SLOW FOOD: THE BRUNELLO VICISSITUDES HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH THE WINE ADULTERATION SCANDAL

In an attempt to clarify the difference in severity between the simultaneous accusations that were recently revealed on a wine adulteration scandal in Italy and that some Brunello winemakers may have used grape varietals other than Sangiovese (which is the only varietal allowed according to denomination regulations), the president of Slow Food Italy, Roberto Burdese, and the editor of Vini d’Italia, Gigi Piumatti, recently made the statement that it was vital to “not confuse the wine adulteration cases with the irregularities in Brunello”.

“The first one” – affirmed Burdese and Piumatti – “is the adulteration of food and puts the health of the consumer at risk: an episode of unprecedented gravity that is a reminder of the tragic wine methanol scandal in 1986”.

“Mixing together the two cases has created great confusion, even at Vinitaly, not to mention among the average consumer. But it is necessary to distinguish that between the two stories, the only common element is the confirmation that, in our country, wine production is subject to severe controls that safeguard both consumers and honest producers”.