Wood chips banned in Italy

Italy has banned the use of wood chips in it's wine production.

Apparently, some Italian wine makers have used wood chips in past wine productions to simulate the flavor of wine that would have been stored in authentic oak barrels.

Italian wine makers as well as lawmakers have come to the agreement that this practice could and might therefore, hurt the quality of their wine.

Ironically, the European Union had actually relaxed the wood chip usage rules however, Italy's Agriculture Minister signed a decree which said that the chips may NOT be used in any top quality wines.

Luckily, other Italian winemakers have agreed with the rule and declared that this was the key to furthering and insuring the quality of Italian wines.

Italy bans use of wood chips to simulate oak-cask flavor in quality wines
ReutersPublished: Friday, November 03, 2006
http://www.canada.com/nationalpost/financialpost/story.html?id=65c797c8-adae-4f7d-a6a1-f746ecaceb5e