization and soil ploughing are identified among the practices supporting this approach. Environmental protection and natural biodiversity form part of the estate’s stated purpose for certification rather than being treated as a market trend.

Tenuta Sorsei’s grapes are vinified at the Pescantina winery, which opened in 2005 to process fruit from the Bettili family’s Veronese estates. The winery occupies a historic stone farmhouse with an original vaulted cellar dating to the fifteenth century. Production tanks stand in restored areas that formerly served as stables and haylofts.