Producers of Italy’s much loved “frizzante” (fizzy) wine have been hit by a string of thefts of newly-planted vines from the hills of Veneto and Friuli-Venezia-Giulia, the two regions where the popular sparkling wine is produced.
The booming prosecco industry, worth more than €1.7 billion a year, saw production rise to 355 million bottles last year, a considerable leap from the 306 million in 2014.
About 70% is exported, with the highest demand coming from the UK, followed by the US and Germany.
Italians are trying to cash in on the surge in popularity by planting new vineyards, but some have been dismayed to find the vines have disappeared overnight, reportedly stolen to order.
The thieves are believed to be selling the vines to producers who are planting new vineyards, often outside the traditional area of 33,000 hectares approved by the Consortium for the Protection of Prosecco.
Last week, two men were arrested after stealing 1,600 newly-planted vines. Their haul was worth several thousand euros, but they reportedly sold them on for €500.
“They have a window of eight to 10 days. After that, the plants put down strong roots and if you rip them out of the ground, they often die,” a spokeswoman for the prosecco consortium said.
Some vineyard owners have sprayed new vines with coloured dye for easier identification in case of theft. Security cameras are another, but expensive, measure.
One frustrated prosecco producer who lost 800 young vines left a hand-written note to the culprits: “Dear thief, I bought my vines. It would have been much better if you had bought yours too.”
