The Board of Directors of the Consorzio di Tutela Vini DOC Sicilia has appointed Alessio Planeta as its new President, marking a significant step in the Consortium’s growth. The election took place a few days after the Shareholders’ Meeting, during the first meeting of the new Board of Directors, which was reappointed in its entirety. The 12 members of the Board of Directors of the Consorzio di Tutela Vini DOC Sicilia have been confirmed for the three-year term: president-elect Alessio Planeta (CEO of Planeta), outgoing president Antonio Rallo (CEO of Donnafugata), Vincenzo Ampola (president of Cantine Petrosino), Gaspare Baiata (president of Cantine Paolini), Giuseppe Bursi (president of Cantine Settesoli), Salvatore Chiantia (president of Cantina La Vite), Rosario Di Maria (president of Cantine Ermes ), Giuseppe Figlioli (director of Cantine Birgi), Roberto Magnisi (director of Duca di Salaparuta), Filippo Paladino (vice president of Colomba Bianca), Letizia Russo (director of Feudo Arancio) and Alberto Tasca (president of Tasca d’Almerita).
The Board of Directors’ selection confirms the desire to continue with a governance system geared towards enhancing the Sicilian winemaking heritage, strengthening protection and promotion activities, and strategic development on national and international markets. Antonio Rallo has been president since the establishment of the DOC Sicilia in 2012. The handover to Alessio Planeta represents a sign of continuity.
Below is the open letter written by the new president Alessio Planeta :
“On the one hand, I would like to express my joy at this prestigious position, which represents a great honor for me, my family, our company, and all our employees. On the other, I would like to express my gratitude to my friend Antonio Rallo and to all the Boards of Directors who preceded this presidency for the extraordinary work they have done: first the creation of the Consortium, then the development of an efficient structure, made up of people and professionals, capable of accompanying and supporting Sicilian wine since 2012.”
I feel a strong sense of responsibility, tied to the complexity of the times we are living through: we face major challenges, in an increasingly complex market and a challenging economic climate, where the wine sector is under pressure and attacks from various fronts, amidst shifts in consumption patterns, growing attention—sometimes distorted—to health issues, unstable international dynamics, and increasingly global competition. Added to all this are cost pressures, geopolitical uncertainties, and communication that often fails to adequately showcase the culture and value of wine, elements that require clarity, cohesion, and vision.
“At the same time,” the new president continues , “we have extraordinary opportunities before us, stemming from Italy’s most sustainable vineyard, a vast heritage of varietals—capable of meeting the needs of today’s consumers and offering a solid foundation for today’s wines—and the growing success of tourism in Sicily, which represents a key driver for the growth of the winemaking industry.”
“More and more visitors are discovering the region through wine, helping to strengthen its value and global recognition. In this context, the human heritage of Sicilian winemakers—comprised of skills, traditions, and passion—also emerges. This represents the true strength of the sector and makes our production model unique. At the same time, it strengthens the value of the name Sicily, so powerfully evocative, which we must be able to convey in the glass with the same intensity with which it expresses itself in tourism, culture, and food.”
Sicilia DOC encompasses all aspects of Sicilian wine—from cooperatives to vertically integrated companies—and we will work to give this chorus the right voice, so it can express itself as a true orchestra. The challenges are many, but we can count on a solid and experienced team, ready to debut at Vinitaly and tackle the enormous amount of work that awaits us. Our goal is to contribute to the definition of a regional winemaking plan and a long-term project, in which Sicilia DOC can fully play its role within a broader system. See you soon, then, on the markets and in the Sicilian vineyards. Let’s protect the name Sicily,” concludes Alessio Planeta , “which is highly evocative: we should be able to bring back into the glass the reputation that Sicily has in tourism, culture, and food.” Alessio Planeta
Alessio Planeta , born in 1966, holds a degree in Agricultural Sciences. After his studies, he delved into the history of Sicily and its viticulture, making a significant contribution to the development and international positioning of Sicilian wines. CEO of Planeta since 1991, he was president of Assovini Sicilia from 2017 to 2020 and is a member of the Board of Directors of the Consorzio DOC Sicilia. In 2012, he was appointed Associate Academician of the Accademia dei Georgofili. In 2023, he received the prestigious title of “Winemaker of the Year” at Wine Enthusiast’s Wine Star Awards, returning Italy to the top spot for the first time in sixteen years.
In 2024, Alessio Planeta and his company were awarded “Wine Family of the Year” at the Meininger Awards Excellence in Wine & Spirit, while the Planeta brand entered the ranking of “The World’s Most Admired Wine Brands,” reaching 30th place internationally.
Alessio Planeta takes on the role at a strategic moment for the sector, with the aim of consolidating the role of the Sicilia DOC as a benchmark for quality and identity for Sicilian wine.
Consortium for the Protection of DOC Sicilian Wines
The Consortium for the Protection of Sicilian DOC Wines (siciliadoc.wine) was founded in 2012 with the aim of representing Sicilian wine and promoting the Sicilia DOC designation. Its activities focus on increasing the visibility of a brand that is a symbol of Made in Italy quality and on protecting and monitoring consumers and producers. Nearly 8,000 winemakers and approximately 500 bottlers are promoters of the Sicilia Controlled Designation of Origin (DOC), a recognition that not only represents them but also enhances and safeguards the island’s wine production. Sicily is the largest organic wine-producing region in Italy, representing 30% of the national surface area and, with over 42,000 hectares, also holds the record among regions practicing sustainable viticulture, subject to organic or integrated production regulations.
Sources: Consortium Doc Sicilia Press Office (AB Comunicazione)