NICE PRODUCERS ASSOCIATION: THE "NICE FORUM ON TOUR" KICKS OFF TO CELEBRATE 10 YEARS OF THE NAME

2024 marks an important milestone for the Nice Producers Association which celebrates the tenth anniversary of the birth of the denomination. To tell and share this important milestone with all operators in the sector, the Association is pleased to announce the "Forum Nizza on Tour" initiative, a series of exclusive seminars focused on the Nizza DOCG , the result of collaboration with the main sommelier associations and of the tasters of Italy. “ This cycle of masterclasses was designed to enhance one of the most fascinating and historic denominations of our wine scene - states Stefano Chiarlo, President of the Nizza Producers Association - aiming to involve professionals and sommeliers. Our desire is that these operators become passionate about the Nizza DOCG and become its ambassadors, competently illustrating our denomination and its varied territory.” The masterclasses, organized in synergy with the associations AIS, ONAV, FIS and Bibenda, will take place from March to November, with a program of 8 events that will touch on various Italian cities. Each meeting will be an opportunity to deepen your knowledge of Nizza DOCG through two perspectives: the exploration of its various nuances, comparing wines from the same vintage but from different terroirs, and the analysis of its evolution over time. The journey through the excellence of Nizza DOCG begins on March 26th with the Bibenda event in Rome, followed by an appointment on April 9th in Milan with the AIS. The calendar continues with the seminar on 19 April in Cremona with ONAV, then moving to Verona on 10 October, to Monza on 24 October with AIS. The tour continues on November 7th in Turin with ONAV and concludes with two meetings, on November 15th and 19th, in Brescia and Turin, both hosted by AIS. These events, in addition to being highly educational, will also be an opportunity to retrace the extraordinary evolution of the Nice DOCG over these ten years. Stefano Chiarlo highlights how in 2012-2013, under the leadership of president Gianluca Morino, the Association began the transformation with the request for a new denomination for Nizza, approved in 2014, marking the vintage as the first Nizza DOCG. In that period, the Riserva versions and the mention of the vineyards of origin were also introduced. Subsequently, under the presidency of Giovanni Bertolino, in 2018 a detailed map of the Nizza territory was created in collaboration with Enogea, defining the production areas and crus, highlighting the continuous commitment of each president towards the enrichment and recognition of the name. The still image that emerges when looking at the current state of the Denomination is dynamic, lively and vital, confirming the strength and appeal that the DOCG Nizza has in the national wine scene. “The growth in associates and the number of bottles produced has been constant" says Stefano Chiarlo. "Between 2022 and November 2023, we saw a 27% increase in sales, going from 796,000 to 970,000 bottles, with a total of 1,050. 000 bottles in 2023. This figure is significant if we consider that in 2016, with the debut of Nizza DOCG and only 35 producers, we sold 315,000 bottles. Annual growth has remained constant over the years between 10% and 15%, culminating in a notable increase in 2023. In the first two months of 2024, we recorded a further increase of 20%, an unprecedented result in the DOC panorama and national DOCG.” With an eye towards the future, the Nizza Producers' Association is now engaged in the ambitious zoning project, with the aim of further enriching the value and recognition of the Nizza DOCG through the introduction of Additional Geographical Mentions. “This is another fundamental step on a journey that will continue to raise the name of Nizza high in the world of wine” concludes Chiarlo.