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High-Altitude, High Value? Consumer Preferences and Willingness to Pay for Mountain Wines

Economia Agro-Alimentare | 2026

Paper Details

Authors: Maesano G.; Baroni A.; Spadoni R.; Sidali K.L.

DOI: 10.3280/ecag2026oa21367

Journal: Economia Agro-Alimentare

Year: 2026

Publisher: FrancoAngeli

Document Type: Article

Open Access: All Open Access; Gold Open Access; Green Open Access

Cited by: 0

Abstract

This study examines consumers’ willingness to pay (WTP) for mountain wines and assesses the potential impact of extending the EU quality term “mountain product” to the wine sector. A discrete choice experiment was conducted with 256 wine consumers from the Veneto region, Italy. Participants were presented with various wine options featuring different attributes, including a mountain designation, organic certification, and price. The multinomial logit model was used to analyse consumer preferences and estimate WTP. Consumers have a positive willingness to pay for mountain wines and for organic wines, with the two labels contributing independently to consumer utility. Price, mountain designation, and organic certification were the most influential factors in the decision-making process. In addition, environmental awareness and the perception of mountain wines had a significant impact on consumer choice. These findings provide actionable insights for policymakers and producers, highlighting the potential of the “mountain product” label as a tool for sustainable rural development. © FrancoAngeli.

Keywords

Choice Experiment; Consumer Preferences; Geographical Labelling; Mountain product; Willingness to Pay (WTP); Wines