The Guida Vini d’Italia has launched a prize for sustainable viticulture.

The first recipient, in the just-released 2007 edition of Italy’s best-selling wine guide, best known for its ‘Tre Bicchieri’ (three glass) rating system, is Alto Adige producer Peter Pliger, of Kuenhof Peter Pliger.

He farms six hectares in Bressanone, producing 25,000 bottles of Silvaner, Gruner Veltiner, Riesling and dry Gewurztraminer.

‘It’s a great honour to be recognised, especially because we started farming this way for ourselves, rather than in response to the market,’ Pliger told decanter.com.

The Guida Vini d’Italia is a joint venture between Gambero Rosso and Slow Food. It was launched 20 years ago and claims to be the first general interest wine guide to award a prize for sustainable viticulture.

‘Peter Pliger’s wines are made in a way that is good, clean and fair,’ a Slow Food spokesman said, referring to this year’s Slow Food theme. ‘But they also taste very good – and this is still the main factor upon which we judge.’

Written by Maggie Rosen

Maggie Rosen
Maggie Rosen
Decanter Magazine, Wine Writer & Editor

Maggie Rosen is a wine journalist, editor and author, hailing from New York but based in London. Aside from Decanter, she has contributed to the Financial Times, The Drinks Business, Harpers Wine and Spirit Weekly, The Wall Street Journal, The World of Fine Wine and Meininger's Wine Business International. She is also a member of the Circle of Wine Writers.