The chairman of the the Brunello Consorzio has resigned after one year in the post – claiming that ‘his work is done’.
Francesco Marone Cinzano, who is also owner of Brunello producer Col d’Orcia, told decanter.com tonight that he was resigning as chairman and as a board member because, ‘my mission is accomplished.’
The catalyst was the ‘historic’ ministerial decree, passed today by the Minister of Agriculture Luca Zaia, which would certify and guarantee the authenticity of Brunello.
Under the terms of the Brunello decree at least three professors of oenology will spend six months reviewing and revising production methods, with a view to introducing ‘innovative controls to ensure compliance with the laws of production of Brunello,’ according to Cinzano.
‘This is a historic date for Italian wine production,’ he said, adding that it was the first time such controls had been introduced.
Cinzano said that any differences between the government department and the Consorzio had been ‘resolved’, and that he and the minister now saw eye to eye.
He also denied that he had been forced out by the assembly, after serving only one year of a three-year term as chairman. ‘I came to the job with two objectives: to keep the Consorzio together, and to start a new era of transparency. I have done both these things.’
He also said that the assembly had felt they ‘needed new blood’, and admitted that the year he had served ‘had seemed like a full three years.’
For an in-depth round-up of the latest movements in Brunello, see the August issue of Decanter magazine, on sale 2 July
Written by Adam Lechmere