Bardolino Superiore DOCG Certification Promotes Quality and Market Challenges
The recognition of the Denominazione di origine controllata e garantita (DOCG) for Bardolino superiore wines was announced in midsummer through a decree. To inform producers about the certification of distinguished prestige awarded to Bardolino, the Consorzio tutela in collaboration with the Associazione Poliedro di Calmasino organized a conference scheduled for this evening at 8:30 PM in the hall of the Gruppo Italiano Vini in Calmasino.
Speakers at the event include: Lanfranco Paronetto, who will focus on “The New Enological Challenges of the International Market,” and Jacques Rousseau, who will discuss “Phenolic Maturation of Bardolino Superiore DOCG Grapes.” Both speakers, well-versed in Bardolino’s production potentials and the evolution of the global wine market, are expected to provide valuable insights to optimize production.
Objectives and Production Techniques of Bardolino Superiore DOCG
“To meet consumer pleasure expectations and express the vocative nature of DOCG soils,” anticipates Giuseppe degli Albertini, president of the Consorzio tutela vino Bardolino, “each grape of every cluster, from each selected vineyard, must be well ripe to achieve fruity and spicy aromas, with a softness on the palate, as the current taste evolution seems to indicate as desirable characteristics for a DOCG.”
Therefore, the necessity of achieving a precise balance between the weight of the grapes and the surface area of sun-exposed leaves is based on a “combined choice of low-fertility soils, sufficient vine density per hectare, and tailored pruning of the vines that leaves the right number of buds per vine and per hectare.”
These key factors of the winemaking process, however, need to be complemented, specifies degli Albertini, by regular monitoring (apart from routine chemical analyses) through tasting “to understand the fine elements of the grape, must, and wine that determine the quality and originality of a DOCG wine.”
Production Limits and Aging
The maximum grape production is therefore limited to 90 quintals per hectare of specialized cultivation vineyard, with a maximum yield in wine not exceeding 70 percent. The aging period for the wine must be at least one year, starting from November 1 of the vintage year.
The first bottles of Bardolino with DOCG band will be available on the market from November 1 next year. At the conclusion of the conference, diplomas of gold medals will be awarded to participating viticulturists in the eleventh DOC Veronesi sparkling wine competition.