POSITIVE SIGNS FOR DOC COLLI BERICI:
INTERNATIONAL AND RED TAI DRIVE GROWTH
Despite contractions in the market, in 2024 the denomination recorded a 10.3 percent increase over the previous year’s bottled wine. Stable production of Doc Vicenza
The Consorzio Tutela Vini Colli Berici e Vicenza, despite the difficulties that the wine market is facing, announces for the Berici Hills DOC an increase in bottled wine of 10.3 percent in 2024 compared to 2023. Similar growth has not been seen since 2014, specifically wines born from red grape varieties came out on top: among internationals, the Cabernet Sauvignon reached a +21%, while among the indigenous varieties the most notable is the Tai Rosso. Whites also follow a positive trend, especially Pinot Blanc with +12%.
“The Doc Colli Berici,” declares Giovanni Ponchia, director of the Consortium – is registering a growth in countertendency compared to the current market dynamics, managing to communicate and strengthen its value. Our red wines continue to stand out with significant increases, outperforming the overall trend, while the growth in whites confirms our ability to intercept and interpret contemporary consumer preferences.”
“The positive trend of Doc Colli Berici is an additional incentive to strengthen its identity and link with the territory, including through the process of amending the specification, which is currently being completed. Among the main proposals is the possibility of using the pergola training form on all varieties in response to the effects of climate change – continues Silvio Dani, president of the Consortium-at the same time we are investing in the development of a wine tourism route that will include guided tastings paired with local PDO products, with the possibility of buying our members’ bottles on consignment at the wine shop.”
Regarding the vintage data, for the Doc Colli Berici the 2024 vintage confirms the dominance of red grapes, accounting for 73.5 percent of the total harvest. Among these, the most popular variety is the Merlot, which alone accounts for 37 percent of production and sees a 72 percent increase over 2023, followed by Cabernet Sauvignon with 12 percent. Overall, the harvest of the Berici Hills DOC involved 567 hectares, generating a production of 53,940 quintals of grapes.
A positive state of the art that is also realized for the Doc Vicenza, characterized by production stability and a clear predominance of white grapes. The total number of bottles has remained constant in recent years, with Pinot Grigio confirming itself as the most certified and bottled wine in the denomination, accounting for 51 percent of 2024 production, followed by Chardonnay. In total, the 2024 harvest of Doc Vicenza involved 269 hectares, with a total production of 33,700 quintals of grapes.
The Consortium for the Protection of Berici Hills and Vicenza Wines as of today counts 28 member companies, including two cooperatives, representing almost all of the appellations. The hectares claimed are 584 for Doc Colli Berici and 307 for Doc Vicenza: from the Berici production it is reported that 63% of the bottled wine comes from red varieties, on the contrary in the Vicenza area white varieties dominate with 62%.