Italian wine industry faces crisis as leaders consider vineyard uprooting

The Italian wine sector is facing a multifaceted crisis driven by climate change, shifting consumer habits, and international market uncertainty. Lamberto Frescobaldi, president of the Unione Italiana Vini (UIV), has signaled a potential shift in strategy by acknowledging that uprooting vineyards may become inevitable in certain Italian regions. This stance marks a departure from previous resistance to similar drastic measures seen in France.

Frescobaldi noted that such uprooting would require a “plan B” to protect farmers, though specific details of this support mechanism remain unknown. Simultaneously, Cristian Maretti, president of Legacoop Agroalimentare, warned that institutional promotion and marketing campaigns alone are insufficient to stabilize the industry. He emphasized the need for structural policies addressing production, infrastructure, and financial challenges to prevent the supply chain from being overwhelmed by rising costs and volatile yields.