VISO Viticulture and sustainable development of local resources in the wine industry

The activities of the University of Nova Gorica include education, research, development and technology transfer to the corporate environment. The University of Nova Gorica has 7 faculties, 3 research centers and 5 laboratories . It is a co-founder of the Primorska Technology Park and the founder of the Foundation "Edvard Rusjan", through which it raises funds for the development of the 'University of Nova Gorica. 

The School of Viticulture and Enology was founded in 2006 and offers an innovative program of studies that emphasize the interaction of the themes of viticulture, enology and marketing. The research center and the school are located in Vipava (Vipacco), immersed in one of the main Slovene wine producing areas. The University of Nova Gorica (UNG) conducts field studies on the effects of agricultural practices on the secondary metabolism of the vine. In particular, the Univerisyt has studied the effects of defoliation on quality characteristics of Pinot noir grapes and wines in different areas of the valley Vipava and Terrano grapes in the Carso area.

As part of this project, UNG will conduct field experiments in Slovenia, providing vineyards tests in order to examine the adaptation of new varieties in the wine-growing areas part of the VISO project, resistant to the climatic conditions and to evaluate the response of the traditional varieties to the lower negative environmental impact. 

Established in 1978 as a unique Italian example of a University, founded thanks to the people’s will, the University of Udine, has quickly confirmed itself as one of the most innovative and comprehensive academic institution on national and on international level. In addition to its headquarters in Udine, the University is well established in Friuli thanks to its multifunctional centers, in particular in the provinces of Gorizia and Pordenone. High formation, research in the areas of agricultural and environmental sciences and technology transfer, interaction with the local territory and internationalization, are the working areas of the University of Udine. 

The new Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (DISA) was born from the merger of the homonymous structure with the Department of Biology and Plant Protection (DIPI) and the confluence of some faculty members of the Department of Animal Science. 

The Department through its Viticulture research team has been conducting for several years research and experimentations on the genetic improvement of vine for the creation of new varieties resistant to major fungal disease and also on the influence of environmental factors (water availability of the grapevine) on the production and quality of the grapes.

The firm was established and started its activities in June 2008, bringing together skills of both members: knowledge of the wine sector, knowledge of grapevine phytopathology, usage of GIS software, data base management, expertise in the field of the he agro-wine disclosure and a direct contact with the local operators (farmers, technicians).The firm has carried out assignments on behalf of public and private companies related to the analysis of vigor in the vineyards through NDVI sensors, to the agro-meteorological analysis and use of information from the regional networks for environmental monitoring and studies on the suitability territories for the wine production. 

Over the last three years, the studio has been engaged in the realization of the project called "Planning irrigation and agronomic management of the vineyard assisted by biochemical geophysical and geo-statistical techniques.”. It is a project of research, experimentation and development in agriculture funded by the Italian Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Forestry. The goal of the project is to define some of the detection techniques for details of soil and environmental zoning in the hilly area and the development of instrumentation used in the business management for the calculation of the water balance and nutrient content of vineyard soils. The Lead partner of the project is the Gorizia Center for Research for the Study of the Relationships between plant and soil and the Rome Council for Research and Experimentation in Agriculture. 

Recently, the studio has addressed the issue of sustainable production providing assistance to the local wineries for the reduction of the pesticides in the area and in the production activities - in light of the fact of the entry into force of 128/09 Directive on the sustainable use of pesticides, implemented at national level by Legislative Decree no. Aug. 14, 2012, nr. 152.

The Agriculture and Forest Institute of Nova Gorica is a public institution that addresses to the 22 municipalities that stretch from the Slovenian coast, along the border with Italy, covering the needs of the Soča Valley, until the town of Kobarid. 

The Institute was established for the completion of public services in agriculture, forestry and fish farming, in technical tasks in the cultivation of plants and in gene bank. It performs the tasks on the basis of public authorizations, and at the same time is assigned for the transmission of scientific achievements accomplished in practice in the context of all agricultural sectors, assuring an agriculture activity that protects nature and that is effective on the market, reconciling the presence in the housing with a harmonious rural development. 

In addition to the mission base, through the separate sections the Institute also carries out productive activities and brokerage services as well as the implementation of projects and research funding. 

One of the main activities is also the training and education that is provided to the specialized public and to general community. 

The contents of the VISO project are related to the general activity of the Institute that has at the project disposal the necessary cadres, premises and technical equipment for the execution of most of the activities in which it is involved.

The Consortium for the protection of wine denomination “Colli Orientali del Friuli” and “Ramandolo” was born in 1970, and it was among the first consortia created in Italy. 

The Consortium mainly operates for its members, which are about 200 wineries located in 13 municipalities ranging from Tarcento to San Giovanni al Natisone. From their own vineyards (2,000 acres enrolled in the public register) the members produce more than 80 thousand hectoliters of wine DOC, of which at least 30 per cent is sold abroad. A wine export intended mainly for export to European countries, but that does not exclude countries such as the United States or Japan.

Austria and Germany remain important markets where the Consortium organizes regular presentations and tastings are particularly appreciated by members and by the general public.

The Consortium carries out protection, promotion and technical assistance for the enhancement of the names "Eastern Hills of Friuli" DOC, DOCG Ramandolo and Picolit of the eastern hills of Friuli DOCG.

The promotional part of the Consortium has been further developed in recent years and currently has reached a high level of professionalism and competence.

The Brda Consortium was founded in 2003 with the aim of promoting sustainable development through the promotion of Brda and marketing of its products (wine, fruit, olive oil, honey, meat) and services for small local producers. 

It’s responsible for the promotion of the local gastronomic and wine tourism. The private entity is located within the commune of Dobrovo.

Today, the consortium involves about 50 private wine-growers in the area and is dedicated to training, joint promotion and development of wine tourism. One of the primary objectives of the consortium is the identification of a common identity of Brda that relies on inheritance and on old traditions, regarding both the typicalness of the local products and of the production techniques that respect the enviroment.