(Wine-Searcher) - Proposed laws could stop new vineyards in Italian wine's spiritual home.

Tuscan winemakers are bracing for a vote that could effectively halt the construction of any new buildings and stop them from planting vines – even in currently authorized vineyard sites.

The proposed legislation before the Tuscan Regional Council on Tuesday is known as the PIT: Piano di indirizzo territoriale or "plan for territorial oversight". When it was first made public in August 2014, it was met with widespread protest and public outcry by Tuscan grapegrowers and winemakers.

The document's chief author, Tuscany's superintendent for environmental protection Anna Marson, has claimed that viticulture is one of the primary threats to the environment and natural beauty of Tuscany today.

"Extended areas planted to vines represent a great threat to the naturalistic value of the agricultural landscape," the document stated.

"The modifications brought about by viticultural specialization have greatly altered the character of the traditional landscape. The result is banalization and homogenization." it claimed

Vines create "a risk of hillside erosion… [and] in some cases, there is continued risk that the water table will be polluted".

In the authors' view, Tuscan viticulture has become a "dominant monoculture" that reduces "ecological permeability".

"Entire passages need to be deleted," said Brunello DOCG growers' association president Fabrizio Bindocci at the time. "Someone needs to take a black marker and cross out lines on page after page. We're not going to let our guard down, nor will we neglect to protect our businesses and our work."

Although the document has been substantially revised and toned down since it was first circulated, it remains unclear whether the recommendations regarding the so-called criticità or "critical issues" will be binding or not.

According to Brunello grower and bottler Stefano Cinelli Colombini, who published an article denouncing the plan on Friday on the popular Italian wine blog Intravino, developments such as the building of new "winemaking facilities, the proliferation of farmhouse restaurants/bed and breakfasts", and even the construction of "sporting venues" could be blocked because of the document's vague language.

"It wouldn't hurt an estate like mine," he told Wine Searcher, "because I already have a number of currently standing structures, although I wouldn't be able to change the use of any of the buildings on my farm. If you have a farmhouse, you won't be able to turn it into a wine cellar, for example."

Certain areas in the Brunello di Montalcino appellation – like the southwest – would not be allowed to replant diseased or damaged vineyards, he also noted,.

If approved by Tuscany's regional council, said Cinelli Colombini, "it would be a disaster. I'm all for protecting the environment. But this is anti-competitive."