Italians get tough – in theory anyway

The recently founded Italian equivalent of the French Vignerons Indépendants association, the Federazione Vignaioli Indipendenti, has sent a round robin to its members with an overview of sanctions for not adhering to the new EU regulations. The federation points out that the model for the sanctions the Italian government has chosen is not only the most complicated in Europe but, in an effort to clamp down on fraud committed by bottlers and wine traders 'without scruple or dedication to terroir', it could potentially also penalise honest producers.

Although it hastily adds that not all bottlers and wine traders are dishonest...