Wine Law

10 Anyway, it is possible to imagine that the impact of certification trademarks on wine sector would be probably linked to innovative winemaking systems. For instance, certification trademarks may characterise products obtained with specific methods of fermentation, or bottling. In this sense, it is worth recalling that winemaking techniques have always transformed final products. As a matter of fact, the winemaking system brought in Italy by the Irish monks, in the early middle age, characterised by a lower alcoholic degree and by the conservation in barrels, has shaped wine production, overcoming the ancient Romans’ wine, which was always mixed with water, due to its high alcoholic degree. That technique, which spread to the entire Europe, has determined the most significant characteristics of modern winery. Similarly, the innovative fermentation method of sweet wines, designed by the French monk Pérignon, in the XVIII century, has introduced a new product, appreciated all over the world; champagne . The enhancement of new winemaking techniques, through certification trademarks, may certainly constitute a remarkable development of the wine sector, in terms of quality and innovation . In particular, Italian certification trademarks may develop heroic viticulture, i.e. a wine production over a certain altitude. Several Italian regions, such as Liguria, Trentino Alto-Adige and Sicily, have traditional wine productions on mountains, steep hills and volcanic regions. Furthermore, according to the recent reform, introduced by Law Decree No. 15, all the existent collective trademarks shall be converted, until 31 December 2020, in the new collective trademarks, or in certification trademarks. It will be interesting to analyse the percentage of old collective trademarks converted in certification trademarks, in the wine sector. On a final note, in order to make the reform more effective and to promote export’s market, Italian Government has recently approved a decree, on 15 January 2020, aimed at guaranteeing a financial aid to activities of promotion abroad, in relation to collective and certification trademarks. Also from this further initiative, it is clear the deep connection between economic development and these new categories of trademarks, in which the wine sector may play a significant role.