ASTI DOCG, 25 MILLION BOTTLES LESS IN 4 YEARS AND 40 MILLION EUROS LESS REVENUE IN 2016. THE RELAUNCH INCLUDES 7 MILLION EUROS IN FUNDS FOR "CASA DEL VINO", WINE BAR AND LIBRARY DEDICATED TO BACCHUS

The Asti DOCG numbers are unforgiving. There has been a decline in production of 25 million bottles less in the last four years, due to overproduction in previous years, which is not going to get better in 2016 for wine producers in the provinces of Asti, Alessandria and Cuneo and according to the Association of Producers of Moscato, including a loss of 40 million euros in revenue, 30% of turnover. This production drop has influenced the entire territory, which has been called to find a remedy. A big helping hand has come from European funds that the Piedmont Region will distribute between 2017 and 2019, to finance a building, a wine bar and a library, all dedicated to wine, and that will be built in Asti with an investment of 7 million euros.
It will be a "House of Wine", and will give prestige to the entire production in Asti: Asti DOCG, Dolcetto d'Asti, Grignolino and Freisa, though the consortiums will not be directly involved at least in this stage. The production world is quite enthusiastic, however, starting with the Asti Consortium, about the project that promises to become the reference point for tourists, the city and the territory as well, in one of the most beautiful locations in the city, Palazzo Ottolenghi, which already houses the Museum of the Risorgimento.

The announcement came directly from the mayor of the city, Fabrizio Brignolo, who presented the project "Wine and Culture" to the Town’s Urban Planning, Tourism and Culture committees. “The loan”, said the mayor, “ is titled " Urban Agenda ".
The "House of Wine", which will be built in the Ottolenghi Palace, will show tourists the hallmarks of our most important product; it will be a work place for the top professionals in the industry; a tasting center and a wine shop. It will be the starting point for guided tours of the vineyards, the cellars and the protected areas of the villages and the province of Asti.
The city has decided to immediately, without waiting for the European funds, announce a contest to build the wine shop”, added Brignolo, “on the premises of the former library that have recently been renovated”.