Italian grape sector fights to stop decline

Italy’s grape sector is desperately trying to stop the alarming decline in production. Since 2008, the country’s production area has shrunk by 66%, from 70,870ha to 46,850ha. To reverse this trend, the sector is working to improve quality, innovation and promotion. Despite the decline, Italy is still Europe’s leading producer (over 1 million tons), with Puglia and Sicily leading the way. One area in which Italy needs to change is in its varieties, which for now are mainly with seeds, whereas the trend is now very much for seedless.