Designation and Certification Strategies for Fungus-Resistant Grape Wines: An Exploratory Study in Italy

Abstract

Fungus-resistant grapes (FRGs), or pilzwiderstandfähig (PIWI) in German, are obtained through crossbreeding Vitis vinifera and other Vitis species. FRG adoption is among the most promising strategies to pursue and improve sustainability in the wine industry; however, actual spread and impact on sustainability will largely depend on designation and certification possibilities and procedures for FRG wines, in line with the framework set by the European Union (EU) Regulation 2021/2117. The aim of this study is to discuss the potential impact on consumers’ preferences of four hypothetical designation and certification settings for FRG wines: (I) new names without certification; (II) extended use of the original Vitis vinifera variety names without certification; (III) new names and ad-hoc designations (Protected Designation of Origin, PDO); (IV) extended use of the original Vitis vinifera variety names and existing PDOs. Participants’ reactivity to the alternatives was tested through market simulations on a non-probabilistic sample of 301 Italian university students. According to the results, extension of existing names and PDOs is the best option to enhance industry sustainability, preserve its quality paradigm, and fairly manage competition between traditional and new wines. Still, further investments are needed to promote FRG adoption and development.