Lorenzo Biscontin
The news was announced last week, but we feel it’s significant to share it today, following the announced agreement between the EU and the US for a 15% general tariff on European goods imported overseas: the Consorzio di Tutela Vini DOC was a partner last Friday in the first edition of Vietnam Best Sommelier in Italian Wines, with a tasting table and a masterclass dedicated to Pinot Grigio delle Venezie DOC, led by sommelier Paul Vo of the Michelin-starred restaurant Nephele.
Why does this initiative seem particularly significant to us at this time? Because by far the most important market for Pinot Grigio delle Venezie DOC is the US. It’s therefore a wonderful sign for the entire Italian wine sector to see the Consortium proactively moving towards developing alternative markets to the American one.
The event was organized in Ho Chi Minh City by the Italian Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam (ICHAM) under the patronage of the Italian Embassy in Hanoi and the Consulate General of Italy in Ho Chi Minh City, in collaboration with the Italian Professional Sommelier Association (ASPI) and the Vietnam Sommelier Association (VSA).
The initiative is part of the A Taste of Italian Wines project, launched by ICHAM in 2022, and included several selection phases, culminating in the final and subsequent gala dinner at The Reverie Saigong hotel, attended by authorities, press, and stakeholders from the wine and restaurant industry.
Stefano Sequino, Director of the DOC Delle Venezie Consortium, comments: “The Vietnamese market represents one of the most dynamic and interesting realities in Southeast Asia, and our goal is to support and showcase our regional and cultural identity, sharing knowledge of the Triveneto wine-growing regions and the values of the Pinot Grigio DOC Delle Venezie in terms of freshness, versatility, and contemporary style. This is a strategic initiative we are pursuing thanks to our collaboration with the Italian Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam, with the aim of creating new networks with a specialized audience of buyers, press, and industry professionals.“
From the perspective of Tran Thanh Quyet, Executive Director of ICHAM: “The Vietnamese market is showing growing interest in fresh, light, and versatile white wines, characteristics that perfectly describe the Pinot Grigio DOC Delle Venezie. Thanks to the modern tastes of local consumers and the expansion of mid- and high-end restaurants, we expect this wine to have an increasingly prominent place on wine lists in Vietnam.”
While industry institutions continue to take steps to reduce the impact of the new tariffs on political decision-making, practitioners will need to take action to reduce the relevance of the US market.
The goal, of course, cannot be to replace it, but to make Italian wine exports less fragile.
