San Michele Farm is Completely Organic

Not far from Florence you can find San Michele Organic Farm. This magnificent estate lies in the beautiful Chianti Hills, world famous for its landscapes, wine and food. San Michele Organic Farm is surrounded by vineyards, olive groves and crops. Not only, it grows free-range its stock of poultry and Cinta Senese. San Michele Organic Farm takes its name from the small village San Michele a Torri. situated in the Val di Pesa hills, just southwest of the city of Florence. The village got its name from the medieval castle that was first mentioned in 1126. Today, only some traces of the castle remain, unfortunately most of the castle was destroyed in 1324. San Michele Organic Farm developed over the centuries from an ancient medieval villa. The structure has existed since 1535, in it was the headquarters of an important center of production in the 1800s. 

Throughout the years, the villa has gone through numerous restorations interventions. These are visible by the brick-vaulted wine cellar, the 18th-century chapel, and the Neo-Gothic well, all beautifully restored in 1822 before being destroyed again during WWII.

On July 30, 1944, the Farm was in the center of “The battle of San Michele a Torri ” since the city walls were the last standing defense before they were able to reach the city of Florence. New Zealand and German troops battled in this land for one week. During this battle, most of the population of San Michele took refuge in the cellars below the Fattoria, and 120 people are believed to have hidden in the barrels.

In memory of those that belonged to the New Zealand armed force, July 30th is celebrated as “San Michele Day.”

Nowadays, San Michele Organic Farm is specialized in the production of magnificent wine, superb Extra Virgin Olive Oil and other products. One of the most wonderful things about this typical Tuscan fattoria (farm) is that it is completely organic and biological.

The word “biological” comes from the Greek bios, which means life. This is the purpose of biological cultivation, to completely avoid the use of synthetic products in plantations and crops. Therefore biological agriculture relies completely on the good practices of cultivation and production. 

Organic farms work in symbiosis with nature, by using natural methods they help reduce pest control. One of these methods consists of diverse blooming crop rotations between the vines which can help attract the natural predators of vineyard pests. Another method is building up the soil with natural inputs including green manure and compost. These measures help create a self-regulating ecosystem for vineyards, olive groves and crop fields, meaning organic wines and olive oil can be made without reliance on potentially harmful pesticides.

Some of the main objectives of organic farming are to transform companies into a self-sufficient agricultural system as much as possible by drawing on local resources and safeguarding the natural fertility of the soil. 

Another goal of this type of farming is to avoid all forms of pollution caused by agricultural techniques; but using more passages with tractors and therefore polluting relatively like a conventional process. The result is the production of high nutritional quality food in sufficient quantities. 

San Michele’s Organic Farm respect for the balance between natural cultivation and breeding is what creates the excellence of their organic wines such as Chianti Colli Fiorentini DOCG, Classic Chianti DOCG, and Supertuscan.

In addition, San Michele’s superb extra virgin olive oil, Cinta Senese salami DOP, organic honey, saffron, spelt and garbanzo beans from Chianti. All of these products are authentic specialties and a genuine result of 100% organic farming.

San Michele Organic Farm decided to make organic Tuscan products its strength, so it is certified to guarantee only the highest organic production. This specific type of farming is strictly regulated under specific European laws that control agricultural practices. The European Union organic logo gives a coherent visual identity to organic products produced in the EU. This makes it easier for consumers to identify organic products and helps farmers to market them across the entire EU.

The organic logo can only be used on products that have been certified as organic by an authorized control agency or body. This means that they have fulfilled strict conditions on how they must be produced, processed, transported and stored. The logo can only be used on products when they contain at least 95% organic ingredients and additionally, respect further strict conditions for the remaining 5%. The same ingredient cannot be present in organic and non-organic form.

San Michele Organic Farm is committed to sustaining biological cultivation. The conscious decision to buy only biological, low-environmental impact food helps future sustainability.