Brescia Wine Sector Boosts Presence at Vinitaly 2023 to Promote Regional Growth
The wines of Brescia are returning to Vinitaly together. Having now established the winning character of the “territorial strategy”, even Franciacorta has decided to present itself at the fair alongside its Brescia cousins, who for many years had been almost kept at a distance. This will happen in Verona, from April 5 to 9, the dates set this year for the 35th edition of Vinitaly, the international wine and spirits fair where Lombardy will be strongly represented with 160 wineries (30 more than last year), about eighty of which are from Brescia. Initiated by the Regione Lombardia in collaboration with Ascovilo (the association of Lombard wine consortia) and Unioncamere Lombardia, the Lombard pavilion (number 14), sponsored by the Consorzio Grana Padano, was presented yesterday in Milan during a press conference attended by, besides Ascovilo president Vittorio Ruffinazzi, the regional agriculture councilor Viviana Beccalossi. Among the Brescia representatives at Milan were the director of the Wine Authority, Pierluigi Villa, and the president of Franciacorta, Claudio Faccoli. “A very significant initiative,” said Brescia politician Viviana Beccalossi, “that will contribute to promoting major investments in the quality of Lombard viticulture.”
The regional sector
Padiglione 14 will showcase a sector that, at the regional level, is valued at 1 trillion euros and employs over 17,000 workers, and which has seen steady qualitative growth in recent years thanks in large part to the efforts of the Brescia wine sector, which ranks second among production zones after the “colossus” Oltrepò. Sixty percent of the production, estimated in 2000 at 1.35 million hectoliters, is covered by DOC and DOCG wines: a share that represents 8% nationally, and which in Brescia increases to over 80%. Vinitaly will serve as a testing ground for a harvest that recorded a significant quantitative decline (-8.6% compared to 1999) but with high-quality peaks of excellence.
The Brescia producers
With the arrival of 29 Franciacorta wineries (but a total of 40 producers will be present in the fair directly), the number of Brescia-based producers hosted by pavilion 14 rises to 65 this year, representing seven DOC territories: Franciacorta, Garda Classico, Lugana, San Martino della Battaglia, Botticino, Capriano del Colle, and Cellatica. Brescia’s sector is growing, especially in quality but also in quantity, driven by DOCG sparkling wines as well as the Garda reds, which have experienced a real boom in recent years. The total production exceeds 140,000 hectoliters and is worth about 200 billion euros: exports are a minority share, with a turnover of just under 20 billion euros, largely coming from Franciacorta, and 2,000 full-time employees. The percentage weight of viticulture in the provincial agricultural sector is 9%.
A return “due”. Satisfaction, but also firm views from Viviana Beccalossi regarding Franciacorta’s return under the Lombard pavilion. “The decision of Franciacorta to return to Vinitaly alongside Brescia producers is a source of pride for us,” the councilor said yesterday. “However, it was also a necessary step: it was fundamentally right that the Franciacorta consortium, which remains a Lombard organization, reaffiliated with a territorial context. The move made by the producers is an important step toward giving greater representation and prestige to our region.”
The initiatives
Vinitaly will also be an ideal opportunity to highlight nationally a series of important promotional initiatives developed by the production sector over the past few months. First of all, the official presentation of the “wine roads,” including naturally the three Brescia itineraries (Strada di Franciacorta, Strada dei Vini Bresciani del Garda, Strada del Vino Colli dei Longobardi); there will also be cross tastings of wines and local products organized by Slow Food. Many Brescia-specific initiatives include the Province of Brescia officially presenting the data of the first completely updated Italian viticultural register, as well as the new magazine of wines and typical products “Terre Bresciane”. Additionally, the Garda Classico Consortium has scheduled the conference “Wine and Its Image” for the 7th.
