MONFERRATO: THE THREE CONSORTIA LEADING THE WINE INDUSTRY SIGN A PACT FOR THE FUTURE

The event is scheduled for Tuesday, March 3, 2026, starting at 4:00 PM , at the Ariston Theater in Acqui Terme. The conference "The Future of Monferrato Begins with Wine – Economy, Society, Landscape" will take place. This event marks the beginning of a process of development and valorization for the area, shared by the Consorzio Tutela Vini d'Acqui, the Consorzio Barbera d'Asti e Vini del Monferrato, and the Consorzio per la Tutela dell'Asti Spumante e del Moscato d'Asti DOCG . The initiative transcends the scope of a single denomination to adopt an integrated and systemic vision, aiming to recognize the winemaking industry as the economic, social, and cultural hub of the region.

The three Consortia, representing the majority of local vineyards, have chosen to jointly address the challenges of the market and the socioeconomic context, building a shared vision to strengthen the role of wine as a growth driver for the entire regional system. Commenting on the significance of this agreement, Paolo Ricagno, President of the Consorzio Tutela Vini d'Acqui , comments: " This initiative stems from the awareness that the economic sustainability of our denominations depends directly on the regions' ability to generate stable and competitive agricultural income. Working together means enhancing production, strengthening local supply chains, and creating new opportunities for wineries and related industries. Only through a shared vision is it possible to attract investment, improve company profitability, and create structural conditions for growth, restoring Monferrato to a central role in the winemaking economy and the development of rural areas ."

The project also stems from the need to protect and promote the Monferrato hills , a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2014, understood as a complex ecosystem where production, culture, social cohesion, and tourist appeal are deeply interconnected. During the meeting on March 3, the guidelines of a three-year plan will be presented. The plan aims to refocus attention on the competitiveness and positioning of the denominations, initiating a structured dialogue with regional and national institutions to define medium-term support policies.

" This conference represents a strategic step within a broader project to revitalize Alto Monferrato ," says Vitaliano Maccario, President of the Barbera d'Asti and Monferrato Wines Consortium. " Born from the collaboration between the Barbera d'Asti and Monferrato Wines Consortium, the Asti DOCG Consortium, and the Acqui Wines Consortium, it aims to be the first step in building an integrated vision of territorial development. Wine is the economic, social, and cultural center of these UNESCO World Heritage hills and must be interpreted as an enabling factor capable of generating value along the entire supply chain. The dialogue between consortia, institutions, and academia allows us to transform this vision into concrete projects. In particular, wine tourism becomes a fundamental lever for connecting product, landscape, and local identity, creating new opportunities for growth, attractiveness, and employment. It is through this alliance between skills and territories that we can build sustainable and lasting development for Alto Monferrato." Monferrato ”.

Beyond purely economic objectives, the recovery plan carefully considers social impacts, focusing on combating depopulation, youth employment, and enhancing the landscape. Wine is seen not as a mere product, but as an enabling factor capable of generating cultural value and appeal for new generations. Regarding this vision, Stefano Ricagno , President of the Asti DOCG Consortium, adds: " The future of Monferrato, whose hills are recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, depends first and foremost on wine. This is why we strongly supported a conference with the Consorzio Tutela Vini d'Acqui and the Consorzio Barbera d'Asti e Vini del Monferrato, where we will present a shared territorial development project, overcoming fragmented approaches tied to individual denominations. Monferrato," Ricagno added , "is an ecosystem in which production, landscape, and identity are closely intertwined. Wine is not just a product, but also an economic and social driver capable of generating value for the entire region ."

The day's program will open with institutional greetings from Regional Councilor Paolo Bongioanni and Mayor of Acqui Terme Danilo Rapetti . This will be followed by presentations by Consortium representatives and important scientific contributions: Bocconi University Rector Francesco Billari will discuss issues related to demographics and generational turnover, while Magda Antonioli will reflect on experiential tourism as a driver of development. The strategic guidelines of the three-year relaunch plan will be presented by Andrea Pirola of WHITEmc, the project's marketing advisor.

Participation is open to the public, the press, and professionals, subject to availability.

Asti DOCG Consortium Press Office: ispropress

Sara Faroni (328.6617921 - ufficiostampa@ispropress.it);