Stefano Chiarlo: «Nizza: Excellence in the Vineyard and in the Territory»
A solid group with shared goals that each member stands up for. Stefano Chiarlo, the new president of the Associazione Produttori, tells us how Nizza came to be: the search for an identity and the discovery of a territory.
The Associazione Produttori del Nizza was founded on November 19, 2002, when Nizza was still a sub-zone of Barbera d’Asti. The association has more than 70 members who actively work to promote the new «Nizza» denomination, officially established in 2014. At present, there are more than 800,000 bottles of Nizza produced, registering a growth of 30% in the last five years. This establishes Nizza as a top quality wine from Monferrato.
Stefano Chiarlo has been the president of the Associazione Produttori since August 2021. We asked him about the secret of Nizza’s success, how it became the representative of this area and its impact on the territory.
What role did the Associazione play in officializing the denomination?
Without the Associazione Produttori, there would probably be no Nizza denomination. Thanks to the members’ effort and commitment, we have drawn up the disciplinary and complete the complex bureaucratic process to establish Nizza Docg on July 1, 2014. It was certainly an extraordinary feat, considering that the initial group consisted of ten “dreamers”, including Michele Chiarlo. Today, we have 70 members who produce a total of 800,000 bottles: a number that has increased in the last five years. Nizza united the whole territory: among other things, it enabled a “renaissance” of wine tourism in the area, even attracting foreign investments.
What facilitated the cooperation among the members?
Nizza is a project that aims to pursue excellence in the vineyards and in the territory. For example, Nizza producers organized blind tastings of their wines every year to compare the different labels among them and gather information. Initiatives like these have greatly contributed to the growth of each wine in terms of quality, but they also set a unique and specific example. Tasting, discussing, and sharing of knowledge: the Associazione Produttori has traced a path that leads to greater awareness of Nizza and its potential. And there is another thing that made the difference.
And what is that?
All Nizza producers keep close track of the entire supply chain, including winemaking cooperatives. And this is not the case everywhere. They cultivate the vineyards, produce and bottle wine. Then, they travel around the world to promote Nizza. Since there was no market for bulk wine and grapes, everyone has wholly embraced Nizza and stood up for it.
What are your most important achievements so far?
Obtaining the official denomination is certainly the most important one, but we have not stopped at that. We continued to work together to promote the denomination by organizing gatherings, tastings and events dedicated to the domestic market and international market. Another important accomplishment are the maps commissioned to Alessandro Masnaghetti in 2018. It was Nizza’s first attempt to carry out zoning and has allowed to put together common and oral knowledge handed down by our elders.
Does this affect communication about Nizza?
Definitely: more and more producers are including the areas of origin on the label. They indicate different territories, soil and microclimate, and help locate the vineyards and towns of origin. This is an excellent example of how giving a name to things truly helps in understanding them, all while preserving tradition.
Any upcoming projects?
This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Associazione Produttori, and we are organizing events in Italy and abroad to celebrate this important milestone. We are planning to reinforce our presence at an international level, increasing promotion in key markets for Nizza such as Switzerland and Northern Europe, where Nizza is becoming more popular. Ultimately, we would also like for the result of Nizza zoning operations to be recognized as Menzioni Geografiche Aggiuntive or MGAs. This goal may require a long and complex process, but we do not see it as impossible.