WINE NEWS /
"Passito" and indigenous varietal legislation proposed
Italian legislators have presented a proposal for
legislation that would more clearly regulate the production of passiti
or dried-grape wines. If approved by the Italian parliament, the law
would require that 1) only wines made from grapes "dried or partially
dried in the vineyard or after harvest" can be called "passito";
2) only natural means may be employed to achieve the alcohol content
for passito wines (i.e., no fortification will be allowed); and 3)
producers of Vin Santo and other passito wines where the term was
not traditionally used will be allowed to use the word passito on
the label. The proposed legislation also sets strict regulations for
the definition of "vitigni autoctoni" or indigenous varietals
in Italy. Authors of the bill hail the proposed regulation as part
of a growing movement to protect the Italian wine industry.
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