Italy’s national committee for protected and geographical indication wines, known as the Comitato Nazionale Vini DOP e IGP, will once again be led by respected oenology professor Michele Zanardo. The academic and wine law specialist has been reappointed president of the influential advisory body, marking a return to a role he held from 2018 to 2021.

Michele Zanardo to lead committee through 2027

Zanardo, a freelance oenologist and lecturer at the University of Padova, will begin his new three-year term as president in 2025. His appointment was made official through a decree signed by Francesco Lollobrigida, Italy’s Minister of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forests. The decision reflects a continued focus on bolstering the Italian wine industry’s reputation for excellence on the global stage.

Zanardo brings over a decade of experience with the committee, having first joined in 2008 and served as vice-president for many years. During his previous presidency from 2018 to 2021, he helped steer the organization through one of its most challenging periods—the Covid-19 pandemic. His leadership is credited with helping the Italian wine sector remain relatively resilient compared to global counterparts.

Commenting on the appointment, Minister Lollobrigida praised Zanardo’s capabilities and the broader efforts to elevate Italian wine. “We are further strengthening the wine sector, working on production specifications, which are essential to guarantee quality and excellence on international markets,” he said. Lollobrigida is a key figure in Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s government and an advocate for Italian agri-food heritage.

A crucial body for DOP and IGP wines

The Comitato Nazionale Vini DOP e IGP plays a vital role in protecting and promoting Italy’s wines that hold either Denominazione d’Origine Protetta (DOP) or Indicazione Geografica Protetta (IGP) status. These designations are central to the country’s wine identity and export success, ensuring products meet rigorous quality and regional authenticity standards.

Under Zanardo’s earlier leadership, the committee helped maintain export momentum even as the global wine market contracted during the pandemic. According to data from the Vinitaly-Nomisma Wine Monitor, Italian wine exports declined by only 4.6% in 2020, a relatively modest drop compared to the global average of 10.5%.

Zanardo’s return signals a renewed push for innovation and identity within Italy’s wine classifications. His background in wine legislation and hands-on oenological work positions him well to address both regulatory and practical challenges facing the sector.

Government and industry unite in new appointments

In addition to Zanardo’s reappointment, several new members have been named to the wine committee. These include key representatives from the Ministry of Agriculture—Pietro Gasparri, Andrea Rossi, and Piero Amorese. Their involvement highlights the government’s commitment to reinforcing institutional support for the wine industry.

The committee will also feature voices from within the wine sector itself. Among them are Gabriele Castelli and Paolo Castelletti, the general secretary of the Unione Italiani Vini, who will represent wine industrialists and producers. This blend of public and private expertise ensures that decisions made by the committee reflect both national interests and industry realities.

Italian wine seen as global ambassador

The Italian government continues to champion wine as a cultural and economic pillar. Minister Lollobrigida emphasized the symbolic and practical importance of the country’s wine heritage, describing it as a key ambassador for Italian agri-food excellence around the world.

“We continue to invest in the extraordinary potential of our wines,” he said, “which stand out for their innovation and identity, recognised and appreciated in Europe, and around the world.”

With a renewed leadership team and clear government backing, the Italian wine committee is positioned to shape the future of Italy’s wine classifications and export strategies. Michele Zanardo’s return marks a continuation of experienced guidance during a time of evolving challenges and opportunities for the industry.