Toscana IGT Wines to Shine at L’Altra Toscana Event Amid Industry Challenges

The Consorzio Vino Toscana IGT is set to showcase its wines at the upcoming L’Altra Toscana event on February 20 at the Palazzo degli Affari in Florence. This tasting event, now in its fourth year, is exclusive to industry professionals and the press. Despite a general decline in the wine industry over the past year, the Toscana IGT wine has seen a minimal decrease of less than 1% compared to 2023. In 2024, the production reached 89 million bottles, with 31% sold domestically and 69% exported. European countries lead the export market, accounting for 46%, followed by the United States at 33%, and Asia at 6%. The remaining 15% is distributed globally. The total value of Toscana IGT wine production is around half a billion euros.

Cesare Cecchi, president of the Consorzio Vino Toscana, expressed satisfaction with the 2024 harvest, which produced balanced wines with moderate alcohol levels. The harvest yielded 820,000 hectoliters from 15,000 hectares of vineyards, marking a significant increase from the previous year. The 2023 harvest was poor due to climate issues and diseases. The expansion to 15,000 hectares is a milestone, surpassing the previous limit of 13,000 hectares, indicating growing confidence in the Toscana IGT brand among producers.

A current global topic is the potential introduction of tariffs by the United States on imported products, including wine. Cecchi stated that they are not acting as if tariffs are already in place but are hopeful for favorable agreements. Meanwhile, the Consorzio has registered the "Toscana IGT" name in the U.S. The Consorzio Vino Toscana, with 390 members and 1,594 producers, plays a crucial role in managing, promoting, and protecting the Toscana wine brand. This includes viticulturists, winemakers, and bottlers who have significantly increased since 2019.

Stefano Campatelli, director of the Consorzio, highlighted the importance of the Tuscany region in the recognition process, completed with a decree in August 2023. This was part of a renewal project started in 2019. The regional government also supported changes to the production guidelines for the Geographical Indication. These changes are now under review by the Ministry of Food Sovereignty and Forests and the European Commission. The proposed modifications aim to strengthen the identity of the wine by removing the adjective "Toscano" and introducing new categories like Sparkling Wine and Quality Sparkling Wine. These changes are expected to enhance the geographical identity and quality of the wine, boosting the growth of Tuscan wine companies. This will allow them to increase production and diversify offerings, focusing more on quality and sustainability.