The “City of Rovigo” national award’s President Ciampi plaque is attributed to the Sicillian estate for its commitment to promotion of the territory, for its solidarity initiatives and for eco-sustainable development.

“Impresa Natura Cultura.” It was this project that earned Donnafugata the coveted plaque of the Italian President, which was attributed by the jury of the “National Prize for Corporate Social Responsibility—City of Rovigo.”

The award, announced by Rovigo, a community situated in the Veneto, and the Ministry of Labor and Social Security, is part of the framework of initiatives aimed at making the European knowledge economy the world’s most competitive and dynamic. The economy should be capable of sustainable growth accompanied by quantitative and qualitative improvement in employment and greater social cohesion. Those are the objectives sanctioned by the European Union, which came up with the theme Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

José Rallo, owner of Donnafugata and author of the project committing her Sicilian estate to the “production of quality wines with respect for the environment and with the aim of promoting the territory,” personally accepted the prestigious recognition on December 13 at the fairgrounds in Rovigo. Donnafugata was honored, as noted in the official citation, “for having promoted and realized original initiatives and having established a partnership with the local community as well as for its efforts in respect to safeguarding the environment.”

The award jury particularly appreciated some of Donnafugata’s decisions regarding the protection of the environment: the introduction of a photovoltaic system for the production of energy from the sun’s rays (the system supplies 70% of the Contessa Entellina winery’s electricity requirements) and the energy savings obtained in the phase of refrigerating grapes collected with the technique of the nocturnal harvest.

Jurors also praised initiatives promoting the territory, such as the sponsorship of the “Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa Literary Prize” and the underwriting of “Donnafugata per Entella” with which the estate is supporting archaeological excavations conducted by the Scuola Normale Superiore of Pisa at the site of the Rocca di Entella. Just as relevant for the jury was the project “Donnafugata for the Heart,” which through sales in restaurants and wineshops throughout Italy of the CD “Donnafugata Music & Wine Live,” raised more than 120,000 euros. The funds will finance the work of Prof. Carlo Marcelletti who treats children with heart disease in the pediatric heart surgery section he heads at the Civic Hospital of Palermo.

Public Relations:

Baldo M. Palermo [email protected] tel. 0039 0923 7242267

Laura Ellwanger [email protected] te. 0039 0923 724258