On Friday 30 October at the Free University of Bolzano, a conference was held on the future of wine in Alto Adige. In attendance were two hundred wine experts and professionals. The event was organised for the 90th anniversary of Kettmeir in a joint initiative involving the Bolzano Chamber of Commerce’s EOS Export Alto Adige unit, the Alto Adige Wine Protection Consortium and the Economics Faculty of the University of Bolzano.

Hans Berger, the Province of Bolzano’s councillor for agricultural policy, introduced the discussion with a welcoming address in which he called for greater collaboration and unity in the Alto Adige wine sector. Helmuth Scartezzini of the Province of Bolzano’s Fruit and Grape Production Office, and Barbara Raifer of the Research Centre at Laimburg, outlined development of Alto Adige’s vineyard area, pointing out the return of the trend for white wines (in the Middle Ages, three quarters of the vineyard area was planted to whites). Attention then focused on the need to adjust to climate change. Professor Mario Fregoni said in his presentation on this topic that it is not possible to rule out a scenario in which Alto Adige viticulture is forced to move in upcoming years to elevations 200 metres higher in order to adapt to changing conditions. Professor Günter Schamel from the University of Bolzano then examined the prospects for Alto Adige wine in the Italian and world markets, observing that the current strengths of the region’s production are in line with market developments, provided they are accompanied by appropriate marketing measures and reinforced by the regional brand. The first part of the conference was closed by wine journalist Matteo Marenghi, who stressed the need to highlight even more than in the past the unique features of Alto Adige wine, and to focus on transparency in areas such as environmental sustainability and cultural identity. To a greater extent than most players, Alto Adige is seen by consumers as credible.
At the subsequent round table discussion, to which wine journalists Fabio Piccoli, Francesco Arrigoni, Richard Grosche and Robert Joseph contributed with Martin Foradori, Vice President of the Alto Adige Wine Protection Consortium, and Hans Terzer, President of the Association of Alto Adige Kellermeisters, the experts agreed on the positive outlook for Alto Adige wine. Analysis of the region’s strengths and genuinely special features, without falling into the trap of chasing fashions, is seen as fundamentally important.
The study day was moderated by Helmuth Zanotti, Director of the Alto Adige Wine Protection Consortium. In closing the conference, the Consortium’s president of the Consortium, Armin Dissertori, expressed satisfaction at the event’s success: “I would like to thank Kettmeir for proposing this idea, and the promoters for organising the symposium. I am particularly happy at the active participation of so many of our members in discussions of the future of Alto Adige wine.
This shows that we are taking Councillor Berger’s invitation seriously, and are focusing our commitment on extending collaboration, conscious of the fact that we are only at the start of this challenge and that profound yet necessary changes cannot be effected from one day to the next.
Nevertheless, we are on the right track and it is comforting to know that we can depend on the support of the provincial authority”.