Consorzio Etna DOC: the first semester bottled grows

There were 3,512,400 bottles produced under the Etna DOC brand in the first half of 2023, equal to a bottled volume of 26,343 hectoliters , with an increase of 6.2% compared to the same reference period of 2022, when production stood at 3,293 .388 bottles, equivalent to 24,796 hectoliters.

These are the numbers from the Observatory of the Consorzio Tutela Vini Etna DOC, relating to the first part of the year, which highlight the positive stability of production, demonstrating the ever-present interest in the wines of this denomination on the part of consumers. “ The data confirm the excellent reception that the market continues to reserve for the wines of our denomination ” comments Francesco Cambria , president of the Consorzio Tutela Vini Etna DOC. “ The first half of last year was very positive and the further growth of bottled products in the first six months of this year, despite the overall economic situation, both in our country and internationally, is always delicate, gives us great confidence and certifies the maturity reached by our denomination ”.

Going into the details of the individual types, the excellent performance of white wines is confirmed again this year, starting with Etna Bianco DOC (19%) and Etna Bianco Superiore DOC (120%), a type reserved exclusively for wines produced with grapes grown in the province of the Municipality of Milo, on the eastern slope of the volcano. “ Carricante is an autochthonous grape that gives rise to wines of undoubted character and energy, rich in freshness and sapidity, very representative of our viticulture and increasingly loved and sought after ” underlines the president. However, the most bottled type of denomination remains Etna Rosso DOC , with just over 1.3 million bottles, while the growth of bottled Etna Rosso Riserva DOC is highlighted. There continues to be great excitement also on the Spumante front, which in this first half of the year shows a 60% growth in the white version. “The entry into production of new vineyards, planted before the suspension of the new Etna Doc registrations, certainly allows for a constant growth of the bottled product, but above all it is the market that rewards our production and influences the growth of this data” .

Downy mildew: great attention, but situation under control

As far as the phytosanitary state of the grapes is concerned, even on the slopes of Etna, as in all of Italy, this year there is maximum attention on the spread of downy mildew. “ The meteorological trend on all four slopes was fairly regular up to the month of June when, as in all of Italy, we recorded abundant rains - explains Maurizio Lunetta, director of the Consortium - which led to difficult management for the control of downy mildew, a disease not very frequent in our latitudes. The downy mildew fortunately spread patchily and did not affect the whole area of the doc. In general, it is very probable that there are no serious risks, but the alert is high and monitoring is continuous”