Wine Idea's wine news for December 25, 2024

Welcome to Wine Idea's wine news for December 25 , 2024!

1) In Italy it will be possible to produce alcohol-free wine

• New Decree The Ministry of Agriculture has authorized the production of dealcoholized or low-alcohol wines, in compliance with a 2021 European regulation that defines the methods of production and labelling.
• What's changing Until now, a drink with an alcohol content of less than 8.5 degrees could not be called "wine". Now, thanks to the decree approved by the State-Regions Conference, this limit falls and a regulatory gap is filled: even drinks with less than 8.5° can bear the word "wine" on the label, as long as they meet the indicated requirements. However, PDO and PGI remain excluded.
• Market prospects The EU regulation identifies two main segments:
  • “Dealcoholized” or “dealcoholized” wines (maximum alcohol content 0.5%).
  • “Partially dealcoholized” wines (alcohol content between 0.5 and 0.9%). This innovation responds to the growing consumer demand for “low and no alcohol” products, especially among young people and in an increasingly health-conscious context.

2) A taboo falls in Italy, green light for dealcoholized wines

• Historic turning point The decree approved and published on the website of Masaf (Ministry of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forests) reiterates that it is possible to reduce “totally or partially” the alcohol content in still, sparkling, fizzy and even aromatic wines.
• Exclusions Docg, Doc and Igt do not fall within this possibility, to protect the designations of origin. They cannot, therefore, be subjected to total or partial dealcoholization practices.
• Reactions in the sector While on the one hand there are those who look with interest at this commercial opportunity, on the other there are those who fear distorting a product that is a symbol of Made in Italy. However, the regulation intends to avoid confusion among consumers and imposes clear criteria for labeling and denomination.

3) Mitja Sirk: the passion for wine that comes from the heart of Friuli

• Family history Son of Friulian restaurateurs, Mitja Sirk took his first steps washing glasses and working his way up at family tables. A childhood spent among rare bottles and special guests ignited his passion for wine.
• Revealing moments He tells of two episodes that have strongly influenced him: the curiosity for the dust-filled bottles brought by the producers and their ritual in tasting them. Today, Mitja has become one of the well-known faces of the Friulian food and wine world, spreading the regional wine culture.

4) Scandinavia now produces its own wine too

• Growing phenomenon Northern Europe is not usually associated with viticulture. But climate change is also making the climate milder in countries such as Denmark, Sweden and Norway, where the cultivation of cold-resistant (or hybrid) varieties is starting, favoring the appearance of small local wineries.
• Prospects This new scenario, thanks to longer summers and less harsh winters, is pushing some Scandinavian producers to experiment with international and native vines, opening a new chapter in world winemaking.

5) CMO Wine Resources, the decree distributing 323 million has been published

• European Funds The Ministry has allocated 323 million euros for the 2025/2026 campaign, distributed between restructuring and reconversion of vineyards, promotion abroad, investments and green harvesting.
• Objective To ensure full use of European resources, avoiding their loss in the event of non-use. Unspent funds may be reallocated to the most virtuous Regions. The Common Market Organization (CMO) supports the competitiveness of the wine sector, encouraging modernization and expansion strategies on international markets.

6) Wines and sparkling wines on the festive table

• Christmas Trends With the arrival of the holidays, many families do not give up a good glass of wine. According to Martin Rance (Fisar Florence), this year the choices will continue to reward quality denominations, without forgetting products with a more moderate alcohol content.
• Bubbles Alongside the classic Champagne and Moscato d'Asti, there is a growing interest in Classic Method sparkling wines from native Italian vines, in line with the desire to discover new labels rooted in the territory.

7) Wine, Bergesio (Lega): “From Masaf 323 million to support the supply chain”

• Strategic sector According to Senator Giorgio Maria Bergesio, the wine sector in Italy plays a crucial role, with an induced effect that involves hundreds of thousands of workers. The decree for the distribution of OCM Wine funds is an essential tool for supporting competitiveness on the markets and innovating production.
• Reaction Companies are now waiting to access the contributions, which are essential to improve product quality, exports and technological innovation.

11) Farmhouse Parties: Two Million People in Search of Made in Italy and Food and Wine Experiences

• Trend According to Coldiretti-Terranostra, 2 million people will choose to spend their Christmas holidays in agritourisms or other rural facilities, attracted by the authenticity of traditional cuisine and local wine.
• Features Many agritourism establishments offer menus based on “km 0” products, with combinations aimed at enhancing local wines, representing a rapidly growing experiential tourism.

12) Abruzzo, the ideal destination if you love good wine: a historic village surrounded by greenery

• Civitella del Tronto A medieval village in the Teramo area, dominated by the Bourbon Fortress, and surrounded by hills where vineyards of Montepulciano d'Abruzzo and Trebbiano thrive.
• Wine tourism In addition to the impressive historical heritage, the area offers visits to cellars and guided tastings, to discover local labels and the Abruzzo gastronomic tradition.

14) Christmas Eve Aperitif: Merry Christmas L'Aquila

• Lazio-Umbria Enology Remembered the epic of the Cotarella Family, who with their Falesco (then Cotarella Family) between Alto Lazio and Umbria recovered ancient vines. Today they are among the greatest ambassadors of wine in the area. A story that links tradition and experimentation, with notable reds (Merlot, Cabernet) and native whites.

15) In the Langhe, the 19th century village redeveloped with hotels, historic cellars and a gourmet restaurant

• Villaggio Narrante Located among the vineyards of Serralunga d'Alba (Cn), in the Barolo area, it is a recovery project of an ancient village that today hosts prestigious accommodation facilities, the historic Fontanafredda and Casa E. di Mirafiore wineries, and the iconic Guido Ristorante, curated by chef Ugo Alciati.
• Valorization The idea was to transform a 19th century agricultural complex into a place where food and wine and hospitality merge, taking advantage of the fame of the Langhe, a UNESCO heritage site, and the ancient Piedmontese winemaking tradition.

16) “Too much wine imported from Spain, local producers forgotten”. The Franco-Spanish wine war does not stop

• Protest in France In the town of Eymet (Dordogne), about 100 winemakers blocked a Spanish truck delivering bulk wine. French farmers denounce an excess of low-priced Spanish imports, which would penalize local producers who are already struggling due to the crisis in the sector.
• Historic tension This is not the first time that there have been incidents of “blockade” against trucks coming from Spain, generating conflicts and repeated requests for intervention by the French government.

17) Green light for dealcoholized wines, but in Brescia they are not convincing

• Divergent opinions Many producers from Brescia, especially in Franciacorta, remain skeptical about “zero alcohol” wine, believing that it could distort a product like the Classic Method, an emblem of elegance and tradition.
• Respect for the denomination The new decree does not affect the DOCGs, so Franciacorta (as well as other high-quality Italian sparkling wines) will not run the risk of confusion. However, there are fears that consumer perception could be altered by the proliferation of “dealcoholized” proposals on the market.

18) “Wine report? Just a TV show, to accuse you need certainties”. Cesare Cecchi’s harsh response

• TV Investigation The broadcast “Report” questioned the origin of some grapes and the use of corrective measures in Tuscany, speaking of a generic “tailor-made wine”.
• Reply Cesare Cecchi (president of the Consorzio Toscana Igt) criticizes the sensationalism of the service, believing that there is a lack of concrete evidence of a fraudulent “system”. He reiterates that the majority of Tuscan companies strictly respect the specifications and work with transparent methods.

19) Barolo and Alta Langa are confirmed among the most appreciated wines in the world

• International successes Some important international magazines (Wine Enthusiast, Jeb Dunnuck, etc.) have placed Barolo di Borgogno and Alta Langa from producers such as Fontanafredda and Mirafiore at the top of their annual rankings.
• Reason Growing quality, a production chain increasingly oriented towards excellence and a story of the territory that continues to fascinate consumers and critics.

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