Italy: Early, seedless and organic table grapes at Il Castello

Azienda Agricola "Il Castello" was established in the early 1980s by Biagio Consoli, who stopped working as a bank official to become an agricultural entrepreneur. He knew the Mazzarrone area well and realised its potential as a grape-producing region. Over the years, his initial two hectares have become 230. Thanks to the work he carried out for the territory, Consoli was recognised as a charismatic leader and was even elected Mayor.

Nowadays, "Il Castello" is a modern company that meets market and retailer demand thanks to the guarantees it can provide to clients all over the world. Il Castello can in fact supply GlobalGAP-certified produce obtain using integrated and organic control techniques.

Production combines high-quality and varietal innovation and can be summed up using three words - early, organic and seedless.

Interview with Biagio Consoli

The company has its own storage and packaging centre with controlled-temperature units and quick cooling systems. There are five processing lines and the facility covers 3,000 sq m in total. When in full production, Il Castello employs over 150 people.

Below is a list of the varieties available:

TRADITIONAL
Black Magic: May - August; Vittoria: May - September; Italia: August - December; Red Globe: July - November; Black Pearl: August - December; Seedless Superior: June - September; Crimson: September - December; Black Seedless: June - August; Red Seedless: June - August; Pink Muscat: June - August; White Seedless: June - September.

ORGANIC
Vittoria: June - August; Black Magic: June - July; Italia: August - October; Red Globe: August - September; Seedless Superior: June - September; Arra: June - July; Black Seedless: June - August; Red Seedless: July- September; White Seedless: July - September.

EXPECTED TRADITIONAL PRODUCTION:

EXPECTED ORGANIC PRODUCTION:

The reference markets are: Italy (15%), Switzerland (15%), France (10%), Belgium (10%), Germany (20%), United Kingdom (10%), Netherlands (5%), Scandinavia (5%) Eastern Europe (5%) Middle East (5%) with Dubai, Arab Emirates and Qatar.

Contacts:
Az. Agr. "Il Castello" di Biagio Consoli & F.lli
Via C. Linneo 15
95040 Mazzarrone (Ct) Italia
Tel.: +39 093329133
Fax: +39 093328490
Email: info@aziendailcastello.it
Web: www.aziendailcastello.com