How Fungus-Resistant Vines Are Shaping the Future of Italian Wine

A few decades ago, "PIWI wines" sounded like something out of a laboratory experiment. Today they are front-and-center in sustainable viticulture conversations from Alto Adige to Lake Garda—and for good reason. PIWI is an acronym drawn from the German Pilzwiderstandsfähige, meaning "fungus-resistant" vines. These precision-bred crossings can fend off downy and powdery mildew with far fewer chemical treatments than classic Vitis vinifera varieties, offering a timely solution as climate change makes summers ever hotter and more humid in key wine regions. Listen to this episode to understand what's going on in this sector, see some photos and links to explore even further!