Publications
Rischi e Opportunità del Cambiamento Climatico per la Viticoltura in Italia
Climate change is significantly altering Italy's viticulture, particularly in the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Le Colline del Prosecco di Conegliano e Valdobbiadene. Rising temperatures and shifting environmental conditions are impacting grapevine phenology, wine sensory profiles, and disease dynamics, posing both risks and opportunities for the sector. The study reviews recent climate projections to assess their implications on wine production quality, quantity, and sustainability. It proposes an integrated approach combining genetic and agronomic adaptation strategies with predictive tools, regulatory updates, and policy support to guide the future of viticulture. This approach aims to balance tradition with innovation while ensuring resilience in the face of environmental shifts.
UNESCO World Heritage designation and tourism spillovers: Evidence from Italian municipalities
UNESCO World Heritage Site designation significantly boosts tourism, not only in host municipalities but also in neighboring areas, according to a study analyzing Italian data. The research employs a Synthetic Difference-in-Differences approach to provide causal evidence that such designations increase tourism flows and generate spatial spillovers. By leveraging fine-grained local data, the study offers robust insights into the economic impacts of cultural heritage recognition, demonstrating its broader regional benefits beyond the designated site itself.
Northeast Italian viticulture affected by heat and vegetation stress. A satellite-based study from 2000 to 2024
A significant increase in nighttime Land Surface Temperature (LST) and worsening vegetation health has been observed in northeast Italian vineyards, particularly in flat and heroic terrains, from 2000 to 2024. This study, using MODIS satellite data and the Vegetation Health Index (VHI), reveals that while daytime LST rises notably in flat vineyards—more exposed to heat stress—steep vineyards face greater nighttime temperature impacts. The VHI has deteriorated across most regions, with a marked increase in vegetation stress between 2020–2024. These findings highlight the growing threat of climate change on viticulture, offering critical data for policy-making and mitigation strategies.
Spreading the gains from geographical indications: A longitudinal study on the extension of the Prosecco GI
A longitudinal study on the extension of the Prosecco Geographical Indication (GI) reveals that tensions between incumbents and newcomers can be effectively managed through political agency, governance mechanisms, and a territorial portfolio strategy. The research finds that while extensions of GIs increase beneficiaries, they also spark conflicts rooted in differing visions of the GI's identity and boundaries. By analyzing the Prosecco extension process, the study provides actionable insights for policymakers and practitioners to navigate such contestations, offering a framework for balancing economic gains with territorial cohesion.
Assessment of ecotone changes over the last six decades in two cultural landscapes: The case of the Prosecco Hills of Conegliano and Valdobbiadene UNESCO site and of the Olive Groves of the Slopes between Assisi and Spoleto GIAHS site
A study reveals that land use changes over the past six decades have differently impacted ecotone characteristics and biodiversity in two Italian cultural landscapes: the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Prosecco Hills of Conegliano and Valdobbiadene, and the FAO GIAHS site, Olive Groves of the Slopes between Assisi and Spoleto. While both sites experienced a decrease in agricultural areas and an increase in forests and shrublands, the Prosecco Hills saw a 6.4% reduction in ecotone total length due to forest recolonization and agricultural mosaic simplification, whereas the Olive Groves site showed a significant increase in first (+53.7%) and second level ecotones (+13.5%). The research highlights that the relationship between land use changes and ecotones is site-specific, emphasizing the importance of preserving traditional cultural landscapes for biodiversity conservation. The study applied a GIS-based methodology to assess these changes effectively.
Discorsi e pratiche della tipicità. Il cibo come ambito di costruzione identitaria, patrimonializzazione e sviluppo locale
Local food products, such as those from the UNESCO World Heritage Site 'Le Colline del Prosecco di Conegliano e Valdobbiadene,' serve as powerful tools for identity construction, heritage preservation, and local development. However, the relationship between the process of defining product typicity and territorial dynamics is complex and multifaceted. This study identifies four key research axes: the role of typicity in heritage preservation and local development; the negotiation process among local and supralocal actors in identifying and codifying a typical product; the risk of over-specialization in production; and the tension between local cultural practices and global market trends. The research highlights the need for further exploration into how these factors interact to shape local food systems, offering directions for future studies on the intersection of products, territory, and development.
A high-resolution physical modelling approach to assess runoff and soil erosion in vineyards under different soil managements
Research demonstrates that single tillage (ST) and nectariferous cover (NF) significantly mitigate soil erosion in vineyards, while continuous tillage (CT) exacerbates it compared to standard farm grass cover (RF). The study employed a physically-based model (SIMWE) combined with low-cost runoff and sediment sampling to assess erosion under four soil management practices. Findings highlight the negative impact of wheel tracks as preferential pathways for surface runoff and sediment, emphasizing the role of soil management in mitigating land degradation in steep-slope viticulture—critical for UNESCO World Heritage Sites like Le Colline del Prosecco di Conegliano e Valdobbiadene. The approach integrates remote sensing with site-specific data, offering a cost-effective, replicable methodology for erosion assessment.
The Role of Trees Outside Forests in the Cultural Landscape of the Colline del Prosecco UNESCO Site
Trees Outside Forests (TOF) play a crucial yet often overlooked role in the cultural landscape of UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including the Colline del Prosecco di Conegliano e Valdobbiadene. A recent study revealed that despite covering only 1.95% of the site's area, TOF—specifically Small Woods and Linear Tree Formations (TOF NON A/U)—comprise 931 distinct patches, serving as vital ecological corridors and hydrological protectors, even on steep slopes exceeding 80% inclination. Spatial analysis confirmed their multifunctional significance, acting as intermediate features between larger forest patches while contributing to the landscape's cultural identity, a key criterion for UNESCO inscription in 2019. The research highlights the need to integrate TOF into local forest planning and national inventories, addressing historical underestimation in scientific and management contexts.
Evaluation of a Fixed Spraying System for Phytosanitary Treatments in Heroic Viticulture in North-Eastern Italy
A novel fixed spraying system (FSS) demonstrates significant potential to revolutionize phytosanitary treatments in heroic viticulture, particularly in steep vineyards where traditional mechanization is impractical. Deployed in two Veneto region vineyards during the 2020 season, the FSS effectively controlled downy mildew, powdery mildew, and pests, achieving infection degrees and yields comparable to conventional airblast sprayers and spray guns. This innovation promises to enhance working conditions, safety, timing, and efficiency of pesticide application in challenging terrains, thereby addressing critical operational and economic constraints in heroic viticulture. The study underscores the FSS as a viable solution for sustainable and effective plant protection in such environments.
How do sparkling wine producers adopt a sub-appellation? Evidence from an exploratory study on heroic Prosecco Superiore Rive
Sparkling wine producers adopting the 'Rive' sub-appellation for Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco (CVPP) significantly boost their market share, driven by younger, smaller wineries with strong wine tourism and targeted promotional strategies. Structural factors like human capital, pressure tank sizes, competitive positioning, and hospitality efforts were key to choosing the Rive designation, while cellar door sales, firm size, and foreign markets (e.g., UK and US) fueled its market growth. This finding underscores the potential of sub-appellations in enhancing the value of heroic viticulture, supporting promotional strategies for UNESCO-listed sites like CVPP, and fostering wine tourism—highlighting a model for sustainable economic development in heritage contexts.
UNESCO vineyard cultural landscape and climate change’s resilient adaptation
Climate change poses significant threats to UNESCO-recognized vineyard cultural landscapes, particularly those in the Mediterranean region. A study on the Prosecco Hills of Conegliano and Valdobbiadene reveals that while these landscapes have historically demonstrated resilience through adaptive practices, current climate shifts challenge traditional conservation strategies. The research identifies urgent needs for adaptive measures, including a person-centered cultural mapping methodology to guide future conservation efforts. This approach aims to inform UNESCO's policies on heritage management, emphasizing the importance of integrating climate adaptation into long-term preservation plans.
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