From Vine to Bottle: Comparing the Cultural Influences and Production Approaches of Italian and American Winemaking

The wine industry is ever-changing across the globe with a variety of cultural and business approaches from different countries. Specifically, Italy and the United States have varying histories behind their wine production which have led to differences in their farming techniques, production methods, and governmental regulations. Preferences for the quality of wine or maximizing production output have separated the two countries' wine cultures; however, climate change with rising temperatures and increased natural disaster rates will affect both. Climate changes are forcing vineyards to adapt their grape varieties to be more suitable and driving some varieties to different regions. For Italy this will impact the influence that terroir has on wine production and for America this will influence their business decisions on what vines to plant to achieve maximum production. The agricultural sector and wine industry are also facing challenges with supply chain traceability and product safety as counterfeiting has become popular for the fine goods sector. Blockchain technology is a recent development that if implemented can increase product traceability and ensure quality to the final consumer. The research included in this paper was conducted through online, scholarly, and peer-reviewed journals as well as first-hand research performed with a California wine producer.