Brunello and Rosso di Montalcino maximum yields reduced and Chianti Classico “cuts sales”

The Regione Toscana (the Regione of Tuscany) has announced the passage of new legislation that will cut the maximum yield for Brunello di Montalcino DOCG and Rosso di Montalcino DOC by “1 ton per hectare.” Beginning with the 2009 vintage, the maximum yield per hectare for Brunello will be 7 tons or 47.6 hectoliters per [...]

Brunello consortium director defends actions while president names new auditing firm

VinoWire editor Franco Ziliani has obtained two letters sent to Consorzio del Vino Brunello di Montalcino (Brunello Producers Association) members in recent days by director Stefano Campatelli and by association president Patrizio Cencioni. Both letters address the members “pursuant to the [Italian] Treasury Department’s press conference a few days ago [see below] and news that [...]

Official findings of “Operazione Mixed Wine” Brunello investigation

The following summary and translations have been rendered from a report initially published Saturday, July 18, 2009, by Siena Free and information subsequently published by the Florence edition of La Repubblica. Translations by VinoWire. Above: Italian Treasury Department officials reported their findings in “Operazione Mixed Wine” on Saturday in Siena. In a press conference held [...]

Wineries named in Brunello investigation

A report published today in the Florence edition of the Italian national daily La Repubblica names the 5 wineries officially cited by Italian authorities for “cutting and softening” their wines. Winemakers Antinori, Argiano, Banfi, Casanova di Neri, and Marchesi de’ Frescobaldi have been cited by the Italian Treasury Department (Guardia di Finanza) for releasing wines [...]

“Operation Mixed Wine”: amounts of declassified Brunello and Rosso di Montalcino and Chianti Classico announced by Italian authorities

According to a report published today, Italy’s Treasury Department (Guardia di Finanza) has announced that 20% of the 6.7 million liters of Brunello di Montalcino impounded last year and that 40% of 1.7 million liters of Rosso di Montalcino DOC and Chianti Classico DOCG have been declassified from DOCG and DOC status to IGT Toscana [...]

Healthy vintage expected for 2009 in Italy

According to a report published today by the ISMEA (Institute for Food and Farming Market Services) and UIV (Italian Wine Union), a healthy vintage is expected in Italy for 2009, with estimated production levels only slightly less than the 5-year average of 48 million hectoliters. In 2008, Italian winemakers reportedly produced roughly 46 million hectoliters [...]

Italian Sommelier Association opposes government registry of wine professionals

Source: ANSA. A bill has been tabled in the Senate to create an official registry for wine tasters, a fast-growing profession which is also attracting more and more women. The bill was proposed by Senator Pierfrancesco Gamba of the governing People of Freedom (PdL) party who explained that the registry was needed ”to better define [...]

Amarone producers call for wine to “remain expensive and rare” and adopt “voluntary” appellation regulations

Ten Amarone “families” have issued a statement calling for self-imposed, higher standards for quality in the appellation. The signatory Amarone producers include Allegrini, Brigaldara, Masi, Musella, Nicolis, Speri, Tedeschi, Tenuta Sant’Antonio, Tommasi, and Zenato, and claim to represent 55% of the production high quality Amarone and 40% of total production in the appellation. “Amarone must [...]

Giacosa to Ziliani: “we had absolutely no intention to denigrate or demonize the 2006 vintage”

The following message was sent on June 23, 2009 by Bruno and Bruna Giacosa to VinoWire editor Franco Ziliani in response to his editorial Render Unto Caesar: a clarification on Bruno Giacosa’s decision not to bottle his 2006 Barolo and Barbaresco. Translation by VinoWire. Dear Mr. Franco Ziliani, A few months ago, when it was [...]

“Giacosa sees the glass half full.” Nebbiolo producers speak out on Giacosa’s decision not to bottle the 2006 vintage

The following opinions have been translated from 2006: Vintage to bottle or to skip? Barbaresco Producers’s Point of View, posted today on the Italian Sommelier Association website by VinoWire editor Franco Ziliani. Grape growers and winemakers in Barolo and Barbaresco have been troubled by iconic producer Giacosa’s decision not to bottle his 2006 Barolo and [...]