«Export worth 8 billion, it must be protected. At Vinitaly in defense of the supply chain»- Corriere.it

From Prime Minister Meloni to ministers Lollobrigida, Salvini, Tajani, Urso, Santanch, Sangiuliano and a large group of undersecretaries. A government team ready to land at Vinitaly, from 2 to 5 April in Verona. An important signal,” he comments Massimiliano Giansanti, president of Confagricoltura – to reiterate that wine is culture and economic development, with an export of almost 8 billion euros. It is important that the government supports the producers while other countries, such as Ireland, want to impose writings on bottle labels that describe wine as a product that is harmful to health.

Edition 55, which Vinitaly will be?
We are expecting a great success, in line with recent years: the celebration of the Italian wine system. The world of wine will present itself to the entire chain of both the horeca and large-scale distribution. The companies will meet their customers by promoting the territories. We expect a business vision as opposed to that of other fairs, such as Prowein in Dusseldorf. In Verona, in addition to business meetings, there is space to tell the great value that wine represents, because behind every bottle there is a tradition and a story to reveal. A sector that grows despite the difficulties.

What difficulties?
For example the theme of packaging. Our cellars have reduced the weight of the bottles by 30%, to minimize the environmental impact. But in the new European directive, wine has been surprisingly included in the list of sectors that need to change the rules. 5 to 15 percent of bottles and cartons should be recovered and recycled. How is it possible to recover packages that we ship all over the world? Glass and paper are still recyclable. A paradox that will have an impact on costs. Confagricoltura and Federvini are asking for wine to be excluded from the regulation.

What are the steps forward in the wine sector in terms of sustainability?
Surprising results: mineral fertilizers have been reduced by 50% in the last 20 years, plant protection products by up to 60%, emissions have been reduced by 25% and the production of greenhouse gases by 17%. Many farms implement major actions for the energy transition, such as the production of clean energy and the reuse of water. Italy of wine leader in Europe in the green deal.

And the other obstacles?
Flavescence dorée, a plant disease that risks compromising the “Vigneto Italia” if we do not find the right cures also through “genome editing”. Thanks to research, new resistant screws have been created, we ask that they be authorized.

How much does inflation affect wine sales?
In 2022 there was an excellent performance on the foreign market. On the domestic market, however, some wines have been affected by the decline in consumption due to the increase in the shopping cart. Inflation and rising interest rates have a significant impact on families, who are forced to give up spending on wine in order to buy bread and milk. To suffer the most are the wines sold above all in large-scale distribution.

The ones that had boosted sales during the pandemic.
Exactly, now the dynamic has changed. Also because of the war in Ukraine. This is a factor of uncertainty that weighs on the choices of producers. It also happens in fruit and vegetables. Instead, companies need clarity to invest in agriculture 4.0. In 2019 the agricultural sector invested 300 million in agriculture 4.0, in 2022 the figure rose to 2.1 billion.

What proposals will you bring to Vinitaly?
Together with Minister Lollobrigida, we will develop the guidelines for attacking foreign markets and promoting Italian wine throughout the world.

What are you talking about?
One of the main themes is wine tourism, Vinitaly is an invitation to visit our extraordinary farms which increasingly devote resources to receiving customers.

How will you present the new generation of winemakers?
There is a very strong movement of young people who bring innovative ideas, even in marketing: we will have their stories told. And we will also talk about heroic wines that have a fundamental function for the protection of the mountain landscape. We will do it with a cycling champion like Gianni Bugno.

Then there are the European choices.
We will address the major issues related to the reforms of European regulations and we will discuss with the parliamentarians present.

This year there will be half the government among the pavilion stands.
The presence of the prime minister and many ministers illustrates the importance of the role of wine, at a time when we must face the attacks of those in Europe who want to impose labels on wine such as those on cigarette packets. We have always promoted conscious and responsible consumption, for us Italians, a nice glass of wine means feeling good together.

Subscribe to the newsletter of The Economy

Whatever it Takes by Federico Fubini

The challenges for the economy and markets in an unstable world

Europe Matters by James Fontanella-Khan

Italy and Europe seen from America

And don’t forget the newsletters
The Economy Opinions and the Economy 6 pm