Wine Law

6 In this connection, it is worth mentioning that every region has followed its own strategy, in the promotion of their productions. For instance, Piedmont - which is the region with the largest number of protected productions, i.e. 60 (directly followed by Tuscany with 59 productions and Veneto with 44) – has invested all its efforts in the promotion of the highest valuable wines, fixing stricter requirements. As a result, in Piedmont there are not any IGTs and all the 60 protected wine productions are PDOs, DOCG and DOC. This choice, shared together by local authorities and producers’ organisations, has pushed local producers to raise standards of quality, allowing a remarkable growth in the qualitative and economic value of the productions 5 . Furthermore, Piedmont has also obtained important achievements in the recognition of additional geographical mentions, which correspond to the famous French notion of “cru” . An additional geographical mention, which is added to the designation of origin, identifies the specific vineyards in which wine is produced. The Piedmontese Barbaresco and Barolo have been the first DOCGs to establish additional geographical mentions, introduced in 2007 (66 for Barbaresco and 181 for Barolo). The system of additional geographical mentions has been soon followed by other regions and, in particular, by Veneto, with its famous production of Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG. Similarly, also Tuscany has tried to promote the characteristics of its famous productions through a specific strategy, consisting in the development of different geographical areas. In particular, Chianti DOCG, one of the most valuable Tuscany’s designations of origin, has been divided in several subareas, corresponding to small geographical areas, giving to the products different characteristics. Among the most famous subareas, the hills of Florence and the hills of Siena deserve to be recalled. The effectiveness of the strategy followed at a national and regional level has also caused a significant growth of the export abroad, where Italian geographical indications and designations of origin are now known and appreciated 6 . 5 Data available at : https://www.politicheagricole.it/flex/cm/pages/ServeBLOB.php/L/IT/IDPagina/4625. 6 For a more detailed analysis of the most recent trends of the export of Italian wine productions, see: https://www.ilsole24ore.com/art/vino-italiano-cresce-l-export-36-stati-uniti-primo-mercato-ACNJOjCB.