THE “ITALIAN TALENT” COLLECTIVE BRAND IS BACK TO CLEAR UP THE CASE ON ITALIAN SPARKLING WINES... CLAUDIO RIZZOLI (ROTARI) PRESIDENT OF THE INSTITUTE ITALIAN TALENT, THE BRAND GIVES CLASSIC ITALIAN SPARKLING METHOD A CHANCE TO REACH FOREIGN MARKETS

Arunda Vivaldi, Cantarutti, Bisol, La Versa, Manufacturers Cormòns, Rotari-Castello Banfi Vigne Regali, Italian Wines Group, Letrari, Marchesi de‘Frescobaldi, Santa Margherita, Pittaro Vineyards: these are the companies that have “brought back” the Institute Italian Talent, whose “primary purpose is promoting the brand Talent, established by a ministerial decree that lays down strict conditions for use as a brand to guarantee quality wines. Enacted in 2004, the decree has however so far rarely been applied. It established that the brand name Talento can be put on the label of Italian sparkling wines produced with Chardonnay, Pinot Noir or Pinot Blanc grapes from vineyards members of a DOC or DOCG label, produced with secondary fermentation in the bottle in the traditional method and aged in classic on its lees for at least 15 months. Standards describing therefore a very precise type of wine making Talento an indication - according to a press release - which works alongside and supplements the territorial approach similar to France with various Crémant d’Alsace, Crémant de Bordeaux Crémant de Loire and so on”.

The new course of action that Italian Talent has taken, indicated in a press release, criticizes the news of an alleged “overtaking” by Italian sparkling wines of French Champagne. “This is wrong and misleading information that benefits no one in the world of excellent Italian sparkling wines. Thus, to clear up and put an end to confusion that misleads consumers and damages all the different types of sparkling wines, twelve of the most representative companies in the industry have recently founded the Institute. It has been formally constituted as an Association of Companies and Claudio Rizzoli, CEO of Rotari Wine Cellar, has been elected President. “We propose ‘Talent’ as a collective brand representing the third pillar of Italian sparkling wine, next to Prosecco and Asti. We strongly feel the need to provide greater clarity to the consumer, particularly about the type of product,“ said Rizzoli.

“We feel strongly that there is a need for a brand capable of achieving a critical mass that gives the Italian classic method a chance to compete with foreign markets. A critical mass is now estimated at several tens of millions of bottles.
Currently our typical “Talento” products are penalized because they are divided into a large number of micro-zones that cannot obtain significant space in an International context. That is why today, twelve companies from different regions come together to confirm their confidence in this project and in the capability of Italian sparkling wines classified as “Talento” to achieve, thanks to a common identity and respect for their local heritage, the success they deserve alongside the other two pillars, Asti and Prosecco”.