VICE PRESIDENT BUSSI: “THE ROLE OF THE WINEGROWER IS DETERMINANT WITH SUCH UNSTABLE CLIMATE CONDITIONS”.

The 2024 harvest in Alta Langa began with the first bunches of Pinot Noir and will continue in the next few days with the Chardonnay grapes.

It has started in the earliest and sunniest areas of Strevi (AL), Serralunga d’Alba (CN) and Castel Rocchero (AT), in the next few days the harvest will get into full swing going up towards the vineyards at increasingly higher altitudes, such as Roddino (CN) and Bossolasco (CN), where veraison is not yet complete. Except for some slight reduction in yield due to unstable weather conditions at the time of flowering, what is expected is a quantitatively average harvest with good quality grapes.

The season was characterized by a rise in temperatures at the beginning of spring, followed by a rather rainy and cool period: precipitation was about double the average, making the 2024 agricultural year the rainiest in the last 67 years. In the vineyards of the provinces of Asti, Cuneo and Alessandria, the experience and timely intervention of the winemakers were therefore even more fundamental to avoid the appearance of plant diseases.

With the arrival of summer, conditions re-stabilized, allowing for regular ripening of the grapes: this placed the harvest period between the last ten days of August and the beginning of September.

“ We are confident that the year that has begun can be an excellent one, thanks to the constant commitment of our winemakers – says vice president Giovanni Carlo Bussi – the grapes are beautiful and healthy. In fact, in a context in which the climatic conditions are less predictable, the role of the winemaker is increasingly crucial. Also for this reason, in recent months the Alta Langa Consortium has started a series of events dedicated to its members, in order to spread knowledge of the best agronomic techniques in the vineyard and consolidate the high quality levels of the grapes destined to become Alta Langa DOCG ”.

THE ALTA LANGA CONSORTIUM

The Alta Langa Consortium was founded in 2001, after many years of in-depth, methodical and documented research and studies on the area’s vocation. It brings together passionate and far-sighted winemakers and producers who, driven by great Piedmontese pride, founded and grew this young denomination but with deep roots that sink into history and the territory. The great challenge that unites everyone is to produce a necessarily important wine, which will not be ready for six years after the vineyards are planted.

To date, the Consortium has more than 80 sparkling wine producers and 90 associated winemakers. Since 2022, the president of the Consortium has been Mariacristina Castelletta , and the vice-president is Giovanni Carlo Bussi .

ALTA LANGA DOCG

Alta Langa DOCG has the honour of representing the first classic method in Italy, born in Piedmont in the mid-1800s .

The denomination has a production of 3,200,000 bottles from the 2023 harvest. Alta Langa Docg is made with Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes, pure or together in variable percentages; it can be white or rosé, brut or pas dosé and has very long aging times on the yeasts, as required by the strict regulations: at least 30 months. A distinctive feature of Alta Langa is that it is an exclusively vintage sparkling wine, that is, the fruit of a single harvest: each bottle always shows the year of the grape harvest on the label, inextricably linked to the particular characteristics of that specific harvest. It is produced in a hilly area (over 250 meters above sea level) that embraces the provinces of Asti, Cuneo and Alessandria: a land that looks at the snow-capped peaks of the Alps and breathes the sea and that collects the legacy preserved by the ancestors, kept intact for a long time without undergoing radical transformations, as instead happened in the lower hills. The Alta Langa is a precious territory, to be supported, in which biodiversity is safeguarded. A literary land, an extraordinary land of resistance – of wars and cultures -, which has faced changes and supported them without losing its baggage of memories and its strong identity.

Alta Langa obtained the DOC in 2002 and the DOCG in 2011 (retroactive to the 2008 vintage).

THE NUMBERS OF THE CONSORTIUM AND OF THE ALTA LANGA DOCG:

• Over 80 sparkling wine producers associated with the Consortium
• 455 hectares of vineyards between the provinces of Alessandria (46), Asti (185) and Cuneo (224)
• The Alta Langa vineyard is cultivated for 2/3 Pinot Noir and 1/3 Chardonnay
• 3,200,000 bottles produced from the 2023 harvest
• Domestic market: 90%
• Export: 10%

The Go Wine Wine Festival returns to the historic center of Alba at the end of September!

The historic center of Alba becomes a “wine street” for two Sundays!

The Go Wine Wine Festival is back in Alba again this year! This is the 26th edition of the event that brings to the stage, in the historic center of the city , the most representative wine expressions of the Langa and Roero area.

local promotion organizations, wineries, wine shops and producer associations.

New: Tastings open from late morning!

On both days, from 11:00 to 19:00, the producers, organized through the participating Municipalities, will present their products for tasting and will promote their local reality and their events. For the first time, the event hours will be extended, starting at 11:00! From the famous Barolo and Barbaresco, the pride of the area, to the other noble wines of the Langhe and Roero: Nebbiolo d’Alba, Roero, Roero Arneis, Barbera d’Alba, Dolcetto d’Alba, Diano and Dogliani, and many other wines. It promises to be an extraordinary tasting table with many labels represented: an extraordinary opportunity to learn about new and different products, to savor the charm of a journey through the historic center of the city, learning about the typical products that characterize the hills around Alba.

Some collateral events enrich the general program and will be presented in the coming weeks. Starting with a large section dedicated to Monferrato , with a selection of wineries in the historic center of Alba to meet the public. Each visitor will be able to do the tastings by purchasing the glass and the pouch, with the possibility of then choosing and comparing the wines offered for tasting.

Consorzio Barbera d’Asti e Vini del Monferrato is pleased to share with you the press release regarding the Monsterrando Barbera d’Asti UCI Gravel World Series, of which the Consortium is a partner for this third edition.

SPORT, WINE AND TOURISM FOR THE PROMOTION OF A UNIQUE TERRITORY.

They have the appearance of a road bike but have all the features to tackle dirt roads, dirt roads and country paths: Gravel bikes are the protagonists of one of the most anticipated events in the sports wine tourism calendar, 2024 Monsterrando Barbera d’Asti UCI Gravel World Series , scheduled for next August 31. Now in its third edition, the event is part of a unique international circuit and combines a love of cycling with the desire to appreciate the natural beauty and traditions of the area, known for its quality wines. In fact, the Barbera d’Asti e Vini del Monferrato Consortium is a partner of the 2024 edition. “ The Barbera d’Asti e Vini del Monferrato Consortium supports and promotes an event that represents an opportunity to promote the winemaking excellence of the area, in particular Barbera d’Asti – said Vitaliano Maccario , President of the Barbera d’Asti e Vini del Monferrato Consortium – which as a Partner will be present with a Barbera wine distribution point. The 2024 Monsterrando Barbera d’Asti UCI Gravel World Series offers an immersive experience that allows you to discover the Monferrato outdoors, unique for its beauty ”.

The world of cycling event dedicated to gravel is open to professional athletes but also to amateurs who will be able to participate in the competition, divided by age groups, and explore dirt roads and paths through the Monferrato hills. For professional athletes instead it will be one of the stages to overcome in order to participate in the Gravel World Cup. The competition route, 152 km long, is part of an even larger event which is the Gran Monferrato Gravel Brevetti promoted by the Consorzio Gran Monferrato, or rather the first edition of the Gran Monferrato Gravel : a three-month initiative that allows cyclists and amateurs to test themselves with five routes, downloadable as GPX tracks, in as many areas of the Gran Monferrato. “ This new synergy fully represents the success of multiple intentions – underlines Andrea Guerrera, president of the Gran Monferrato Consortium – sport, tourism and wine are three strategic assets for the promotion of the territory, able to offer a unique experience that combines the passion for cycling with the discovery of the wine traditions and the scenic beauty of Monferrato ”. To participate in the Monsterrando event, you can register at the following; for more information on the event, you can consult the Monsterrando.it website, while to learn more about the Gran Monferrato Gravel event, you can connect to this LINK.

The Italian wine sector, a pillar of the country’s agri-food economy, is facing a critical period.

According to the latest report, in the first half of 2024, the wine market showed a 2.5% drop in sales in volume, a worrying sign for an industry that generates an annual turnover of billions of euros.

But what is really happening in the Italian wine sector and how are producers responding to these changes?

The decline in sales is not an isolated phenomenon but part of a broader trend that has seen a 3.4% decline in sales of still and sparkling wines, while sparkling wines have seen a 4.2% increase. This shift in consumer preferences is highlighted by the growing popularity of Prosecco and other bubbles, which appear to be better suited to changing consumer tastes and emerging trends.

Despite an increase in average prices, the decline in volumes sold has posed significant economic, employment and social challenges for companies in the sector. In particular, red and white wines have suffered the greatest contractions, with producers facing reduced production, potential job losses, and growing economic pressures.

In response to these obstacles, many producers are exploring new market strategies. Among these is the adoption of advanced technologies to optimize distribution and expand their offerings. Recent studies show that platforms like Liv-Ex are becoming increasingly central to wine merchants, allowing them to access a vast global market without the need for large investments in inventory.

Companies like Wine Empire in the United States and Benchmark Wine Group have transformed their business models, integrating e-commerce systems that allow consumers to access a wider variety of wines, often difficult to find elsewhere. This has not only helped these companies mitigate losses caused by the decline in domestic demand, but has also opened up new market opportunities.

As the Italian wine sector continues to navigate these turbulent waters, the key to survival may lie in the ability to quickly adapt to market changes and leverage available technologies to improve efficiency and reach new customers. However, the biggest challenge will remain to maintain the quality and reputation that have made Italian wines iconic worldwide. Only by balancing innovation and tradition can the sector hope to overcome this critical phase and move towards a stable and lasting recovery.