Quality, typicality and commercial value: the three pillars of the Oltrepò Pavese revival

The project to relaunch Oltrepò Pavese, one of the most important Italian wine territories, historically as well, is however one of the most difficult, and whose potential is still in development stages, has been sponsored by the Consortium Tutela Vini dell’Oltrepò Pavese, the Lombardy Region and the Ministry of Agriculture which, in the next three years, together with the help of the Chamber of Commerce of Pavia will approve as much as 600.000 euros to invest in promotion. The project has outlined three pillars - quality, typicality and commercial value – and six workstations to enhance the six primary denominations, Oltrepò Pavese Metodo Classico DOCG, Pinot Nero and Riserva Rossa, Riesling, Bonarda, Sangue di Giuda and Buttafuoco, to relaunch the wine territory. The first commitment, though, was starting the process of approving the changes to the Production Regulations that the Consortium Assembly validated in the last 2017-2018 campaign. Another area where change was needed, was simplifying or rationalizing the offer, as well as giving indications concerning how to harvest and also production return. The second point in reference was creating Management Committees, also called Denomination Tables, a valuable work tool in order to be able to discuss and approve the various aspects regarding the entire production chain of a given wine. Another very important point has to be dedicated to the issue of prices, both of grapes and wines, so that the Table can indicate price trends to be pursued in the short term and also in the medium term. Finally, programming events and services provided to producers, at the center of the Consortium’s activities, which is adopting more structured, efficient and productive work and internal organization methods.
The Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Tourism, Gian Marco Centinaio, who attended the presentation of the “Oltrepò Table for Wine”, pointed out how “ the path that has been started today implies a greater collaboration and unity for everyone involved, aimed not only at enhancing our wines but the entire territory, both from a touristic as well as an economic point of view. My goal is to lend a helping hand to my territory by making the structure of the Ministry and also the Wines Committee we have appointed, available. The most important thing to focus on is sharing valuable and winning projects. And, from this point of view, it will be essential to continue teaming up because Oltrepò’s potential must be developed at an optimum level to be ready for the new challenges it will have to seize as CMO Wine, to give companies the opportunities to do business and work in the best way possible. Lastly, we need to focus on the quality of what we produce, rather than just on the quantity because this will lead to a higher level of profitability. For my part, I am committed to maximum collaboration. We need to team up and start being proud of our territory”.

Focus - Oltrepò Pavese numbers
The total vineyard area in the Oltrepò Pavese territory boasts 13.500 hectares and 80% are DOCG, DOC and TGI (10.700 hectares, source: Consorzio Vini Oltrepò, data for 2017). Besides the numbers to be put on the table or rather, on the tables, there are the principle grape vines that have their names and surnames in the roots of this land, and are called: Pinot Noir, 2.800 hectares; Croatina. 3.500 hectares; Barbera, 2.000 hectares; Riesling, 1.400 hectares; Pinot Grigio, 1.400 hectares; Moscato, 1.000 hectares. And, at the end of the day, we are counting 50 million bottles a year.