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Wine press review for Thursday January 29 -2026

with:

Italian wineries and producers, wine news.

Italian wineries

Milan–Cortina 2026: Italian wines at Casa Italia. Twenty-six labels represent the Italian winemaking biodiversity at the Winter Olympics. These include two wines from Romagna (Caviro and Tenuta Masselina) and Cottanera’s Etna DOC Rosso 2023, the only Sicilian wine selected. The selection, curated by LT Wine & Food Advisory for CONI, highlights native appellations and grape varieties, from cooperatives to small-scale producers.

Cantine di Verona: the strength of cooperation. The project born in 2021 from the merger of Valpantena, Custoza, and Colli Morenici has consolidated itself as one of the most structured wineries in the Veneto region. Under the leadership of Luigi Turco, Cantine di Verona demonstrates how cooperative integration can generate financial stability, a broad product range, and strategic continuity.

Settecani Winery: 2026 is the year of Lambrusco Grasparossa. The Modena-based cooperative is focusing on identity, local area, and communication to strengthen the positioning of Grasparossa di Castelvetro, a wine capable of capturing key trends: low alcohol content, gastronomic versatility, and territorial recognition.

Save the Grape: wine “without a tie.” Piero Scalambra’s project proposes a light, itinerant, and contemporary winemaking model. An alternative to the classic winery paradigm, it speaks the language of the new generations without chasing industrial trends.

Tenuta di Castellaro: no alcohol? A fad with no future. Massimo Lentsch recounts the winery’s founding in the Aeolian Islands and takes a stand on the issue of dealcoholized wines, championing an identity-based and territorial vision of wine, now primarily aimed at foreign HORECA markets.

Enrico Crola (Mezzomerico) wins the 2026 Wedding Award. The Novara-based winery and agritourism has been recognized for excellence in the wedding industry, based on direct reviews from couples. This recognition reinforces the role of wineries as places of experience and hospitality.

Terlano Winery: 100/100 Wine Advocate The 1991 Rarity becomes the first Italian dry white wine to earn the highest score from Wine Advocate. This recognition recognizes a winemaking vision rooted in time and longevity.

Italian wine and Italian oenology

Young people, no/low alcohol and zero calories: the narrative is changing. A study by the Burgundy School of Wine & Spirits Business overturns the paradigm: Gen Z and Millennials aren’t so much looking for no/low alcohol wines, but rather zero-calorie alternatives. This finding calls for strategic reflection on product, communication, and R&D.

Agriculture, Agrochemicals, and Misinformation The Agrea conference in Rocca Sveva addresses the relationship between agricultural innovation, the environment, and health, highlighting the regulatory complexity and the risk of ideological simplifications affecting the agricultural world.

Wine that creates jobs and inclusion. The “8pari = Social Wine and Equal Opportunities” project, born in the Langhe region, was awarded in Rome. A concrete example of social agriculture that can be replicated in other production chains.

Goodbye happy hour: the drinking ritual is changing. According to Wine Enthusiast, consumption is no longer the center of socializing. Gen Z drinks less and more selectively: wine becomes an option, not the primary experience.

Let’s Kiss About: Ten Wines for Valentine’s Day A cultural and sensorial tale that combines wine, art, and romantic imagery, offering editorial and storytelling inspiration for product communication.

International

Australian wine exports to decline by 8% in 2025. Value and volumes are declining, penalized by China, the US, and the UK. However, alternative markets such as Canada and Southeast Asia are growing, a sign of potential strategic diversification.

EU-India Agreement: Wine Tariffs from 150% to 30%. The signing of the free trade agreement opens up a new landscape for European exports. The Indian market remains complex, but it is finally becoming accessible for Italian wines and spirits as well.

Gambero Rosso in Nairobi: 45 Italian wineries showcased. The third edition of the Top Italian Wines Roadshow in Kenya, dedicated to importers, media, and hospitality, features a selection of premium Italian labels.

The Alto Adige–Tyrol Case: Wine, Identity, and Communication An ironic post by Tirol Werbung sparks a political and cultural controversy between Austria and Alto Adige, demonstrating how sensitive wine and territorial identity are even outside the market.

Wine events and wine experiences

Wine&Siena 2026 (January 30 – February 2) Four days of tastings, masterclasses, and seminars in the Santa Maria della Scala complex, with selected producers and The WineHunter events.

Slow Wine Fair 2026 (BolognaFiere, February 22–24) Over a thousand wineries from 30 countries, with a strong organic and biodynamic presence. The “Old Vintages” area debuts, featuring the heritage of the Pollenzo Wine Bank.

Wine Bank: events between January and February. The Timorasso corner opens in Pollenzo, featuring tastings, participating producers, and cultural influences from the Karst region.

Vermouth di Torino in Turin: PGI event a success. A large turnout and a qualified audience attended Turin’s only event dedicated to Vermouth di Torino PGI: 540 glasses were served and strong interest from the Horeca and media sectors.

BIT Milan: Moldova presents itself From February 10th to 12th, the Moldovan stand will host tastings, tour operators and wine resorts, strengthening the link between wine, tourism and territorial promotion.

Let’s Drink South: The Coast of the Gods in Rome Seven wineries from Vibo Valentia will be featured at The Westin Excelsior, showcasing Calabrian viticulture, from its identities to its new expressions.

Winery Experiences: From tasting tours in Valpolicella with Cantina Vogadori, to “Saturday in the Cellar” with Roberto Lucarelli in the Marche region, to the TerraViva competition for a contemporary boutique winery in eastern Veneto: wine as an experience, a narrative, and a place.

Thanks for listening. Today’s wine press review was brought to you by WINEIDEA.IT .

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Wine press review for Wednesday January 28 -2026

with:

Italian wineries and producers, wine news.

Italian wineries

Langhe Nebbiolo DOC in bag-in-box: a divisive decision. The Barolo Barbaresco Alba Langhe e Dogliani Consortium has begun the process to allow Langhe Nebbiolo DOC to be packaged in bag-in-box containers of up to 5 liters. This decision, designed for export, is dividing Piedmontese producers between openness to markets and defense of tradition.

Valentino and wine: from Gavi to Brunello, luxury meets the vineyard. The dialogue between fashion and wine is growing stronger: Valentino and other big names in fashion share their attention to detail, vision, and identity with the wine world. This story is part of a broader trend of luxury investments in wine.

Solopaca Winery, a cooperative history in Sannio. Founded in 1966, this Campania cooperative is one of the oldest in the region. Created to respond to the agricultural crisis and rural depopulation, it still represents a model of local winemaking resilience.

Two visions of wine between Trentino and Alto Adige: Gaierhof and Sankt Pauls. Two wineries geographically close but distant in approach: family tradition and human warmth for Gaierhof, technical precision and international ambition for Sankt Pauls. Two complementary souls of Alpine winemaking.

Raspato di Saracena: the macerated white from Cantine Viola. Luigi Viola presents Raspato Calabria IGT, a radical and distinctive wine, suspended between land and sea. A project that unites memory, territory, and vision, after saving the Moscato Passito di Saracena from extinction.

Tedeschi: Enrico Giacomelli Tedeschi joins the company. Generational transition begins at the historic Pedemonte winery. Enrico Giacomelli Tedeschi will oversee the brand’s development in Italy, bringing his legal and strategic expertise to the company.

Valentino Galgani to lead Cantine Vivito. The Tuscan cooperative, with 1,300 members and €16 million in production, has a new president. Continuity and development are at the heart of his mandate, with a focus on the main regional appellations.

Tenuta Iacoangeli: wine as a family legacy in the Castelli Romani. A story spanning several generations, a symbol of the qualitative rebirth of the Roman vineyard and the rediscovery of volcanic soils as a winemaking capital.

Italian wine and Italian oenology

Gambero Rosso’s Top 9 Dolcettos from the Langhe and Monferrato Regions A focus on a grape variety often overshadowed by Nebbiolo and Barbera, but capable of great expressiveness in the Dogliani, Ovada, and Diano d’Alba appellations.

Maìa di Siddùra among Decanter’s 10 best Italian wines of 2025. The only white in the ranking: Vermentino di Gallura enters James Button’s top ten, confirming the qualitative growth of the Sardinian white.

“199 Extraordinary Wines”: Marco Pozzali Talks About Wine Beyond the Ratings. A manifesto-book that restores a narrative and cultural dimension to wine, far removed from the logic of ratings and closer to the human experience.

Fausto Maculan: 50 vintages of vision and experimentation The Breganze producer retraces half a century of winemaking research: from high planting densities to truncated cone-shaped vats, to the influence of Émile Peynaud’s thinking.

Wine, cellars, and vineyards: Italy told through images. Luca Merisio’s photography book Paese del vino, terre divine offers a poetic yet realistic look at the Italian winemaking landscape, its seasons, labor, and widespread beauty.

International

EU-India Agreement: Historic Turning Point for Italian Wine. With the progressive halving of tariffs (from 150% to 30% over seven years), India is opening up as a long-term strategic market. Italian exports are starting from minimal numbers, but the prospects are significant.

Italian Wine in Vietnam: Growth and Opportunities in Southeast Asia Vietnam is consolidating its position as an emerging market: a growing middle class, rising consumption, and export duties are favoring the Italian presence, now second only to France.

Chile: The allure of wine aged at the bottom of the ocean. Bottles aged 20 meters below the surface of Locos Island. An experimental practice that combines winemaking, environment, and storytelling.

Farewell to Jacques Beaufort, pioneer of natural wine in Champagne . A key figure in European biodynamic viticulture has passed away. Beaufort anticipated the “nature” movement by decades, with a radical and coherent vision.

Wine events and training

Milano Cortina 2026: the 26 ambassador wines at Casa Italia, a selection of the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI) to represent Italy’s winemaking biodiversity during the Winter Olympics. From major appellations to small producers.

Terre di Toscana XVIII edition – 22 and 23 March 2026 In Lido di Camaiore over 140 winemakers tell the story of a multifaceted and contemporary Tuscany, from the coastal territories to the heart of Chianti and Montalcino.

Strada del Barolo: training course for winery hospitality. A training project dedicated to wine tourism staff to further enhance their experience in the Langhe, now a mature international destination.

QdC® Fridays: Plant Health Register and Digital Mandatory Webinar on January 30, 2026, on the mandatory digital conversion of the spray register by December 31, 2026. A key step for future agricultural management.

Agricultural Taxation: A Paradigm-Changing Reform The conference “Economic and Fiscal News 2026” revealed a reform that broadens the concept of agriculture, including innovative crops and overcoming the exclusive constraint of land.

Umbria Top: the international trade fair season kicks off. The Umbrian winery cooperative kicks off 2026 with Wine Paris & Vinexpo, focusing on global relations and structured commercial development.

Today’s wine press review is brought to you by WINEIDEA.IT . See you tomorrow.

Wine press review for Tuesday January 27 -2026

with:

Wineries, Italian wine producers, and wine news.

Italian wineries

A Pinot Grigio from Collio at the world’s top for quality-price ratio Schiopetto’s 2024 Pinot Grigio Collio has been awarded by James Suckling as the best white wine in the world for quality-price ratio.

Kren, Doc Collio Friulano 2024 Portrait of the family company from Cormons: territorial identity, ponca, climate and classic interpretation of Friulano.

Cantina Bottenago toasts the white and blue of the partnership between Cantina Bottenago and Union Brescia: sport, territory, and wines that represent the identity of Valtenesi and Garda.

Viarte turns 50: Polegato invests €8 million. The Colli Orientali del Friuli winery is undergoing a new development cycle, with strong production growth and structural renewal.

Erste Neue celebrates Valentine’s Day with the Puntay line. Three South Tyrolean labels dedicated to the lovers’ holiday, a symbol of Alpine style and cooperative tradition.

Dialogue and responsibility: the pact for the relaunch of the Terre d’Oltrepò winery. An institutional meeting to address the crisis and build a shared path to protect workers, winemakers, and the region.

Wine, a Korean family buys Tenuta Cerbaia (Brunello di Montalcino) New foreign investment in a historic Brunello winery: the acquisition market is once again dynamic.

From London to the Brunello vineyards: the Lee family buys Cerbaia. An in-depth look at the transaction and the growing international interest in the Montalcino vineyards.

Italian wine and Italian oenology

Mercosur, Puglia and Lucanian DOP wines without European “shield.” Marzia Varvaglione (CEEV) comments on the EU-Mercosur agreement and calls for expanded protection for denominations.

Special agricultural VAT regime with no minimum duration. Clarifications on the agricultural VAT regime: “natural” nature, freedom of exit, and option for the ordinary regime.

In Friuli, between vine shoots and gangmastering. An investigation into work in the Rauscedo vine shoot farms: world-class excellence and social criticalities.

Wineries and starchitects: the new oases among the vineyards. The phenomenon of iconic wineries designed by great architects, combining design, tourism, and cultural experiences.

Enthusiasm, beauty, resilience: the future of Italian wine . The key words for 2026 according to the leaders of the Consorzio Italia del Vino.

Wine, web searches for Italian products are growing worldwide. Google Trends: 20% global interest in “Italian Wine” in 2025.

2026 trends according to Proposta Vini Distribuzione, small producers, and new Horeca dynamics as told by Gianpaolo and Andrea Girardi.

The history of wine in the “wine monasteries” WineNews docu-film with Attilio Scienza: a journey through abbeys and great places symbolic of Italian viticulture.

Marco Pozzali and the “199 extraordinary wines” Wine described beyond the scores, as a cultural and narrative experience.

International

The EU-India agreement is expected to reduce tariffs on wine and oil. New opportunities for European agricultural exports.

EU-India: With tariffs down to 20%, wine finds a new “El Dorado” India emerges as a strategic market for Italian wine.

“Wine cannot ignore Nigeria” Ambassador Mengoni points to Lagos as a strategic hub for Africa and Italian wine.

A World Tour of Wine at the Supermarket: 3 Value-For-Money Whites. A journey through France, the USA, and New Zealand on the shelves of large-scale retail outlets.

Wine events

Milan Cortina 2026: the wine list of the 26 “Olympic wines” at Casa Italia. The ambassador labels of Italian wine at the Winter Games.

Here are the 26 Made in Italy Ambassador wines at Casa Italia. Official selection by CONI and LT Wine & Food Advisory to represent Italian biodiversity.

Assovini Sicilia at Wine Paris 2026 with 32 companies Collective Sicilian presence at the major international fair in Paris.

Slow Wine Fair 2026: the “What does the right glass tell?” conferences: Vineyard work, sustainability, and social responsibility are at the heart of the program.

Grandi Langhe and the Piedmont of Wine 2026 The great professional event of Piedmontese wine on January 26-27 at the OGR in Turin.

Thanks for listening. Today’s wine press review was brought to you by WINEIDEA.IT .

See you tomorrow.

Wine press review for Monday January 26 -2026

with:

Italian wineries and producers, wine news.

ITALIAN WINERIES

Schiopetto triumphs at James Suckling. Schiopetto’s 2024 Pinot Grigio Collio is #1 in the “Top 100 Value Wines 2025 – Everyday Gems.” It’s the best value wine under $40, gaining international recognition for its elegance, balance, and market availability.

Cantina di Lisandro (Campania), between historical restoration and distinctive grape varieties. A new winery focused on Pallagrello Bianco, Pallagrello Nero, and Casavecchia is born in Castel Campagnano, with an organic project, high-level technical consultancy, and targeted wine tourism.

Discover the Euganean Hills: La Costa Visit one of the area’s historic wineries, with clonal selection and experimental micro-vinifications to showcase local grape varieties.

Conti Zecca: Roots, Identity, and the New Generation. A family story and a vision for the future from Salento, combining loyalty to the land and adaptation to new consumer trends.

Cantina Valtidone launches “Grinta,” a new artistic label designed by street artist Luca Font to celebrate sport, the Olympics, and female leadership.

ITALIAN WINE AND ITALIAN OENOLOGY

The Two Wine Routes: The Crisis as an Opportunity for Rethinking High inventories and evolving consumption: the sector reflects on production models, the market, and inventory governance.

Record stocks: over 60 million hectoliters sitting in cellars. ICQRF data depicts a system under pressure: selective demand, cautious Horeca, and the need for new industrial strategies.

Ten million hectoliters of wine stopped: from a problem to an industrial platform. Wine as a noble biomass: ingredients, low-alcohol, functional products. An industrial vision for transforming stock into value.

Wines to drink in 2026: six denominations to bet on (two to rediscover). Focus on emerging trends and identity wines that are returning to prominence.

Gambero Rosso’s Best Italian Wines of 2026: Among new favorites and great returns, the Oltrepò Pavese Metodo Classico Classese stands out.

Brescia wine: stable production and growing quality. Production up 4%, prices stable, the sector holding up despite declining volumes.

Italian agri-food is on track for a new export record, according to ISMEA: €73 billion expected in 2025. Wine remains a cornerstone of Made in Italy on global markets.

INTERNATIONAL

EU-India agreement: possible cuts in wine and olive oil tariffs. After twenty years of negotiations, a historic turning point for European exports. The announcement is expected at the New Delhi summit.

European wine tourism: young people are at the forefront. TUI Musement launches the first European Wine Tourism Index. 91% of 18-44 year-olds seek immersive wine experiences.

WINE EVENTS AND WINE CULTURE

Fieragricola 2026: Energy and Innovation at the Center From February 4th to 7th in Verona, the focus will be on agricultural technology, sustainability, and the evolution of the primary sector.

Grandi Langhe 2026: 3,000 labels and 515 wineries in Turin. One of the most strategic showcases for Piedmontese wine, between UNESCO territories and open to the public.

Amphora wine in Florence with Cantina Ottomani. A special evening on February 5th at Osteria Pratellino, combining Georgian tradition and Tuscan biodynamics.

“Vino in Circolo”: wine as conviviality. An association project is born to bring wine back to the center of gatherings and slow culture.

AIS presents “Vitae”, a new edition of the guide featuring 36 selected Lucanian companies.

Agraria al Valzani: scholarship for future winemakers. A generational pact between the school and the winery at the Due Palme cooperative.

SOCIETY, CONSUMPTION AND CURIOSITIES

The Vatican canteen menu: Mediterranean diet, DOP cheeses, and—in moderation—wine and beer for priests and nuns in Propaganda Fide facilities.

OPPORTUNITIES & STRATEGIC ASSETS (QUIDQUID)

Castelli Romani – Ariccia An established agro-winemaking and hospitality platform in the Rome area, with a DOC Roma designation and strong potential for scale.

Friuli Venezia Giulia – Export-oriented asset along the Venice–Trieste axis. 74 hectares, 9,650 hl cellar, 70% exports, turnover of ~€4 million, energy self-sufficiency and a complete real estate system.

Chianti Classico – Historic estate 18 km from Florence. 120 hectares, historic DOCG rights, a brand with 60 years of history and an iconic position in the Gallo Nero (Black Rooster) area.

Thanks for listening. Today’s wine press review was brought to you by WINEIDEA.IT .

See you tomorrow.