Wine Idea's wine news for December 6, 2024!

Sustainability and ethics in the wine sector

The new frontier of viticulture: good, ethical and sustainable Sustainability is now an imperative in the world of wine. The pressure of climate change, pollution, the limited availability of water and energy resources are pushing producers to adopt more responsible agronomic and cellar practices. It is not just a “green” approach, but a real transformation of the entire supply chain, from production to distribution, to respond to the growing sensitivity of consumers. Objective: reduce energy consumption, maintain healthy soil, protect air and water, guarantee ethical working conditions. In short, a wine that is not only “good” but also “fair”.

Piwi: resistant varieties and sustainability Nicola Biasi sheds light on the topic of resistant vines (Piwi). These varieties, capable of defending themselves from fungal diseases, reduce the use of pesticides and represent an important step towards viticultural sustainability. They are not GMOs and, although they do not fall within the concept of "natural wine", they offer concrete solutions to the problem of environmental sustainability.

In the vineyard with Filippo Volpi: no soil cultivation The owner of the company “Il Bioselvatico” talks about a totally non-invasive approach. The soil is not cultivated, but managed with minimal interventions, especially to drain water. An agronomic philosophy that focuses on biodiversity, respect for the climate and nature, where the land remains sovereign.

Tenuta Licupi: eco-sustainable hub in Puglia An eco-sustainable wine hub is born in Lizzano (Taranto). A couple of engineers have redeveloped 42 hectares of land, combining vineyards, a cellar, a wine resort, glamping accommodations and an experimental educational center. The goal is an innovative, sustainable and integrated wine production in the territory.

Innovation and new market trends

Alcohol-free wine: the comment of the oenologist Cotarella The Lollobrigida decree opens the way to the production of dealcoholized wine in Italy. For Riccardo Cotarella it is like "taking blood from a person", but it could be a necessary evil to face the market crisis. Italy is thus preparing to fill the gap with respect to other countries, where low-alcohol or dealcoholized wine is already a reality.

French Bloom: the luxury non-alcoholic sparkling wine Maggie Frerejean-Taittinger, inspired by the exclusion from toasts during pregnancy, created French Bloom, one of the most expensive and sought-after non-alcoholic sparkling wines. A product that embodies a new era, where alcohol-free wine becomes inclusive, high-quality and capable of competing with the best French wines.

“The decree on dealcoholized wines is good” according to Uiv Paolo Castelletti, general secretary of the Unione Italiana Vini, believes the decree is a step forward towards a new market. Some aspects remain to be defined (management of spaces and waste), but the goal is to offer alternatives that retain part of the added value of wine, expanding consumption opportunities.

Territories and denominations in evolution

Collio Bianco from indigenous vines: the internal debate In Collio, a group of producers promotes Friulano, Ribolla Gialla and Malvasia, creating a Collio Bianco from indigenous grapes. Two of these, Muzic and Cantina Produttori di Cormòns, have obtained the Tre Bicchieri Gambero Rosso. Robert Princic, a historic producer of Collio, however, remains skeptical: “A 100% indigenous Collio Bianco makes no sense, at most we make the Gran Selezione”.

Burgundy: New Premier Crus in Mâconnais The Inao has decreed four new “climats” in the Pouilly-Loché and Pouilly-Vinzelles appellations as Premier Crus. An important recognition for Mâconnais, often underestimated compared to other areas of Burgundy, which changes its status and international perception.

Lambrusco DOC: history and future In Lecce, a Gambero Rosso event highlighted how Lambrusco DOC, a traditional Emilia-Romagna wine, looks to the future with new challenges. Freshness, versatility and growing internationalization make it a product in continuous evolution.

Crémant de Bourgogne: alternative bubbles During an event in Milan, organized by the director of Civiltà del Bere, Alessandro Torcoli, Crémant de Bourgogne were explored. The goal: to overcome the stereotype of Champagne and discover the effervescence of other French regions, capable of expressing the identity and quality of sparkling wine.

Business events, management, crises and successes

Extension of authorizations for vineyard plants Coldiretti Emilia-Romagna applauds the Ministerial Decree of 2 December 2024, which extends the deadlines for replanting authorizations by three years. A fundamental support for companies at a time of reduction in domestic consumption and exports to third countries.

Cantina Vivallis: positive balance sheet and confirmation of the president In the assembly held in Volano, the members of Cantina Vivallis unanimously approved the balance sheet and confirmed the president Mauro Baldessari. Although the 2023 harvest was slightly down (-14.20% compared to 2022) due to hail, the trend is considered positive.

Terre Cortesi Moncaro in crisis The Marche winery is facing a serious financial crisis. The receivers of the liquidation have requested a meeting with the Prefect of Ancona and local institutions to identify solutions that will safeguard the company and its workers.

Stories of producers and territories

Farewell to Michele Rossetti, winemaker from Oltrepò Pavese Michele Rossetti, owner of the Rossetti & Scrivani winery in Casteggio, who passed away at the age of 56, was a gentle winemaker who silently contributed to changing Oltrepò Pavese. A man of the territory, in love with Pinot Noir and its hills.

Aguglia Brilla: wine shop in the Phlegraean Fields The Aguglia Brilla wine shop, the most well-stocked in the area, was born in Bacoli, near the beach of Marina Grande. Over 700 international labels, from South Africa to Slovenia, to enhance the wines of the Phlegraean Fields and offer a worldwide selection to enthusiasts and tourists.

Poggio della Dogana and Ronchi di Castelluccio Two wine projects linked by the same family, the Rametta brothers, who after growing up between the United States and Switzerland, return to their Italian roots. Wine becomes a means to tell history, identity, art and territory.

GIST and the wines of Vulture: Cantina di Venosa protagonist in Rome At the GIST Lazio Greetings Dinner, the wines of Cantina di Venosa and the Vulture territory were protagonists, with four labels for tasting. An opportunity to introduce one of the most interesting realities of Basilicata winemaking.

Markets, exports, consumption and climate change

Global production crisis, but not for Georgia 2024 marks the lowest global wine production since 1961. In this scenario, Georgia stands out, with a harvest growing by 20% on the five-year average and by 27% on 2023, thanks to favorable weather conditions and the resilience of the sector.

Wine and spirits in Italian large-scale retail trade: flat sales In the first nine months of 2024, sales in large-scale retail trade nearly reached 3 billion euros, with wines at 2.1 billion (1.1%) and a slight contraction in volume (-1.1%). Sparkling wines support the market (3.5%), while PDO wines remain stable in value but declining in volume. PGI wines are growing.

Climate change and new consumer preferences The increasingly hot summers are pushing Italian consumers to prefer whites, rosés and sparkling wines to structured reds. This is not a passing trend, but a cultural shift. Consumers are looking for freshness, lightness and drinkability, adapting to the changed climate context.

The role of the USA in Italian exports and the threat of duties The US market is central to Italian wine, but the new duties threatened by the United States could hit hard. Unione Italiana Vini suggests diversifying markets and supports international agreements such as Mercosur. Without the USA, Italian exports risk stagnation.

Italian wine 2024: exports growing (4.5%) but large-scale retail trade is suffering Despite the drop in volumes in large-scale retail trade (-1.5%), Italian wine exports exceed 8 billion euros. Geopolitical uncertainty and the risk of new duties are worrying, but the sign remains positive.

The wine of the future according to consumers New consumers no longer choose just to stand out, but to feel part of a community, rediscover roots and memory, preferring sustainable and healthy products. Wine thus becomes a social experience, a bond with the territory and a search for well-being.

Architecture, tourism and wine spaces

Signature wineries and tourist attraction More and more Italian wineries are relying on architects and designers to transform production spaces into real tourist and cultural destinations. Over 20 thousand wineries open to the public throughout the country: a phenomenon that combines wine production and quality architecture, generating debate and interest at an international level.

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