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The Italian Ministry of Agriculture has recognized the new South Tyrolean vineyard concept after years of discussion. Thus, winemakers may in the future list 86 recognized vineyards as additional geographical indications (in Italian: "Unità Geografica Aggiuntiva", short UGA) alongside the designation "South Tyrol DOC" on the label.
The vineyard concept is based on a long process initiated by the consortium "South Tyrol Wine" years ago. "In the wine-growing villages, commissions of agronomists, oenologists, winemakers, producers, and experts in the history of viticulture have been formed," says Andreas Kofler, president of the consortium and chairman of the Kurtatsch winery. "They were tasked with delineating the vineyards and deciding which grape varieties are suitable for the respective vineyards."
According to the South Tyrol Wine Consortium, the delineation will ensure that the optimal grape varieties grow in each surveyed vineyard in the future. Additionally, when indicating the UGA on the label, the harvest quantity must be reduced by 25 percent. "With a reduction of 25 percent on the allowed DOC quantity, we also ensure that the qualities of these special wines experience further enhancement," says Kofler.
"It was especially important for us to emphasize the historical connection of these vineyards. Thanks to the Theresian cadastre from the mid-18th century, we were able to draw on precious historical field names," says Martin Foradori, vice president of the South Tyrol Wine Consortium and owner of the J. Hofstätter winery.
It must be clarified that a winemaker in the new vineyards is still allowed to cultivate the grape varieties that are approved in South Tyrol. However, only those wines may be designated as vineyard wines whose grape varieties have been selected by the experts. "Depending on the vineyard, this can be up to five, but there are also vineyards for which only one or two grape varieties have been selected," says Eduard Bernhart, director of the South Tyrol Wine Consortium.
"If our concept takes hold, these vineyards – like the great models from other world-renowned wine regions – can become synonymous with great, unique, and distinctive wines," says Andreas Kofler about the vision that the South Tyrolean wine industry pursues with the new vineyard delineation.
(ru / South Tyrol Wine Consortium)