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 The decision to include Barolo and Barbaresco as UNESCO World Heritage sites was taken by the UNESCO Standing Committee, which met a few days ago in Qatar to examine 39 applications from all over the world. After 11 years of preparation, the candidature for Barolo and Barbaresco had been submitted to the World Heritage Center in Paris in January 2013. Now, the Langhe-Roero and Monferrato winegrowing landscape has been admitted to the prestigious World Heritage List.
It was Italy’s sole candidature in the session. With this recognition 50 sites have become UNESCO Heritage sites. Villa d’Este, the classic Renaissance villa with magnificent water gardens that hosts the World Wine Symposium every November has also been in this list since 2001. For complete list visit:
http://en.wikipedia.org
For a better perspective, it may be mentioned that India has 31 Heritage sites.
In the hills of the two areas, which produce Barolo and Barbaresco, two of the world’s most famous wines that are also the most popular Italian ‘Brands’ in India, winegrowing has been the heart and soul of the economy for centuries. The UNESCO recognition is thus a reward not only for a land of vineyards, castles and medieval towers, but also for the labor of men and women down the ages, says the Release.
“It’s a just reward for the winegrowers who have preserved the Barolo and Barbaresco hills, skillfully cultivating their vineyards with respect for tradition and old farming skills,” says Pietro Ratti, President of the Consorzio- the Barolo and Barbaresco Protection Consortium. “For us, the UNESCO recognition is a stimulus to keep on doing our job well with an even greater responsibility to pass on to our children the marvelous land that our fathers handed down to us.”
The new UNESCO site comprises the Barolo DOCG communes of Barolo, Castiglione Falletto, Grinzane Cavour, La Morra, Monforte d’Alba, Novello and Serralunga d’Alba, (out of a total of 11 communes) and the Barbaresco DOCG communes of Barbaresco and Neive (out of a total of 4).
Both these wines have established themselves, not only in India, but across the globe as the super-premium wines of Italy. Whereas 80% of Barolo produced is shipped abroad, 70% of the 4.3 million bottles produced of Barbaresco are exported. There are 700 wineries producing 13 million bottles of Barolos whereas the smaller cousin has 350 wineries making wine from 700 hA (about 1700 acres) of vines. Barolo is generally better known, bigger and more expensive with 2000 hAs of area under vine. Both the appellations are allowed to use Nebbiolo grape variety only with different specifications on grape yield and maturity.
The vineyards of this exceptional small winegrowing area are also the first in Italy to be granted Additional Geographical Mentions, i.e. crus. This concept is different in nomenclature than, say Burgundy where only the top Grand Crus vineyards like Le Tâche or Richebourg are allowed to mention their names on the label. In Barolo and Barbaresco, the name of the historic vineyards may also be mentioned (Menzione Geografica).
To find out more: www.langhevini.it, www.paesaggivitivinicoli.it
For previous related articles, please visit:
New Vintages of Barolo, Barbaresco and Roero Showcased
Nebbiolo Prima: Barolo Outshines other Piemontese Wines
Wine Travels: Barolo and Barbaresco- Burgundy of Piemonte
Alba Wine Festival Ends with Optimistic Note
Tags: UNESCO World Heritage, Langhe-Roero, Monferrato, Piedmont, Barolo, Barbaresco |