Law No. 238 of 2016 regulates wine protection consortia and, pursuant to Article 41, recognition is granted to those that are representative of at least thirty - five per cent of winegrowers and fifty - one per cent of the certified production of the vineyards registered, based on production over the previous two years. In addition, the consortium must have a statute that complies with the requirements identified by the Ministry, allow the admission, without discrimination, of individual or associated winegrowers, authorised winemakers and bottlers, ensure balanced representation in corporate bodies and have adequate facilities and resources. According to the list established by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forestry, updated on 17 October 2025, there are one hundred eighty - nine consortia in Italy. Recently, for example, with decrees dated 19 September 2025, the Minister confirmed the appointment of the Consortium for the Protection of Vastedda della Valle del Belice PDO, the Consortium for the Protection of Olio di Roma PGI, and the Consortium for the Protection and Promotion of Lenticchia di Altamura PGI. Some consortia have proposed changes to the production regulations; thus, by decree of 24 September 2025, the Minister approved a change to the production regulations on the controlled designation of origin of “Garda” wines, proposed by the Garda DOC Consortium, and by decree of 26 September 2025, he accepted a change to the typical geographical indication of “Rubicone” wines, at the request of the Romagna Wine Consortium, and, by decree of 23 September 2025, a transformation of the regulations on the controlled designation of origin of “Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi” wines, at the request of the Marche Institute for the Protection of Wines. V. THE ITALIAN EXPERIENCE AND “PDO TOURISM” The Regulation emphasised the importance for producers to form groups with a view not only to greater protection but also to wider dissemination of registered products, including through tourism activities15. For the first time, the importance of this function is highlighted. In Italy, it has been entrusted to consortia. According to the first report on “PDO tourism” in Italy dated 30 June 2025, drawn up by the Qualivita Foundation, “this integrated hospitality 15 See M. Rosati, Dal nuovo Regolamento europeo sulle IG un passo avanti per lo sviluppo del ‘’turismo DOP’’, in Consortium, 2024, 14 ff.. 67 “PDO TOURISM” AND THE ITALIAN SYSTEM
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