“It is our passion for science and the territory that gave birth to Poliphenolia”. This is how the biomedical engineer Giorgio Iviglia describes the reality that he co-founded a Portacomaro with the chemist Marco Morra, the biologist Clara Cassinelli and the entrepreneur Laura Morra. Poliphenolia creates cosmetics using polyphenols extracted from grape skins and seeds at the end of the winemaking process. «We bring the essence of our wonderful land into our creams. The pomace we use – explains Iviglia – in fact, they come from Monferrato producers: those of barbera, grignolino and ruché from the Fratelli Durando di Portacomaro farm, those of croatina from Alemat di Penango, those of muscat from Ghione di Canelli ».
“We were born – recalls Iviglia – from the studies conducted by Nobil Bio Ricerche by Marco Morra and Clara Cassinelli, a biomedical company from Portacomaro that operates in the field of oral implantology and in which about ten years ago we began researching the polyphenols extracted from pomace for application, in particular, in dental regenerative medicine. Seeing the results, at the end of 2015 we set up Poliphenolia, a spin off of the company that aims to develop cosmestics with a medical approach. In practice, we develop cosmetics that enhance the characteristics of the active ingredient, in our case the polyphenolic extracts from vines of our territory. Indeed, one of the main functions of polyphenols is the ability to maintain cellular youth and to capture free radicals, responsible for cell damage ».
Almost as a sommelier of chemistry, in the laboratories of Portacomaro the extracts of the marc are analyzed from a biological and physico-chemical point of view. A characterization that defines the identity card of the reference vine and on which, for example, the terroir and the vinification itself affect, in terms of quantity and distribution of the molecules. Through in vitro studies on skin cells it is assessed how they respond to contact with polyphenols.
«In addition to polyphenols, we use very few other high quality ingredients that come from eco-sustainable sources. Furthermore – says Iviglia – our lines are unisex and without a gender label, because we believe we need few products, but they work ».
The reuse of pomace, otherwise destined to be waste, takes place with a view to the circular economy. «Obviously, we do not solve the problem of quantities, but we give the farm an opportunity and, above all, we show a possibility of recovery. Not only in the wine sector, but also in other agricultural sectors there are mines of unused treasures and if we began to look at waste with a revolutionary vision, permeated with biotechnological, molecular and ethical culture, then we could see new market horizons for a future. more sustainable “. A philosophy that the Asti-based company, which has obtained certification for cosmetic good manufacturing practices, has put at the service of the «territories of beauty», a project born in 2018 which stimulates the birth of independent brands linked to Poliphenolia in territories other than the Piedmontese one but with a wine vocation. “We accompany those who have our same objectives and want to use the pomace of their land in creating their own line with our support: it happened with Glerage in the prosecco area and with Corè in Irpinia”.
Poliphenolia sells online, both in Italy and abroad, especially on the Southeast Asian market, and directly in some points of sale in Asti and Turin. In Monferrato it also organizes events that revolve around well-being at 360 degrees in collaboration with wineries. –