Regional Institute of Wine and Oil

Doc Sicilia, new specifications

News on the Sicily Doc front. The new regulations are born. More protection and valorisation of certified wine production are the substantial aspects. Above all, the wine production chain is being strengthened, as proposed by the Consortium for the Protection of Sicilian Doc Wines, by imposing the obligation of bottling on the island.

The intention is thus to reduce the quantity of bulk wine sold beyond the limit and to induce interested companies to bottle Sicilian DOC wine, to invest in new plants in Sicily or to enter into commercial agreements with already existing companies, determining a notable impact in terms of increased economic value on the territory. “These are interesting innovations and changes – comments the extraordinary commissioner of the Regional Institute of Wines and Oils of Sicily, Antonino Di Giacomo Pepe – which will certainly aim to further enhance the Sicilian wine product by giving producers/entrepreneurs as well as final consumers greater guarantees . A turning point that aims to strengthen a sector, a territory, a brand. IRVO was committed and involved in the technical report and in the chemical-physical and organoleptic analyses".

The new specification, published in the Official Journal in recent days and which replaces the one in force since 2012, gives you up to 60 days to make any changes. Once this deadline has passed, it will be enforceable and will completely replace the old specification. Among the other innovations, contained in 44 pages, the introduction of new varieties of grapes, introduction of the Superiore and Riserva typologies, possibility of producing sparkling wines, dessert wines and late harvest wines with the Doc Sicilia brand. “I am very proud of the progress recorded by the wine sector – declares Rosaria Barresi, Regional Councilor for Agriculture – For some years now, and in my role as General Manager of the Department, I have supported the need to support a strengthening of the business culture in the sector aware that, thanks to the good quality of our wines, producers capable of investing and innovating would find recognition, merit and markets for their products. The results – continues Barresi – comfort me in the path undertaken and convince me more and more to support the bottling of wines, through actions that stimulate less competitive companies to invest in the innovation and marketing of their wines”.