The activities promoted by the Sicilia DOC Wines Consortium devoted to the protection and conservation of the biodiversity generated by the over 3,000 years of history of Sicilian viticulture continue. Indeed, it is taking a substantial step forward: the project “Enhancement of Viticultural Germplasm” – promoted and supported by the Sicilia Doc Wines Consortium in partnership with the Regional Department of Agriculture of the Region of Sicily, the University of Palermo and the “F. Paulsen” Regional centre for the conservation of viticultural and agricultural biodiversity, has been organised in an increasingly effective way, beginning the process of dialogue between nurserymen and companies for the production of certified clonal material (nurserymen) to establish new vineyards (wine companies). To plant new vineyards of native vines, Sicily will use almost entirely grafted and certified shoots.
Foto: Consorzio Doc Sicilia
“We are talking about – explains Antonio Rallo, President of the Sicilia Doc Wines Consortium – certified “healthy” plants, i.e. vines whose varietal identity and health integrity are certain as native Sicilian varieties. The intent is to protect and reveal the Sicilian ampelographic richness, combining tradition and high quality in a constantly changing scenario.”
The project, therefore, aims at saving biodiversity and native varieties and intervening upstream of the wine supply chain, providing nurserymen with primary material from which to obtain a certified product to supply to companies. Thanks to the project, the phytopathological verification of the existing initial plant fields is underway, and new fields with virus-free plants are replenished, from which the propagating material for the production of grafted and certified shoots can be obtained.
DOC SICILY CONSORTIUM
The DOC Sicily Consortium (https://siciliadoc.wine/en/) came to life in 2012 with the aim of representing the wine of the Sicilian territory and promoting the Sicilia DOC denomination, with activities aimed at increasing the visibility of a symbolic brand of Made in Italy and protecting and supervising in defense of consumers and producers. Almost 8,000 winemakers and around 500 bottlers are promoters of the Controlled Designation of Origin, a valuable recognition to represent them, but also to enhance and safeguard the island’s wine production. The Sicilia DOC system produces sustainable excellences: many of the over 24 thousand hectares of vineyards in the Denomination are cultivated in compliance with the sustainable viticulture regulations of the SOStain Sicilia Foundation.