There is a name that, perhaps more than any other, embodies the contemporary trajectory of Sicilian wine in the world today. With the election of Alessio Planeta as president of the Consorzio di Tutela Vini Doc Sicilia, the island’s wine sector entrusts its leadership to a figure who brings together agricultural vision, territorial culture, and international recognition. The appointment, approved on Friday, April 10th by the Board of Directors in its first meeting after the Shareholders’ Assembly, marks a strategic shift at a moment of profound transformation for the wine industry.
Continuity and renewal in the governance of Doc Sicilia
The election of Alessio Planeta comes just days after the Assembly and fits into a framework of conscious continuity, following the mandate of Antonio Rallo, CEO of Donnafugata, who steps down after contributing decisively to the development and consolidation of the Consortium.
The new Board of Directors confirms for the next three years a broad and diverse representation of Sicily’s production fabric—from cooperatives to vertically integrated wineries—reaffirming the intention to continue along a governance path focused on enhancing the island’s wine heritage, strengthening protection and promotion activities, and pursuing strategic development in both national and international markets.
The open letter from the new president Alessio Planeta: “Responsibility, challenges, and vision”
In his first statement as president, Alessio Planeta chose an open letter to express the deeper meaning of the role, with a tone that blends gratitude, clarity, and forward‑looking perspective:
“On one hand, I want to express the joy for such a prestigious appointment, which represents a great honour for me, for my family, for our company, and for all our employees. On the other, I want to express my gratitude to my friend Antonio Rallo and to all the Boards of Directors that preceded this presidency, for the extraordinary work carried out: first the creation of the Consortium, then the development of an efficient structure made of people and professionals capable of supporting Sicilian wine since 2012.”
Planeta does not shy away from the complexity of the current moment; instead, he places it at the centre of his mandate:
“I feel a strong sense of responsibility, tied to the complexity of the moment we are experiencing: we are facing major challenges, in an increasingly complex market and in a difficult economic climate, where the wine sector is under pressure and attack from several fronts—shifts in consumption patterns, growing (and sometimes distorted) attention to health issues, unstable international dynamics, and increasingly global competition.”
Sicilia Doc as an orchestra of identities
Alongside the difficulties, the new president clearly identifies the structural opportunities of the denomination: the largest organic vineyard area in Italy, an immense ampelographic heritage, and the growing role of tourism as a driver for wine.
“At the same time, we have extraordinary opportunities ahead of us, stemming from the most sustainable vineyard in Italy, from a vast heritage of varieties—capable of meeting the needs of contemporary consumers—and from the growing success of tourism in Sicily, which represents a fundamental engine for the growth of the wine sector.”
The metaphor chosen by Planeta to describe the role of Doc Sicilia is powerful and inclusive:
“Sicilia Doc encompasses all the souls of Sicilian wine—from cooperatives to vertically integrated wineries—and we will work to give the right voice to this choir, so that it can express itself as a true orchestra.”
An image that captures the ambition of a denomination called to coordinate diverse production identities under a single, strong, and recognizable banner.
Who is Alessio Planeta
Born in 1966 and a graduate in Agricultural Sciences, Alessio Planeta is one of the most influential figures in Italian wine. CEO of Planeta since 1991, he served as president of Assovini Sicilia from 2017 to 2020 and is a member of the Board of Directors of the Doc Sicilia Consortium.
His career is marked by international accolades: in 2023 he was named Winemaker of the Year at Wine Enthusiast’s Wine Star Awards, bringing Italy back to the top of the award after sixteen years; in 2024 Planeta was named Wine Family of the Year at the Meininger Awards Excellence in Wine & Spirit, while the brand entered the ranking of The World’s Most Admired Wine Brands, reaching the 30th position worldwide.
Alessio Planeta takes the helm of the Consortium at a crucial moment, with the stated goal of consolidating Doc Sicilia’s role as the qualitative and identity benchmark for the island’s wine.
“We protect the name Sicilia, which is highly evocative: we should be able to bring into the glass the same reputation that Sicily has in tourism, culture, and food.”
In this sentence lies the essence of the new direction: making Doc Sicilia not just a denomination, but a coherent narrative capable of translating into wine the symbolic strength of a territory that today is more than ever under the world’s spotlight.
