The Consorzio Doc Delle Venezie is bringing one of the most decisive challenges for the future of the wine sector to the center of the European debate: the production of natural low‑alcohol wines. The topic emerged strongly during the conference “Wine Is Changing: Challenges and Opportunities. The Wine Package and Its First Applications,” organized by Ugivi (the Union of Vine and Wine Jurists) and hosted on 13 June at the Cantina di Quistello.
Here, consortium president Luca Rigotti and director Stefano Sequino emphasized the urgency of distinguishing wines obtained through targeted agronomic practices from those dealcoholized in the cellar, stressing how this direction represents a strategic opportunity for Pinot Grigio from the Triveneto. The issue intersects with climate change, evolving consumption patterns and the growth of the NoLo segment, which continues to record significant increases in international markets—starting with the United States.
A European discussion looking toward the future of wine
The conference dedicated to Regulation (EU) 2026/471 brought together institutions, legal experts and industry representatives to analyze the first applications of the so‑called “wine package.” The final round table, moderated by Giulio Somma, highlighted the profound transformations the sector is facing. In this context, the Consorzio Doc Delle Venezie reiterated the need for concrete responses capable of combining quality, sustainability and competitiveness. Natural low‑alcohol wines thus emerge as one of the most promising levers for addressing both new market demands and the effects of global warming on grape ripening.
Evolving markets and more attentive consumers
The growth of the No and Low Alcohol segment is no longer a marginal trend. Recent analyses show increasing interest in wines that combine balance, moderation and territorial identity. In the United States, the leading market for Doc Delle Venezie, the low‑alcohol category is estimated to grow between 15% and 18% from 2024 to 2028, reaching a projected value of up to 5 billion dollars. This dynamic opens new opportunities for producers and makes it even more urgent to develop agronomic tools capable of naturally reducing alcohol levels without compromising quality.
Research, identity and the need for regulatory clarity
The Consorzio Doc Delle Venezie has already launched a research program dedicated to naturally low‑alcohol Pinot Grigio, with the goal of providing producers with technical solutions that preserve typicity and varietal identity. This path begins in the vineyard, through targeted agronomic practices, rather than through dealcoholization processes in the cellar. For this reason, the discussion highlighted the need for clear regulatory recognition distinguishing this category from dealcoholized and partially dealcoholized wines.
The long‑term vision of the Consorzio Doc Delle Venezie
With the start of a new year of experimentation, the Consortium confirms its intention to lead a transformation that concerns not only the Triveneto but the entire European wine landscape. Natural low‑alcohol wines thus become a concrete response to climate challenges, a positioning opportunity and a key element in building a future where quality, sustainability and identity can coexist.
