Barolo consorzio bans new plantings for three years to avoid wine glut

Barolo has put any new vine plantings on hold for three years in order to manage production of the famous Italian red wine.

“We don’t want to be faced with the situation of a glut of wine, so the consorzio has taken the step to stop any new plantings of vines in the Barolo region for the next three years,” Ilaria Bertini, head of communications for the Barolo and Barbaresco Consorzio, told Drinks Business:   T

his will come into effect from January 2020 and the Consorzio said that the situation would be reviewed in 2023.   “It is a preventative measure to control the production of Barolo and preserve the landscape,” said Bertini. “If there are any new vines planted during that time, producers won’t be able to label the wine as Barolo, it will have to be declassified.”   

Bertini claimed that the reaction to the initiative from producers had been positive, with no objections to the plan so far.  

There are currently 2,100 hectares of vines planted in Barolo and 378 producers, with 763 hectares of vines in Barbaresco and 211 producers.  

Approximately 14 million bottles of Barolo are produced each year and 5 million bottles of Barbaresco. The US is Barolo’s number one export market by volume, accounting for a fifth of all shipments, with other key markerts including the UK, Switzerland, Japan and Germany.