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The Vivai Cooperativi Rauscedo (VCR) grape school in Veneto and the CREA research institute presented seven new disease-resistant grape varieties last week, which they have bred from Glera – the main variety of Prosecco. They are intended to make the production of Prosecco DOC and DOCG more environmentally friendly and climate-resistant in the long term. Four varieties come from VCR's breeding program and could be available from 2026, while three others were developed by CREA and are expected to follow by the end of 2027.
One obstacle to planting is the current legal situation: Italy is the only EU country that still does not allow resistant varieties in wines with protected designation of origin (DOC/DOCG). However, a revision of the rules has been politically initiated. The new varieties are considered ready for use; their utilization depends only on legal approval.
All varieties belong to the group of fungus-resistant vines (Piwi) and are particularly resistant to Peronospora and Oidium. This significantly reduces the use of plant protection products, which protects the environment and improves biodiversity. At the same time, they meet the demand for sustainably produced wines and offer different oenological profiles, such as in terms of acidity, freshness, and aroma. The breeders from VCR explicitly emphasize that these vines are not an alternative but an evolution of Glera to maintain the typicity and quality of Prosecco.
(ru – Image: Gheusis)
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