Italian Wine Research Articles

Factors affecting consumer preferences for “natural wine”

PurposeThe aim of this study is to understand which wine quality characteristics, consumers' attitudes and socio-demographic characteristics affect the consumers' willingness to pay (WTP) a premium price for a bottle of natural wine.Design/methodology/approachThe research is experimental and investigated the purchasing intentions of 613 Italian wine consumers within a hypothetical setting. In order to elicit WTP for natural wine, a multiple price list (MPL) in a comparison with one bottle of conventional wine, with an average price of €5 was adopted. To understand which quality attributes of wine affect the consumers' WTP for natural wine, a Tobit regression model was implemented.FindingsThe findings reveal that drink frequency and occasion, organic production method, the content of sulfites, income and the attitudes towards healthy eating and the environment are positively associated with a higher WTP for natural wine.Research limitations/implicationsThe main limitation of this study is related to both the convenient sample and the limited geographical area. However, identifying which quality attributes of natural wine are most appreciated by consumers and which attitudes affect this behaviour is fundamental in order to develop successful marketing strategies for product development and the design of advertising and communication campaigns.Originality/valueThis study is one of the first to analyse the consumer behaviour towards natural wines contributing to enrich that part of the economic literature which states that consumers have a positive attitude towards sustainable wines.

Astringency subqualities and sensory perception of Tuscan Sangiovese wines

Aim: The Sangiovese grape cultivar is at the basis of the most well-known Italian wines produced in the Tuscany region. However, little is known about the sensory characteristics of Tuscan Sangiovese wines, and the diversity in astringency subqualities has never been investigated. In this study we evaluated the sensory perception of 16 commercial Sangiovese wines belonging to four categories of denomination (Chianti DOCG, CH; Chianti Classico DOCG, CC; Morellino di Scansano DOCG, MS; Toscana IGT, TS), and again after 20 months of bottle aging.Methods and results: A sensory evaluation was made, consisting of the astringency subqualities, taste, odor, and aroma profiles of wines. In addition, chemical analyses were carried out for the base parameters, polyphenols and some volatile compounds. Astringency subqualities varied depending on the percentage of Sangiovese in wines (from 80 % to 100 %). Blended Sangiovese wines were characterized by positive mouthfeel sensations. According to these, the drivers of liking the wines were associated with soft, mouthcoat, and rich subqualities. The Tuscan Sangiovese denominations were differentiated by volatile active compounds, whereas after about two years of bottle aging the astringency subqualities better achieved this task. Moreover, aging also influenced the evolution of wines: CC and CH wines positively evolved, revealing a complex odor profile; MS lost the fruity character; and TS was less involved in sensory modification.
 Conclusions: For the first time, a detailed evaluation of the astringency subqualities of commercial Sangiovese wines was undertaken. Sangiovese subqualities differed according to the percentage of Sangiovese and denomination. Tuscan denominations were distinguished by peculiar sensory characteristics. In addition, bottle aging significantly influenced the evolution of the sensory perception of Sangiovese wine. In particular, mono-varietal Sangiovese wine needed a long period of aging to soften the astringency characteristics.Significance and impact of the study: Sangiovese wine represents - with its denominations and styles - the best-known and high-quality Italian wine in the world, and its popularity is increasing worldwide. Tuscan Sangiovese wines are often a blend with other red varieties of the region, and these can vary according to the production regulations. This study aimed to improve the knowledge of the sensory characteristics of Sangiovese wines belonging to different denominations and made with different percentages of this grape cultivar. In particular, the astringency subqualities are fundamental to fully appreciating the quality of the red wine during tasting.

Entrepreneurial behaviour: Getting eco-drunk by feeling environmental passion

The antecedents of entrepreneurial behaviours with an orientation toward the natural environment are attracting academic interest. At this point, however, little is known about the relationship between environmental passion, environmental identity and environmental entrepreneurial behaviours. This paper is aimed at understanding how unique emotions that feed environmental passion impact on the development of entrepreneurs’ identities and behaviours. With this goal in mind, a qualitative inductive study of 22 entrepreneurs was conducted using the Italian wine industry as a research setting, and their histories were analysed. The findings suggest that environmental passion does affect entrepreneurial behaviours and that different levels of passion lead to different identities and behaviours. Thus, the results prove that entrepreneurial behaviours with an environmental orientation are passion- and identity-relevant. The interviews revealed that they do not make decisions in a calculating manner, but rather apply criteria related to their passions and identities. The study results show that entrepreneurs that have an intense passion for the natural environment develop an environmental identity, which in turn leads to entrepreneurial behaviours with a stronger environmental orientation. These significant findings open interesting avenues for future research, such as the analysis of the studied relationships under a family business lens. The research also offers practical implications for helping managers develop an alternative perspective to that of traditional economy-oriented entrepreneurs.

“Value portfolio”, value creation and multifunctionality: the case study of an Italian wine agritourism farm

“Value portfolio”, value creation and multifunctionality: the case study of an Italian wine agritourism farm

A Water Footprint Review of Italian Wine: Drivers, Barriers, and Practices for Sustainable Stewardship

Wine constitutes the dominant Italian agricultural product with respect to both production quantity and economic value. Italy is the top wine producer worldwide in terms of volume and the second one below France in terms of national income. As the Italian agricultural production accounts for 85% of the national freshwater appropriation, the country’s agricultural sector strains freshwater resources, especially in the central and southern regions, which constitute important winemaking areas in terms of quantity and quality. To this end, we first perform a review of the existing research efforts on wine water footprint assessment to investigate the water dynamics of wine production in Italy compared to the rest of the world. The results indicate a prevalence of studies on the water footprint of Italian wine, emphasising the need for deeper research on the sector’s water efficiency. Then, we aim at exploring the major drivers, barriers, and good practises for systematic water stewardship in the Italian winemaking industry, considering the product and territorial characteristics. This research is anticipated to contribute towards providing insights for practitioners in the Italian wine sector to develop water-friendly corporate schemes for enhancing the added value of their products.

Geographical identification of Chianti red wine based on ICP-MS element composition

Chianti is a precious red wine and enjoys a high reputation for its high quality in the world wine market. Despite this, the production region is small and product needs efficient tools to protect its brands and prevent adulterations. In this sense, ICP-MS combined with chemometrics has demonstrated its usefulness in food authentication. In this study, Chianti/Chianti Classico, authentic wines from vineyard of Toscana region (Italy), together samples from 18 different geographical regions, were analyzed with the objective of differentiate them from other Italian wines. Partial Least Squares-Discriminant Analysis (PLS-DA) identified variables to discriminate wine geographical origin. Rare Earth Elements (REE), major and trace elements all contributed to the discrimination of Chianti samples. General model was not suited to distinguish PDO red wines from samples, with similar chemical fingerprints, collected in some regions. Specific classification models enhanced the capability of discrimination, emphasizing the discriminant role of some elements.

Investigating space‐time patterns of regional industrial resilience through a micro‐level approach: An application to the Italian wine industry

AbstractThis paper introduces a new methodology to identify space‐time patterns of regional resilience using a micro‐level approach. The novel empirical tool combines geographically weighted regression with panel stochastic frontier analysis with endogenous covariates. The analysis is implemented on a panel of farm holdings operating in the Italian wine industry, focusing on the impact of a major institutional change. The results show the effectiveness of the new procedure in identifying geographical clusters of wine producers who reacted to the shock in similar ways. The responses are found to be homogeneous within specific territories and heterogeneous between regions.

Digital marketing strategies in the Italian wine sector

The diffusion of digital instruments as means to communicate and sell products and services attracted the interest of academics and professionals in recent years. Digital marketing strategies are seen as beneficial in the wine industry, especially for small wineries, given the richness they allow in the communication of products and terroirs, their purported affordability vis-a-vis traditional marketing strategies, and the access they provide to international markets. Consensus on the importance of digital marketing is high, but the reality is sober: many wineries are lagging behind in adopting digital tools. Based on an exploratory study of 113 small and medium sized Italian wineries, the paper identifies organisational factors that influence the use of digital tools in marketing strategies: size, familiarity with various areas of digital marketing, number of employees and longevity of the firm.

Drivers, adoption, and evaluation of sustainability practices in Italian wine SMEs

AbstractBased on a survey with 64 small and medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs) in two Italian wine regions, this study aims to (a) identify key drivers and barriers of the adoption of sustainability and (b) compare the adoption and evaluation (use, financial/labor investments, and satisfaction) of sustainability practices in four management domains (marketing, chain, operational, and innovation). Results show that internal drivers were considered to be more important than external drivers. Economic sustainability‐oriented drivers scored significantly lower than drivers related to other dimensions, such as environmental sustainability and heritage. Key barriers refer to labor and investments costs, as well as concerns about greenwashing. Although there are substantial differences in adoption and evaluation of sustainability practices within and between management domains, this study confirms their widespread adoption in wineries. Among users, satisfaction levels outweigh the perceived investments. Except for innovation management practices, financial investments are considered to be lower than labor investments. Positive correlations between use‐satisfaction (within each management domain) and between investments or satisfaction levels (between management domains) further lend support for producers' adoption of multiple practices. At sustainability dimension level, heritage is negatively correlated with the evaluation indicators, indicating that it may act as a potential barrier to some sustainability practices. Segmentation analysis identified a low (30%) and high sustainability clusters (70%), which differ significantly in terms of sustainability perceptions and drivers, adoption, and evaluation of practices, as well as company characteristics. Future research needs to validate the findings on SMEs, compare our measures with more objective evaluation indicators, future adoption rates, and multidimensional sustainability practices.

Economic assets and financial performance of Italian wine companies

PurposeThis study aims to investigate, by means of a balance sheet analysis, the equilibrium and capital, financial, economic and income dynamics of Italian wine producers, during and after the international economic crisis (2008-2017). Therefore, three research questions arise: What was the evolution of the main financial indicators and margins? Did the companies that survived the crisis increased their profitability? Have these companies changed their financial and economic balance sheets?Design/methodology/approachIt was analyzed the balance sheets of a medium–large companies sample. The study describes the evolution of three income indices (return on equity compared to the average interest rate on government bonds, return on investment compared to the average rate on loans, return on sales), three asset margins (structural margin, net working capital and treasury margin) and four financial ratios (acid ratio, current ratio, leverage and index of financial dependence). The results were graphically represented, also with the use of interpolation curves.FindingsAfter the crisis, the sector shows increasing profitability. However, from the balance sheet analysis and the trend of the financial indices, there is a strong imbalance and excessive levels of stocks. Furthermore, the debt situation is excessive: the predominant presence of third-party financing would require enormous recapitalizations and probably an increase in self-financing, which is possible thanks to the constantly growing profitability.Research limitations/implicationsThe study takes into consideration only the companies that survived the crisis, therefore, presumably the stronger ones. Moreover, more ratios should be considered to have a more complete picture. It is a uniquely quantitative study based exclusively on the balance sheets data that neglect other important economic factors.Practical implicationsPublic policies could use this study for better intervention decisions in support of agricultural and agro-industrial activities. Credit policy above all should consider the results of this research, requesting urgent consideration of possible capitalization warranting the access to regulated financial markets. Besides, internal management may compare company outcomes with average sector outcomes to identify improvement prospects. These kinds of studies are advisable for education and training.Social implicationsThe careful economic and financial analysis of the sector favors the relaunching strategies of the Italian wineries in which many employees work. Supporting companies favors employment, constant incomes for workers’ families along the entire supply chain, from the production of grapes to consumption. A solid sector guarantees development and social and economic well-being.Originality/valueThe study contributes to the literature by providing a quantitative method of analysis of the sector, through the comparative information taken from the balance sheets. Therefore, it expands managerial and accounting knowledge on an important sector for the Italian and world economy.

Sustainability disclosure through virtual community: the case of the wine sector

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to observe how the motivational engagement system of the consumers should be established so that communities of practice became a driver to reducing the informative asymmetries of sustainability.Design/methodology/approachThe paper proposes a conceptual framework called connection, discussion and influence (CDI), along which the motivational dimensions to disclose sustainability can be formed. The framework has been tested on 200 firms in the Italian wine industry. A correlation analysis proved to be suitable for identifying groups of representative variables representing the engagement motivations that characterize participation in sustainability-oriented virtual communities.FindingsThe findings of this paper suggest that the pro-social behavior represented by the exchange of knowledge oriented toward sustainability is enhanced by the engagement of online community members. This happens when the online community is structured so as to activate a virtuous circle between CDI.Research limitations/implicationsThe main limitation of this study is the interviewees do not actually participate in a virtual community, but have only been asked if they would be potentially interested in participating in one, and about the importance they give to specific motivations.Practical implicationsThe paper provides important reflections for companies operating in the wine industry that have been called to intervene in the disclosure of sustainability.Originality/valueThe virtuous circle described here is the main contribution of the paper, as it can serve as a driver for managers of virtual communities that choose to disclose their idea of sustainability to reduce informative asymmetries and to engage consumers.

Opportunities and challenges in the contribution of wine routes to wine tourism in Italy – A stakeholders' perspective of development

Wine tourism in Italy, the largest wine producing country in the world, has achieved outstanding performance over recent years. However, various institutional, managerial, and professional delays in the field impede Italy from developing its full potential as a wine tourism destination, most likely because of the still unsatisfactory engagement of all possible stakeholders. A recent step forward has been the specific amendment regarding wine tourism provided by the 2018 Budget Law, anticipating regulatory norms for the sector. In this scenario, Italian wine routes, established by Law No. 268/1999 and consolidated by the law on vines and wine (Law No. 238/2016), should play a key role in the governance and management of the local wine tourism industry. However, the state of the industry presents opportunities and (above all) challenges. Our research contributes to exploring this scenario, providing evidence from the field and potential guidelines for development through territorial stakeholders' engagement.

The Internationalization of Business and Their Approach to New Markets: A Focus on US Wine Consumer

The paper develops an exploratory research. It aims to understand the elements considered by a wine company to enter the US market and the characteristics considered to be important for US wine consumers when choosing a wine. For this purpose, the paper conducts two different steps of study: (1) it analyzes the US wine market, through a secondary data set; and (2) it studies a random sample of 4,560 reviews of US wines consumers found on CellarTracker. After a reflection on cultural issues related to the internationalization of companies, the paper presents briefly the theme of cross-cultural management, which is fundamental for the approach to new markets, and then it focuses on the wine industry. The focus will be on the peculiarity of the production of Italian wine companies and their choices of internationalization, particularly in the US market. The analyses show that (1) the US market ranks first in terms of consumption and represents, among other things, the first destination area for Italian sales and (2) the US consumer is strongly focused on the organoleptic properties of the wine.

Sustainability in the wine sector

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to analyse the level of awareness of the topic of sustainability among Italian consumers in the wine sector and their perception – that is, what does it mean to consumers – of this issue.Design/methodology/approachThis paper develops a quali-quantitative study on a random sample of Vivino reviews analysed through content analysis.FindingsAwareness of topic of sustainability among Italian wine consumers is currently low, although it is increasing. It is not among the main factors that influence the choice of wine among Italian consumers, who are still mainly attracted by organoleptic properties and characteristics linked to the terroir concept.Research limitations/implicationsThe research utilises a random sample, and the analysis is limited to the perception of consumers using online word of mouth (WOM).Practical implicationsTo develop a long-term perspective on sustainability in the wine sector, it is necessary to have the courage to make a distinction between sustainability and short-term commercial performance. In addition, a cultural change in wine consumers is necessary and requires a willingness to pay a premium price for sustainable products.Originality/valueResearch on the awareness and perception of Italian wine consumers diffused by online WOM through communities such as Vivino has not yet been carried out.

Consumer preference for wine from hand-harvested grapes

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate preferences for wine made from hand-harvested grapes, and the interactive effect between this attribute and organic certification.Design/methodology/approachData were collected via an online choice experiment involving a sample of 408 Italian wine consumers. A random parameter logit was performed to estimate consumer preferences for wine attributes: harvest type, organic and the interaction between these. The experiment also includes geographical indications and price. Furthermore, a latent class model (LCM) is performed to investigate taste heterogeneity for the included wine attributes.FindingsOn average, consumers prefer the wine produced with hand-harvested grapes. The hypothesis of an interaction between organic and hand-harvested attributes is rejected. Using the LCM, the authors identify three segments with significant taste heterogeneity in terms of the magnitude and the sign of the parameters. Moreover, consumer attitudes towards food naturalness differ according to their belonging to the segments.Originality/valueThe novelty of this article is twofold. First, this study investigates, for the first time, the impact of the hand-harvested method on consumer wine preferences. Second, hand-harvesting and organic have independent values.

Radioactivity and Heavy Metals Concentration in Italian (Calabrian) DOC Wines

Wine is an alcoholic drink, largely used to accompany food, with a key role in the protective effects on cardiovascular diseases. This study was developed to investigate radioisotopes and heavy metal content of twenty red, rose and white Italian wines, belonging to controlled origin denomination (DOC) geographic areas of the Calabria region, south of Italy. High Purity Germanium (HPGe) Gamma Spectrometry was employed to evaluate anthropogenic (137Cs) and natural (40K) radionuclides specific activity. Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) was used to assess any possible heavy metals contamination by a comparison between Cu, Zn, Pb, B, As and Cd concentrations with the limits set by the Italian Legislation. Calculated annual effective doses due to the ingestion of investigated samples are under allowable levels (1 mSv/year), thus excluding the risk of ionizing radiation effects on humans. Regarding to the metals concentration, experimental results show that they are lower than the contamination threshold values, thus excluding their presence as pollutants.

Sales capabilities in the wine industry: an analysis of the current scenario and emerging trends

PurposeAlthough sales activities in the wine industry are becoming increasingly important, there has been little research on the sales capabilities in wine businesses. The purpose of this paper is to address this gap by examining the most important salesperson and sales management capabilities and emerging trends related to the management of sales capabilities in the wine industry.Design/methodology/approachEmpirical analysis based on an explorative research design was conducted in the Italian wine industry. Sales directors from 4 of the 30 largest Italian wine producers were interviewed. Textual data were analysed using template analysis.FindingsAnalysis of the findings revealed the most important capabilities of salespeople and sales managers and identified four emerging trends related to sales capability management in the wine industry – capabilities enrichment, capabilities balance, capabilities specialisation and capabilities acquisition process.Research limitations/implicationsGiven that only large wine producers in the Old World were interviewed, caution should be exercised before extending the findings to small and medium-sized players and to those in the New World.Practical implicationsThe trends identified in this study provide actionable insights for designing strategies to manage sales capabilities in wine businesses.Originality/valueThis was one of the first studies to address the capabilities of salespeople and sales managers and to provide an in-depth examination of sales capability management trends in the wine industry.

Does an organic strategy pay? An explanatory study of the Italian wine industry

Purpose The relationship between businesses, green strategies and financial performance has become the focus of interest for many academics, practitioners and policymakers in recent years, with often controversial results. Surprisingly, very few contributions have been made by the wine sector to this debate. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the financial advantages of Italian winemakers who opt for green strategies and obtain voluntary organic certification. Design/methodology/approach The authors compared the financial performance of 76 organic and 76 non-organic winemaking companies by means of 20 fundamental indicators of growth, profitability and solvency. The data were collected through an analysis of the 2014–2016 official annual reports. The authors used the compound annual growth rate measures, focusing on the median due to its robust characteristics. The authors then used non-parametric tests to examine the differences between the two samples. Findings The growth of organic companies was almost three times that of their rivals between 2014 and 2016. Both the premium price and lower costs lead to an increase in the gross margin. However, the huge investments required for organic production weigh heavily on the financial statements; although having financed these investments with a higher share of equity capital, the organic companies present a higher level of capitalisation. Originality/value Wine is a part of an agricultural industry that is too often based on industrialised food production processes. This study demonstrates the need for greener strategies that can benefit the producers, consumers and the environment. This is the first cross-sectional analysis and peer review to focus on the wine industry.

A new geographical classification for vineyards tested in the South Tyrol wine region, northern Italy, on Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc wines

Abstract A new approach for applied research and decision-making in the sector of viticulture related to the mountain territory and the global warming phenomenon is purposed. A high-resolution topoclimate model 5 m × 5 m was applied to classify the different vineyard characters in South Tyrol, an Italian wine region where a considerable dense concentration of different top quality wines is present. Determining the connections between the territory and microclimate can lead to more accurate assessments of the vineyards natural identities and the characteristics of their wines. The results of our geospatial statistical analysis on all the about 26,000 vineyards are used to generate a geographical classification index termed the Solar Radiation Identity (SRI). This quantitative index can characterize the topoclimatic potential of each local vineyard but also be extended to other wine regions with a global perspective. The SRIv index rate can be related to the biosynthetic activity of the vines as well as to the quality of the vineyard's grapes and wine. A qualitative analysis of zones with different SRIv distinguished manifest differences in the concentration of natural polyphenols anthocyanins and tannins in Pinot Noir wines. In the Sauvignon Blanc wines from some specific vineyards with low SRIv, the varietal characteristics that enhance the thiol molecules are quite evident and singular. The proposed analysis method can support the correct matching between vineyard and grape varietals, as well the process of identifying ideal sites for new vineyards, by recognizing original areas that may increase ecological diversity or can favor the quality production. This topoclimate classification can also provide insights into how to reduce the wine product vulnerability, in terms of its protect designation of authentic geographical origin or to better adapt the vine varieties to climate change.

New records of Penicillium and Aspergillus from withered grapes in Italy, and description of Penicillium fructuariae-cellae sp. nov.

Penicillium and Aspergillus are common pathogenic fungi of grapes, that occur frequently on withered berries used in the Italian passito wine production. Members of these genera isolated from withered grapes were identified using molecular and morphological approaches. The isolates were examined by amplification of internal transcribed spacer region, β-tubulin, calmodulin and RNA polymerase II second largest subunit. Penicillium bilaiae, Aspergillus pallidofulvus and A. puulaauensis are reported for the first time from Vitis vinifera. Two Penicillium isolates showed a distinct phylogenetic position and different morphological characteristics from P. bissettii and P. vasconiae, the two most closely related species. These isolates are assigned to the new species Penicillium fructuariae-cellae, that is here described. An in vitro pathogenicity assay was carried out to evaluate the infectivity to grape berries by Penicillium and Aspergillus isolates recovered in this study. All examined isolates colonized the berries when artificially inoculated, but to a lesser extent than Botrytis cinerea. This suggests that these fungi may contribute, with other pathogenic species, to the onset of post-harvest diseases of grapes.