This month's editorial will focus on two interesting press releases recently
issued by Coldiretti - the most important Italian association of agricultural
firms - and which are directly connected to the world of wine, offering
interesting ideas for discussion. The first good news issued by Coldiretti is
that Italian wine seems to be more safe than the one made in the past. The
second one tells us the European Commission has withdrawn the project which
would have allowed the production of rose wines by blending white and red wines
together. Two good news, with no doubts. The first one is particularly
reassuring, at least in its context, if we consider the scandals occurred in the
world of Italian wine in the past, as well as supporting in the world the
quality of the wine produced in the Bel Paese. Also the second news is a
good one, at least it shows - for the first time - the support of Europe in fact
of wine quality, not always safeguarded by the European Commission in recent
times.
According to what Coldiretti issued in its press releases, all the wine produced
in Italy resulted to be completely safe and healthy. This is what has been found
in the yearly report of the Italian Ministry of Labor, Health and Social
Politics on Official tests on the residual of chemical products in foods of
vegetal origin. In this report it is in fact found 100% of Italian wine
samples contained a quantity of chemical residual lesser than the limits set by
law. This certainly is a very good news for all consumers of Italian wine and
for their health. If we consider the facts of the last year and concerning
Italian wine, a news like that is a very good one. The fact the quantity of
residual of chemical substances found in Italian wine are lesser than the ones
set by law, emphasizes, first of all, the maturity and conscience of Italian
vintners in the choices they make for their vineyards. This means, among the
other things, the use of chemical treatments in vines has been limited in favor
of more natural cultural practices.
The reduction in the use of chemical treatments in agriculture is also
confirmed by a survey done by ISTAT (Italian National Institute of Statistics),
in which it is reported a progressive reduction in the use of toxic chemical
products, a reduction which has been halved in the last ten years. In this
survey can also be found this reduction was in favor of the adoption of
eco-compatible cultural techniques. Moreover - according to ISTAT - Italy
occupies today the first place in Europe in the adoption of biologic cultural
principles, destining to this type of culture more than one million of hectares.
The conscience and maturity of agricultural firms, and therefore of firms which
are in the wine business, are also confirmed by the trend of the diminution of
irregularities found in the last sixteen years. In 1993, 5.6% of the
agricultural production was affected by irregularities, in 2007 only 0.9% did
not meet the law: a diminution of more than six times. Results like these make
the Italian agricultural production - and therefore wine too - to the highest
worldwide levels in fact of food safety.
The awareness and maturity of Italian agricultural firms in the limited use of
toxic chemical treatment, is also confirmed by the tests made in other products.
The tests have in fact found 99.3% of vegetables was regular, as well as 98.6%
of fruits and 98.7% of olive oil. A good, indeed very good, news for the
safeguarding of the health of Italians as well as a further warranty abroad for
the quality and healthiness of agricultural Italian products. Moreover, a clear
sign of maturity and awareness, as well as the return of agricultural firms to
the respect of nature which, after having believed to the miracles promised by
chemistry, today they are adopting a more sound and respectful cultivation of
lands. And the same can be said for wine. Whether in the past the use of
chemical products both in vineyard and in cellar was considered normal, today
the use of chemical substances is generally adopted only when it is necessary in
order to ensure a more stable product and with no faults.
The other good news is about rose wine. You will probably remember the European
Commission was working on a project which would have allowed the production of
rose wines by blending white and red wines. A project which would have damaged,
for many aspects, the dignity and quality of rose wines, already scarcely
considered by consumers who prefer other wine styles. According to this news,
the European Commission has withdrawn this project. The news was issued by
Coldiretti which also informs about 48 millions of bottles of real rose wine
produced with the traditional method have been saved. The traditional method of
rose wine consists in exclusively using red berried grapes. The change of
opinion of European Commission was also determined by the pressure of Coldiretti
- representing and safeguarding Italian producers - emphasizing this law would
have uniquely generated confusion among consumers without safeguarding the
quality of real rose wine. In fact, the law would have not obliged producers to
write in the label the production method, therefore consumer would have not had
any chance to truly know what they were about to pour in their glasses.
The decision made by the European Commission seems to be positive for the future
of other decisions they will make about wine. For the first wine Europe has
shown a positive interest for the quality of wine, an attitude - we all hope -
will always be more and more oriented to the safeguarding and the respect of
consumers and honest producers. Everyone will probably remember the past laws
issued by the European Commission about wine and being very disputable and
certainly not in favor of quality. Since 2006 it is in fact allowed the use of
wood chips in the production of wine, which in this case does not contribute to
the aging of wine but to a disputable aromatization. Moreover it is already
allowed the commercialization of wines produced by the fermentation of
fruits different from grape, such as raspberry and black currant - products
which can already be found in European shops - as well as a law allowing in
certain countries the adding of sugar to the must. Finally, it is very likely
from the first of August on, they can call wine also a product to which
was removed part of the alcohol, the so called dealcoholized wine. The
decision made about rose wine however gives us hope that such deplorable
decisions like that will not be made by the European Commission in future. For
the moment, let's be glad about the fact rose wine is saved. And, of course, for
the fact Italian wine is more safe and healthy.
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