• HOME
  • ABOUT US
  • PUBLICATIONS
  • ARTICLES
  • SITES OF INTEREST
  • CONTACT US
• VINE NURSERY
  • THE WORLD NURSERY INDUSTRY
  • ITALIAN VINE NURSERY
  • NURSERY INDUSTRY ECONOMY AND MARKET
• VARIETAL HERITAGE
  • VARIETIES IN THE WORLD VITICULTURE
  • -------------------------------------------------
  • EUROPE AND THE MEDITERRANEAN
  • OTHER COUNTRIES
  • SUMMARY: VINE VARIETIES IN THE WORLD
  • --------------------------------------------------
  • VINE VARIETIES IN ITALY
• VINE GERMPLASM
  • VINE GERMPLASM : SCION
  • VINE GERMPLASM: ROOTSTOCK
• VITICULTURE
  • WORLD VITICULTURE
  • THE ITALIAN VINEYARD
• WINE & WINERIES
  • WINE
  • WINERIES IN ITALY
• VINE & WINE ECONOMY
  • ECONOMY AND WORLD MARKET
  • ITALIAN VINE & WINE ECONOMY

Varietal Vine Heritage

GIANFRANCO TEMPESTA

MONICA FIORILO

THE VARIETIES IN WORLD VITICULTURE

 

 

To know the distribution of varieties worldwide is extremely useful for having a reference model that explains, in a holistic vision, in addition to the historical matrix of viticulture, the diffusion routes of a variety in relation with human migrations. The identity of a territory and the meeting with the native species have contributed to enriching the ampelographic platforms. The process of hybridizations and crossings allowed the adaptation and improvement in a given environment. This knowledge permits us to trace the evolution of viticulture in the different territories, the distribution in these of the single varieties, the interaction with the mercantile factors, and others.

Any change profoundly affects the viticulture situation. It is a complex system of interaction between intrinsic and extrinsic variables (soil and climate, the incidence of vine diseases, and others.) as well as anthropic (agronomical and commercial systems) and particularly cultural ones (matrices of civilization, identity, changes in lifestyle, religious markers and, naturally, market trends).

Our analysis of world viticulture, undertaken for a pure desire for knowledge, has encountered considerable difficulties in obtaining data, forcing us in some cases to try a personal interpretation that we hope will be improved or completed by those who read it.

The examination of this enormous amount of data shows a general erosion and simplification of the World Vineyard (Table 2.1 Wine varieties in the world and Table 2.2 Varieties for table/dried grapes in the world. In these tables are not included thousands of minor varieties, for the "wine varieties" often the base of typical wines and known in their area but with limited volumes.

 

 

 

 

The truly international, ubiquitous and significant varieties are those highlighted in table 2.3 The first 50 varieties cultivated in the world, which are the 69.2% of the world wine grape vineyard.

 

Our conviction is that the close link between territory - variety - culture (in another part of the text defined with the trinomial "environment, variety and man") is the only defence of viticulture and vine growers, who are the true upholders of identity and the defenders of the collective brand that is embodied in the "local, loyal and constant" formula-

Territories and vine-growers that seem static, in reality, have the necessary dynamism to maintain the status that belongs to them and to consolidate the "goodwill" recognized to them by consumers. These realities are characteristically in the wine-growing areas that make "system" like Champagne, Bordeaux, Burgundy, Chianti, Valpolicella, Alsace, Rhineland-Palatinate, to name a few.

New and less formal viticulture adopted company brands or varietal wines.

The current trend to shift the bargaining power in the distribution or commercial phase (wines in "bulk" and "private label") deprives and debases the real image of wine that is not just a beverage!

 

Go Top