Title - Name
Il Borro Toscana
Scope / Sector / Industry
wine tourism
Country / Region
Italy, Tuscany
Why is it good practice?
The Il Borro Toscana estate is an exemplary wine tourism business, as it seeks to showcase both the wine-making tradition and the cultural and natural heritage of Tuscany and the Il Borro region through a range of activities and experiences that cater to the needs of a wide variety of visitors. At the same time, however, it is a company which, through specific initiatives, actively supports the local community and makes a decisive contribution to the area’s economic well-being, strengthens community pride and operates in accordance with the principles of sustainable development.
How is it applied?
Il Borro Toscana is a wine tourism estate in the village of the same name in Tuscany. It is 60 km from Florence and is a very small, medieval village, with just a few houses and narrow pavements. In 1993, the village was purchased by the renowned Ferragamo family, who commissioned local craftsmen to carry out a series of renovations on its stone houses in order to preserve the charm of the past. The village was restored to its original appearance, and the extensive restoration work was recognised by the local authorities.
Today, this small Tuscan settlement is the 750-acre Il Borro Toscana organic estate, which comprises vineyards, a winery, accommodation, restaurants, bars, sports facilities, a swimming pool, a spa area and a range of services and authentic experiences that bring visitors closer to the wine culture, nature and traditions of Tuscany, whilst ensuring the overall experience is one of comfort and luxury.
Despite the unique aesthetic appeal of the settlement’s landscape, the Il Borro Toscana estate has developed a range of activities and services designed to enable visitors to: a) discover and taste the local wine varieties, accompanied by other local produce from the estate or the region, b) to explore the region, its towns and the unique natural environment of Tuscany, c) to engage with the local traditions and arts of Il Borro, and d) to enjoy other unique experiences. The result of all this effort is a multi-sensory experience of wine and culture.
The experiences designed and offered by the Il Borro Toscana estate are summarised below:
- A tasting experience for wine lovers. Each package includes a visit to the winery and a tasting, accompanied by a platter of organic produce and olive oil from the estate.
- Tours of the vineyards and the winery.
- A stroll around the organic estate, including visits to the vineyards, the olive groves and the animals on the estate. You can also enjoy a picnic featuring produce from the estate.
- A visit to the engraving exhibition at Il Borro Toscana, a private collection belonging to the Ferragamo family, which traces the history of wine and its significance over the centuries.
- Horse riding lessons and rides around the estate on horses or ponies. The experience includes a range of options, such as lessons in the estate’s riding arena, rides in the countryside, and rides combined with lunch or a picnic, etc.
- Sports activities such as hiking on nature trails, mountain bike or e-bike rides, tennis, football and golf on the estate’s courses, as well as fitness or yoga sessions at the relevant facilities. Il Borro Toscana offers four routes and guided tours.
- Art classes are held in the estate’s craft shops, where guests have the privilege not only of watching local artisans create their exquisite pieces, but also of making them themselves. Activities include weaving with wool, painting and decorating, making shoes, belts, jewellery and puppets, and creating flower arrangements using local wildflowers.
- Cooking classes at the estate restaurant, focusing on local produce, local recipes and local culinary culture. A cocktail course is also offered.
- Meals at the estate’s restaurants, prepared using high-quality, fresh ingredients. The vegetables come from Il Borro Toscana’s organic garden, whilst the meat, fish and cheeses are sourced from selected local producers.
- Truffle hunting using traditional techniques, followed by a tasting session and lunch.
- Spa services combined with personalised treatments in a specially designed space.
- Guided tours of the main cities in Tuscany (Florence, San Gimignano, Volterra, Siena and Chianti).
- Hot-air balloon tours over the regions of Tuscany.
- Buy local produce and Il Borro Toscana products from the estate shop, such as wines, olive oil and honey, as well as other organic produce from the estate’s vegetable garden. Visitors can also find accessories, decorative items and a selection of clothing, all of which are the result of a meticulous and authentic exploration of Tuscan style. Their range is inspired by the estate owners’ ethical and sustainable principles of elegance and craftsmanship.
Most of the above activities are also suitable for children.
Another important reason why the Il Borro Toscana estate is a good example of best practice in wine tourism is that it makes a significant effort to provide services with a focus on sustainability.
Sustainability at the Il Borro Toscana estate began in 2012 with the conversion of its farming practices from conventional to organic, with the aim of respecting nature and the crop cycle. The estate’s sustainability is achieved in a variety of ways. The following are examples:
- Applying the principles of organic farming, using natural fertilisers, organic pesticides and integrated pest management to cultivate the vineyards and the rest of the produce grown on the estate.
- No chemical products are used for the cleaning and hygiene of the premises. For example, the winery’s tanks are washed with high-pressure water jets, whilst in the catering areas, cleanliness is ensured by an innovative ozone disinfection unit.
- The use of renewable energy sources results in zero carbon dioxide emissions and savings of 930 tonnes of CO₂ per year.
- The use of a system that collects rainwater, which is then channelled into special tanks during the rainy season and subsequently used to water the gardens.
- Offer guests a reusable water bottle to cut down on plastic. In fact, on the property’s official website there is a map showing the locations of the drinking water taps on the estate.
- Respect for the animals living on the estate (horses, chickens and cows), which are fed with organic feed produced on the estate itself.
- Support the ecosystem through the development of beekeeping. The protection of pollinating insects is essential to the estate, as they play a vital role in pollinating a wide variety of crops and wild plants. The bees inhabit the estate’s natural organic reserve, which comprises 30 hives; the 1,100 organic acres where the apiaries are situated enable the production of completely organic honey, which further distinguishes the area.
- The development of an organic and sustainable estate through the creation of an organic garden. It is managed with respect for seasonal cycles and natural balances, and protects local seeds and farming traditions that produce authentic and diverse crops. As well as growing seasonal vegetables and rearing different breeds of chicken, such as the white Valdarnesi, the white Livornesi and the red Toscane, the Il Borro Toscana estate has now taken over the production of flour from ancient grains, buckwheat (gluten-free) used for making handmade pasta, raw flour, puffed grains and biscuits.
As part of its efforts to achieve its sustainability goals, the Il Borro Toscana estate published its first sustainability report in 2020 and continues to do so annually. At the same time, it published its Code of Ethics with the aim of safeguarding fundamental human values and upholding the general principles of legality, honesty, integrity, transparency, impartiality, fairness, diligence, professionalism, efficiency and good faith. The Code of Ethics focuses on the well-being of those who work for and collaborate with the company, as well as the company’s responsibility towards the local community. Visitors can find the above on the company’s official website.
Where is it applied?
The Il Borro Toscana estate is aimed at anyone wishing to discover the wine-making tradition of the Il Borro region through a range of authentic cultural and heritage experiences, catering to a variety of preferences and needs.
When did it apply?
The Il Borro Toscana estate was purchased by the Ferragamo family in 1993 and has taken on its current form following numerous renovations and restorations of the medieval village
Results
As a result of the Ferragamo family’s business activities described above, the Il Borro Toscana estate has received the following awards and honours:
- A gold award from the Winehunter organisation for four of the estate’s wines.
- The highest accolade from the Tre Bicchieri 2024 wine guide for one of its wines.
- The BEE Good Award 2023 from the environmental and social project BioBienenApfel for the Ferragamo family’s beekeeping activities.
In addition to the above, the company has joined the voluntary ‘Global Compact’ programme, a United Nations initiative which is a network of leading companies worldwide committed to the development, implementation and dissemination of responsible business practices to create a better and more sustainable world. Under this initiative, the Global Compact calls on businesses worldwide to align their operations and strategies with the Ten Principles – shared globally – relating to human rights, labour, the environment and anti-corruption, and to act in support of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals set out in the UN 2030 Agenda. In this context, Il Borro Toscana has committed to operating with the aim of incorporating the above Ten Principles to contribute to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda goals.
Other information
Other information
The official website of Il Borro Toscana is: https://www.ilborro.it/