In a landmark decision, the Consorzio Tutela Vini Collio has taken a bold step by officially incorporating orange wines into its production guidelines.
This milestone was achieved during the consortium’s assembly in December, just before the holiday celebrations began.
Embracing a New Wine Category
While regions like Terra Alta DO in Catalunya have previously embraced similar changes, Collio’s initiative stands out on a global scale.
Known as a key player in the modern orange wine movement, this northeastern Italian region has gained reputation thanks to pioneering winemakers such as Gravner and Radikon.
Lavinia Zamaro, the consortium’s director, noted that the conversation around including skin-contact white wines had been part of the council’s agenda for several terms.
However, previous commitments thwarted progress.
The push gained traction in 2022 when a newly elected board made this issue a top priority and sought a solution.
Additionally, the certification organization Valoritalia supported clearer definitions for macerated wines, promoting their integration into existing regulations.
Defining Parameters and Transparency
With the new board in place, a technical committee was formed, bringing together representatives from both member and non-member companies involved in skin-contact wine.
Over a two-year period, this committee gathered essential feedback and insights.
Their hard work culminated in a crucial vote in December, leading to the endorsement of the new category in the production standards.
As details of this category continue to develop, a few foundational parameters have been established.
For instance, the permissible volatile acidity level will be set at the same threshold as red wines: 20 milliequivalents per liter.
Moreover, producers must implement a minimum maceration duration of seven days.
One exciting element introduced in this new category is the color classification based on the Pantone scale.
This initiative promises to simplify the evaluation process by Valoritalia, ensuring a clearer and more objective assessment.
Support and Future Steps
Zamaro emphasized that the establishment of this new wine category is a significant advancement, not only for Collio but also for various wine regions.
By utilizing the Pantone scale, the goal is to allow for impartial assessments, helping consumers grasp the characteristics of the wine.
Moreover, labels will display the specific Pantone hue, similar to how sweetness levels are indicated on Alsace wines.
This transparency will empower consumers to make more informed choices about the wine’s flavor profile.
Proposed label names might include “Vino da Uve Macerate,” or “wine from macerated grapes,” and “Vino Ottenuto con Macerazione,” which translates to “wine obtained by maceration.” However, the consortium has no plans to adopt the universally recognized term “orange.”
The motion received considerable support, with 72% voting in favor, though some voices expressed concerns.
Producers worried that the new category might dilute Collio’s recent focus on a “pure” style of white wine, characterized by its freshness and salinity, potentially confusing consumers.
Regardless, the decision enjoys overwhelming support due to Collio’s influential role in the revival of skin-contact wines, which have grown in popularity internationally.
Zamaro confirmed that there is a strong global interest in these wines, even without current production or sales statistics.
Before the new category can officially take effect, several administrative processes are still required, including approvals from the Italian Ministry of Agriculture and the European Commission.
The consortium expects this journey will take about a year, which opens up the possibility of launching Collio’s inaugural Vini da Uve Macerate by the next vintage season.
Source: Decanter
