logo
Duis autem vel eum iriure dolor in hendrerit in vulputate velit esse molestie consequat, vel illum dolore eu feugiat.

Specialized Aromatic Plants Crops

Plants, reproduced by cuttings from particularly valuable clones, have been successfully planted for intensive cultivation after they had just been developed. Cultivation and harvesting follow the Good Agricultural Collection Practice as established by the World Health Organization in 2003 (GACP). These standards are also based on respect of organic cultivation and aim to ensure the highest possible content of active ingredients in the final product.

The 18 species in intensive cultivation have in themselves a remarkable visual impact and are destined for the production of ESSENTIAL OILS, HYDROLATES, HYPER HYDRO and ABSOLUTE ESSENCES at our large distillery. In Casalvento we have eco-sustainable crops, perfectly integrated into the territory and which represent the biodiversity and eco-sustainability of the Mediterranean scrub to witch we belong.

All botanical production takes place in the company and we do not purchase from external suppliers.

We do not sell to private or nourseries the selected plant clones.

The Nursery and the Crops

Organic lavender angustifolia cuttings to supply the nursery and intensive cultivation of Casalvento with plants
Small lavender angustifolia plants in black plastic pot with yellow tag, part of the Casalvento aromatic plant nursery
2 lavender plants placed at a distance of 40 centimeters with a wooden meter for measurement, background of worked earth
Ears of organic super blue lavender angustifolia on a white background grown in Casalvento nel Chianti

Propagation nursery

The World Health Organization (WHO) published in 2003 the Good Agricultural and Collection Practice for Medicinal Plants (GACP) dictating guidelines for the cultivation, collection and processing of the medicinal plants.

This particular production chain needs specialized business investments, technical means and specific know-how: the growers act more and more like “natural product carriers”, while users finally understand that the agricultural phase is “open air” and therefore subject to annual variation in quantity e quality.

Nowadays the market is increasingly geared toward buying quality products and with high grade in active principles preferring them to quantity and those at low prices. Only organic plants treated cautiously that live in a suitable and competently crafted environment have the right commercial advantage.

Soil preparation, choice of crop varieties, weed control and pollutant control are critical factor of success, but harvesting and extraction must be carried out in accordance with advanced technologies. You can not improvise anything.

Our tradition has been renewed continuously since 1962.

Crop surfaces

Actually the agricultural areas for the specialized cultivation of officinal plants extend over several hectars and their greatest value is to be with plants obtained from agamic reproduction; we can therefore rely on a consistent homogeneity of the vegetable raw material and on optimized machining cycles.

We use the MECHANIZED HARVESTING with specific technologies for almost all the officinal species we cultivate. The machines have a complete hydraulic and electronic control able to adapt to the different slopes of the soil and the size of the plants.  WE also supply the LARGE CASALVENTO COMPANY DISTILLERY with vegetables from wild crops such as oak moss (Evenria Prunastri) and juniper berries (Juniperus Communis) but these are just some of the botanicals that are used in the more sophisticated production processes of the CASALVENTO LABORATORIES. The organic certification is also extended to the extraction production phases.

The crop program has been constantly evolving and envisages expansion into new plant species in order to provide our customers with new aromatic extracts.

Biodiversity has always been our goal.

Arboretum

It covers an area of 2000 m² with a path of 250 m. Here there are shrubs, tall trees, scented bushes, olive trees and aromatic plants used in cosmetics.

There are several types of Rose (climbing and shrubs), Cyst, Almond, Hazelnut, Arbutus, Juniper, Honeysuckle and a special variety of Olive grove. The oil obtained from its green olives, harvested in August, was called Onfacium and used as a base of perfumes in ancient Rome.

In June-July, the wind, passing through the Arboretum, brings us the sweet and gentle scent of Broom, the hot and spicy fragrance of the Helichrysum, the fresh spontaneous Lavender odour and the the balmy scent of the Pine resin.

A white almond blossom in spring drops a drop of water against the background of green leaves
Purple petals of a cistus ladaniferous flower, yellow central stamens and dew drops
Terminal branch of a juniper with green needles and many ripe purple berries in Casalvento

Viridarium

At Roman period this name indicated an agricultural area devoted to the cultivation of plants suitable for the treatment of diseases. A Viridarium was found in the excavations of Pompeii and its reconstruction was included in the museum. In Roman times it was the heart of the patrician house, flowers and plants grew in line with a well-groomed architecture. This cultivated space, where pleasant moments were spent, also had a religious and symbolic meaning. The laurel represented heroic wisdom and virtue, the oleander death, the arbutus eternity, the viburnum triumph, the rose love, the purple marriage and the cyst, with its flowers of very short life, the fall of man’s life. Each plant had a sense that went beyond the ornament.

In the following centuries the term and the structure of Viridarium changed in monks’ Hortus Simplicium. In the immediate vicinity of the monasteries, the monastic community cultivated plant species rich in active ingredients (called “simplicia”) from which a specific remedy was made for each disease. In their pharmacies, the monks expert in extraction and dosing individual preparation, elaborated the “composita” remedies intended to cure the most complex diseases. In the monastic life of the monastery, Monachus Infirmarius conveyed his experience because centella, rosemary, sage, myrtle, aconite, mandrake, beautifuldonna, hypericum, colchicum and many others were potent plants, capable of saving a life or killing.

A few centuries later, MODERN PHARMACOLOGY born, with Lavoisier’s chemistry and the numerous progress in technology would relegate to this unforgettable cultural heritage handed down with fatigue for millennia.

The past comes back with strength to our age with ethnobotanics and pharmacology studies that re-evaluate the validity and the importance of NATURALLY ACTIVE PRINCIPLES. The search for new substances in plant species has become increasingly common, and few know that 60% of commercial drugs still have a vegetable origin.

Close to our Extractive Workshop a modern Viridarium hosts spontaneous growth plants suitable for the land and the Chianti climate.

Old black and white lithographic image with Lavender plant and Chianti Lavanda flower
Ripe deep blue olives on an olive branch with numerous green leaves
Drops of water rest on the petals of a yellow flower in the Chianti area in summer
Image of 2 blue ears of organic Lavandula Angustifolia grown in Casalvento on a blurred background
Lens effect created by a drop of clear water falling from a green leaf in the morning
The lily of Sant'Antonio is a bouquet of white flowers with yellow stamens very fragrant in spring, we see it against the black background illuminated by the sun Icona di Verificata con community