In a recent interview with Open, renowned winemaker Riccardo Cotarella discussed the possibility of Italy starting to produce alcohol-free wine, a prospect made concrete by a draft decree from Agriculture Minister Francesco Lollobrigida. Cotarella expressed initial concerns about the removal of alcohol, believing it to be an essential component of wine, and lamented the poor quality of past extraction technologies. However, he acknowledged that the global market, where dealcoholized wine is already established, requires adjustments, especially to bring real wine closer to those who for various reasons do not consume alcohol.

Cotarella points out that Italy, which produces more wine than it consumes, could benefit from producing dealcoholized beverages to address overproduction. He is convinced that, with modern technology, it is possible to achieve a good level of quality. However, he insists that these beverages should not be called "wine" to respect the Italian winemaking tradition. France, for example, has already adopted a more permissive approach.

The winemaker highlights the importance of maintaining the high quality of dealcoholized beverages, using aromatic varieties that mask any defects resulting from the removal of alcohol. He emphasizes that the production of such beverages must not distort the perception and love for traditional wine.

From a health perspective, Cotarella reassures that the dealcoholization process does not involve the addition of harmful elements and that the industry must focus on maintaining the balance and quality of the product.

Asked if Italy is ready for this challenge, Cotarella responds confidently, emphasizing the excellence of Italian winemaking technologies and skills. He concludes by stating that Italian winemakers will be able to produce high-quality alcohol-free wines, competing on a global level.

For more details, you can read the full interview on Open .