Celebrating 50 Years Of Valpolicella
Education About Producing Sustainable Italian Wine
By: Philip S. Kampe - Feb 19, 2018
To celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Valpolicella applellation,the Valpolicella Consorzio Tutela Vini prepared a special educational program that communicated the idea that terroir and sustainable farming practices attributed both quality and value to the brand.
Hosts Andrea Sartori, President of the Consortium and Olga Bussinello, Director of the Consortium shared their views on the themed conference that focused on ‘Sustainability, Education, Internationalization and Made in Italy.’ The program highlighted the innovative, international and sustainable direction the appellation, with the help of the Consortium for the Tutelage of Valpolicella wines, is taking.
”The commitment of the Consortium for the Tutelage of Valpolicella Wines is to achieve excellence in the vineyards, above all from sustainability and prosperity for the territory. The RRR-‘Reduce, Respect, Retrench’ program, which certifies environmental protection by companies, thanks to the adoption of innovative techniques in the vineyard and beyond. The Protocol began, in fact, both to respond to the increasingly determined consumer demand for wines that express the territory, as well a cleaner environment by the inhabitants of Valpolicella. The project in the first year involved 30 companies (wineries) and 1250 acres. In the second year, the number grew to 114 companies and 2300 acres. The next objective of the Consortium is to get 60% of the area planted in the next two years to follow the RRR, in Italian, ‘Reduci, Risparmia, Rispetta’ program. We hope, therefore, that as happened in recent years, more and more wineries in Valpolicella will decide to join this project that wants to make a whole green area, cutting edge with the main countries and certification bodies dedicated to sustainability throughout the world” Olga Bussinello, Director of the Consortium
The Consortium for the Tutelage of Valpolicella Wines was founded in 1924. It is an association of grape growers, winemakers and bottlers of the Valpolicella region. The Consortium represents more then 80% of the producers and promotes activities to enhance the value of the territory. Promotion, such as the Anteprima Amarone event, help protect and promote the four PDO wines of the region, Valpolicella DOC, Valpolicella Ripasso DOC, Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG and Recioto della Valpolicella DOC.
The Sustainable Winegrowing Summit (SWS) took place during my visit, as well as the Valpolicella Education Program, in collaboration with the University of Verona and the University of Milano. Candidates who passed rigorous tests will collaborate with the Consortium during the ‘Valpolicella 50th Anniversary Tour; as well as future projects. .In a sense, they are Valpolicella Wine Specialists who can speak about Valpolicella, the territory, sustainability and the area halfway between Verona and Lake Garda. Some80% of Valpolicella is exported and wine ambassadors are truly necessary to help promote the wines from the appellation.
Regarding the Sustainable Winegrowing Summit, leading figures from around the world discussed sustainable viticulture, with the goal of establishing an ethical model for wine production. Sustainable management of natural resources to the innovation of management practices and the need to adapt cultivation techniques for pedoclimatic changes are the three key issues explained Olga Bussinello. She went on to say that it has become urgent to reach a production model that takes account of these aspects, with the aim of increasing the protection and conservation of the resources and the environment. Following the RRR initiative is the goal. Monitoring the use of plant production products by producers is the key to environmental balance in the Valpolicella region. The host of the summit will change every year, in order to constantly encourage the dialogue between the certification bodies and the players in the wine world, in order to create an International Sustainable Winegrowing Network (ISWN)
To learn more about Valpolicella contact the Consorzio Tutela Vini Valpolicella at: info@consorziovalpolicella.it
Press: areastampa1@consorziovalpolicell.it
Telephone: +39 0457703194
Via Valpolicella 57-37029 San Pietro in Cariano VR
Director: Olga Bussinello
President: Andrea Sartori