At the end of a broad debate involving regional institutions and representatives of Piedmontese wine, the long-awaited agreement on emergency distillation was found, which meets the requests promoted by Piemonte Land, aimed at avoiding speculative phenomena on the denominations most exposed to the economic crisis dictated from the coronavirus.
Within a package of measures modeled on the basis of the contingent situation of each single Denomination, Piemonte Land had expressed itself in favor of an emergency distillation policy, which, by reducing the quantities available on the market, prevented the collapse of prices and would allow companies to better face the upcoming harvest.
The names most affected by the crisis will access the distillation measure, such as the Brachetto d'Acqui, Piedmont and Monferrato PDO.
Piedmont therefore exceeds the national legislation on the subject, which in allocating a fund of 50 million euros exclusively for generic wines, provides for a contribution of 0.275 euros / hectograde. An amount evidently calibrated on different production realities compared to the Piedmont one, which with its 17 Docg and 42 Doc has long decided to focus on the production of quality wines.
A decision that preceded the subsequent ministerial decree with which the Mipaaf last July 22 approved the aid package for the voluntary reduction of yields, also considered essential by Piemonte Land to mitigate the impact on the pandemic markets global. Thanks to a total fund of 100 million euros, the Ministry of Agriculture will support producers with an amount equal to 800 euros for each hectare of grapes destined for the production of DOC wines subjected to a selective yield reduction, which rises to 1,100 euros in the case of DOCG wines
Two important measures which, in the opinion of the Piedmontese supply chain protected by the fourteen consortia associated with Piemonte Land, must however be part of that wider aid system summarized in the proposal sent by the Castagnito body to the competent regional bodies and, through them, to Minister Teresa Bellanova. In addition to emergency distillation and the reduction of selective yield, the requests concerned storage, the increase in the percentage of wine allowed for vintage cutting and the extension of the deadlines relating to the plants. In its letter, Piedmont Land also recalled the importance of a unitary promotion policy in Italy and abroad, aimed at regaining the market shares lost during the pandemic and thus guaranteeing the right profitability for the entire production fabric.
Finally, the commissioner announced the imminent issuance of the Call for Measure 4.1.1 of the PSR 2014/2020, within which interventions are planned in favor of the cellars for the purchase of wine vessels. From the moment of publication, the interested parties will have 60 days to submit the applications.
