Since 1998, Federdoc, with the funding of the Ministry for Agricultural and Forestry Policies, has been implementing a project surveying the image and quality of Italian denomination of origin wines. It has taken concrete form in the monitoring of the existing situation on some of the major European markets.

From 1998 to 2002 Federdoc collected and analyzed 1,750 samples taken from seven different European countries: Austria, Belgium, Britain, France, Germany, the Netherlands and Italy. Monitors visited 55 cities and 246 sites where they took samples.

The monitoring consists of taking samples of denomination of origin wines and subjecting them to chemical-physical and organoleptic analyses to verify their exact correspondence to the parameters set by their respective production regulations.

In addition, the correct designation and presentation of information on the label are verified, with reference to the current regulations in force. At the present time, samplings for the year 2003 are being collected, because continuing the survey will provide constant monitoring and through time the acquisition of statistically valid and comparable data.

In addition to protecting producers from possible fraud and serving as a guarantee for importers and consumers, the project is intended to document the reliability of Italian producers and the effectiveness of the protection extended to and the inspection service performed by Italian D.O. consortia, as well as through Federdoc.

Three bottles are taken as a sample of each wine. One is used for chemical-physical analyses, one is sent to the pertinent consortium for organoleptic analyses and verification of correct designation and the third is deposited as testimony and made available to the Ministry for Agricultural and Forestry Policies for further assessments.

The 1,750 samples were given certificates attesting to analyses performed by the ultramodern laboratory of the Asti Consortium, a Federdoc member, and consigned (along with one of the three bottles) to the pertinent oversight consortium for organoleptic appraisal in order to verify whether the quality and the typical characteristics of the wine corresponded to the parameters set by production regulations.

The samples referring to denominations not protected by a consortium were tasted and evaluated by a tasting committee expressly established by Federdoc. The tests carried out on the 1,750 samples revealed 27 unsuitable samples (1.4%) and 39 (2.2%) were deemed impossible to judge because of cork odor, although their analytic parameters were in line with requirements. In regard to wine designation and presentation, 24 labels were judged out of line with current regulations. Federdoc’s headquarters has set up a center for collecting, processing and storing the data generated. The information archived at the center includes details on prices at the establishments visited as well as the number of bottles on a single shelf, so that, in time, a precise picture of the market for Italian wines and its evolution will emerge.