BOLGHERI CONSORTIUM WRITES TO MINISTER GILBERTO PICHETTO FRATIN

Concerns about the impact of the offshore wind project and its connection works on the landscape and excellent viticulture. A careful assessment is required to safeguard the Viale dei Cipressi and the continuity of the Bolgheri DOC.

The Consortium for the Protection of Bolgheri DOC and Bolgheri Sassicaia DOC Wines has sent a letter to the Minister of the Environment and Energy Security, Gilberto Pichetto Fratin, to draw attention to the need to protect the agricultural and landscape areas of the Livorno coast in the context of the authorization procedures for new energy infrastructure.

The institutional communication focuses on the project for a floating offshore wind farm in the Ligurian Sea , with particular reference to the connection to the national electricity grid that would affect the Tuscan coastline and inland areas. The Consortium highlights how, from the project analyses, potential critical issues arise related to the passage of the power line through areas of exceptional landscape and agricultural value.

Among the main concerns expressed is the potential interference with Bolgheri's famous Viale dei Cipressi, an identifying feature of extraordinary historical and cultural value, as well as an internationally recognized symbol. At the same time, the risk of impacts on the Bolgheri DOC territory is highlighted, an agricultural system par excellence whose quality is closely linked to the balance between soil, climate, and landscape.

" The Consortium fully supports the objectives of the energy transition, but believes it is essential that each intervention be carefully evaluated with respect to the specific characteristics of the territories involved," stated President Cinzia Merli . "The landscape, the integrity of the agricultural soils, and the productive identity of the Bolgheri DOC represent a non-replicable heritage that must be protected through design choices capable of minimizing impacts and safeguarding the most sensitive areas ."

The Consortium also reiterates the need to consider not only the direct effects of the works, but also their cumulative impact on ecosystems, landscape, and agricultural activities, with particular attention to the identity and continuity of the vineyards, within the ongoing authorization procedures.

Finally, the full availability to collaborate with the relevant institutions is confirmed, participating in any technical discussions or discussions, with the aim of identifying shared solutions capable of combining energy development and the protection of a unique territorial heritage.