Economic Sustainability of Quality Wine Districts in the South of Italy. The Case Of Vulture

The paper presents an analysis of economic performance and long-term sustainability of the quality wine production in the Vulture District, in the South of Italy. This case is considered as it is representative of many Italian quality wine districts that produce a very large variety of high quality wines, and present, in almost all cases, a fragmented structure in small and micro farms. The analysis aims to two objectives. First is the assessing of current financial profitability of micro grape wine farms. Second is the analysing of the feasibility and impact of process innovations and structural adjustments. According to the results of the analysis, a large majority of grape wine farms are currently producing with negative returns on the investment. Financial and economic sustainability could be improved at least for a share of them with the available process innovations, combined with consolidation of the farm structures to reduce land fragmentation. The results are relevant for the design of public policies and private investment strategies.