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Wine press review for Sunday February 15 -2026

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Wineries, Italian wine producers, and wine news.

Italian wineries

Gaja’s Barbaresco Sorì Tildin 2022 named best Italian red according to Gentleman 2026. The Gentleman ranking, a cross-reference between Italian guides and international critics, crowns Gaja. Giacosa, Antinori, and Sassicaia also make the podium: an authoritative snapshot of Italian excellence around the world.

Bosio (AL): a fine white wine under €15 between Piedmont and Liguria. Caplana showcases a family-run, distinctive border viticulture, amidst white clay and sea breezes. A coherent, local project with an excellent quality/price ratio.

Cantina Ca’Stelle (Castelvenere) Thirty years in business, ongoing generational transition, and a strong push towards communication and sales, maintaining a solid production style for Falanghina and Camaiola.

I Cacciagalli in Teano (CE) A biodynamic project combining viticulture and hospitality, on the slopes of the extinct Roccamonfina volcano. Wines that tell the story of the land.

Moncaro at auction: vineyards, cellars, and a restaurant. The Terre Cortesi Moncaro cooperative is up for sale: three cellars, approximately 100 hectares of DOC vineyards, and 52 labels. Estimated value over €13 million. A strategic move attracting groups and investors.

Italian wine and Italian oenology

Longevity and wine: a glass a day, especially between the ages of 40 and 65. Professor Giovanni Scapagnini rehabilitates conscious consumption: benefits on stress, sociality and quality of life.

Veronelli to the “Corriere”: 130 praises for wine. A hundred years after his birth, Gino Veronelli’s cultural legacy remains central: wine as an expression of ethics, agriculture, and humanity.

Italian wine 2025: DOC and DOCG growth, micro-denominations suffer. Valoritalia data: bottlings down 2.1%, but DOC and DOCG down 1%. Significant decline for IGTs. Lower volume, better positioning.

Five groups bottle 18% of the denominations . Concentration in certified Italian wine is growing. The sector is holding up, but undergoing changes in its structure and governance.

Tuscan wine: lower volumes, higher quality. Millennials are driving the trend. Volumes will decline slightly between 2021 and 2025, but purchases will increase by 24% among the 35-45 age group. A shift toward “less but better.”

Wine no longer stands upright. The container changes, and so does consumption: from the bottle to the bag-in-box. This isn’t the end of wine, but a cultural shift.

International

US alcohol market: wine down 3.5%, ready-to-drinks soar. In the United States, wine declines slightly, while RTDs are growing double-digitly. Spirits and beer remain dominant.

Lucanian wine on its way to Switzerland. The Basilicata Region is launching a structured promotion project in Switzerland: internationalization as an economic and territorial lever.

Primum Familiae Vini: the quiet strength of family businesses. Twelve great historic families of global wine united by a long-term vision. In Paris, over 2,800 years of history under one roof.

Wine events

Wine Paris conquers the world (and Italy) . Over 1,350 Italian exhibitors. Qualified buyers, effective organization, and a growing importance in the global calendar.

Prosecco DOC and the Olympics: an €8 million investment. The largest promotional effort ever undertaken by an Italian wine consortium. The goal: to capture the imagination of young people.

WinePrime Milano: the new high-end wine fair. Debuting in January 2027. Milan as an international hub for high-end wine. Luca Cuzziol speaks.

Previews of Tuscany 2026 – Vino Nobile di Montepulciano The 2023 vintage was judged positive, with balanced and refined wines. The 2022 Reserves are still too few to fully evaluate.

4.5 stars for Vino Nobile di Montepulciano 2023. High rating for structure, balance, and finesse. Analysis presented by winemaker Lorenzo Landi.

DiVinNosiola: a journey into the heart of Trentino Vino Santo. From March 28th to April 12th, masterclasses, tastings, and the pressing ritual. Sixteenth edition.

Luca Maroni’s Best Italian Wines (Rome) From February 20th to 22nd, unlimited tastings, workshops, and a focus on alcohol-free and sparkling wines. 25th edition.

Umbria del Vino 2026: the winning wineries have been announced. Twenty years of companies have been awarded in the regional competition promoted by the Umbria Chamber of Commerce.

The best wine list in Europe is Italian. Trattoria al Cacciatore – La Subida in Cormòns has been awarded: “Best Long List” and “Special Jury Prize”.

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

Italian vineyard market 2026: values are falling, but it really is the best time to invest.

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Vineyards in Italy: falling prices and new investment opportunities.

The Italian vineyard market is going through a profound adjustment phase.

After years of sustained growth, driven by exports, food and wine tourism, and strong international interest, 2025–early 2026 marks a turning point: falling land values, slowing wine sales, and greater investor selectivity .

But as often happens in mature markets, it is precisely in moments of uncertainty that the best opportunities arise .

Falling Vineyard Prices: What’s Really Happening?

In recent months, a clear fact has been recorded:

  • red grape vineyards : average declines from –25% to –35%
    (Montepulciano, Chianti, Morellino, Valpolicella, Amarone)
  • white grape vineyards : greater retention of values
  • Prosecco DOC : in some areas it drops to €200,000/ha ,
    while the DOCG quality areas remain between €360,000–€500,000/ha
  • All Italian wine-growing areas , without exception, show signs of reduction in values, except for very rare new emerging micro-areas

This doesn’t mean a structural crisis. It means the end of the speculative phase and a return to a more rational market.

Average value of vineyards in Italy: updated data

According to the latest land market analyses:

  • National average value of vineyards : approximately €58,000/hectare
  • Vineyards are worth 4–5 times more than standard farmland
  • High-quality appellations maintain high values
  • The gap between “commodity” vineyards and “strategic” vineyards is widening

Today, value is no longer “how much a hectare costs”, but where it is located, what it produces and what business model it enables .

Why vineyards remain a strategic asset

The Italian vineyard is not just agricultural land. It is:

  • production right (DOC, DOCG)
  • territorial reputation
  • access to premium markets
  • basis for wine tourism, hospitality, brand experience

In a context of inflation, financial volatility and unstable intangible assets, the quality vineyard remains a real, identifying and defensible asset .

The main Italian wine regions and their investment potential

Abruzzo and Molise – Montepulciano and Trebbiano

Areas with still affordable prices , good agronomic yields and room for growth for those focusing on quality, organic and direct processing.

Langhe, Roero and Monferrato

UNESCO zone, very high values for Barolo and Barbaresco.
Selective market, but very high stability over time .

Bolgheri

A territory that is a symbol of modern Italian wine.
High prices, but global territorial brand .

Friulian Collio

Hillside vineyards, quality white wines, strong foreign interest.
Excellent balance between price and potential value.

Conegliano Valdobbiadene – Asolo – Prosecco

Prosecco remains a driving force, but the market is increasingly distinguishing:

  • DOC = price pressure
  • DOCG = estate and selection

Franciacorta

Classic Italian method.
Vineyards with a strong real estate and tourism component.

Gavi

Historic white, stable markets, suitable for industrial integration operations.

Lazio – Frascati

Area under revaluation.
Affordable prices, proximity to Rome, strong wine tourism potential.

Montefalco

Sagrantino as a niche wine of high identity.
Small market, but very consistent .

Puglia

Primitivo and Negroamaro.
Land values still competitive, strong international demand.

Sicily

Big island, big differences.
Etna is growing strongly, while other areas are still undervalued.

Trentino-Alto Adige

Among the most expensive vineyards in Italy.
Quality, precision, premium markets.

Valpolicella

Amarone is under pressure today, but it remains a global brand.
Interesting time for selective acquisitions .

Valtellina

Heroic viticulture, Alpine Nebbiolo.
Limited production, strong identity.

Verdicchio – Marche

White undergoing a strong qualitative revaluation.
Prices still attractive for far-sighted investors.

Why investing in Italian vineyards makes sense today

1. More rational prices

The market is realigning.
Those who enter today buy better than those who bought 3–5 years ago .

2. Natural selection

Improvised operators are exiting the market.
What remains are solid projects and informed investors.

3. Integration of services

Today, value is not just in the bottle:

  • wine tourism
  • farmhouse
  • rural hospitality
  • direct sales
  • wine experience

A vineyard without a business model is nothing.
An integrated vineyard is a high-value agricultural enterprise .

Conclusion: it’s not a crisis, it’s a change of phase

The Italian vineyard market is not collapsing.
It’s maturing .

For those who can read:

  • the territory,
  • the denomination,
  • the positioning,
  • economic sustainability,

This is one of the most interesting times to invest in the last 15 years

Wine press review for Saturday February 14 – 2026

with:

Wineries, Italian wine producers, and wine news.

Italian wineries

Temporary Wine by Andrea Moser (Alto Adige) A project outside the box born in Mazzon (Caldaro) that rewrites the story of Alto Adige Pinot Bianco. “Fly,” a 100% Pinot Bianco produced in just 1,280 bottles, has been named one of the 50 Rare Wines in the 2026 Italian Wines Guide with a score of 96/100. This result confirms the career trajectory of a winemaker who has already been a key player at Cantina di Caldaro and at Franz Haas.

Colline Novaresi: Davide Carlone’s dream. A mosaic of vineyards amidst woods, dry stone walls, and natural parks, with Monte Rosa in the background. A project that unites landscape, heroic viticulture, and territorial identity, transforming the hillside into a cultural as well as agricultural attraction.

Brunello “A Diletta” – Col di Lamo Wine and music meet in the story of Gianna Neri and her daughter. A Brunello that symbolizes resilience and female continuity, with the 2019 vintage expressing elegance, complexity, and technical precision.

Umbria del Vino: 20 wineries win. The fifth edition of the national wine competition promoted by the Umbria Chamber of Commerce has concluded. Twenty wineries were recognized for their quality and identity, confirming the region’s increasingly structured winemaking scene.

Emilia-Romagna awarded in Brussels Fifteen regional wineries were recognized at the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles 2025. This result strengthens the region’s international standing, capable of expressing diverse styles and territories under a common qualitative denominator.

Italian wine and Italian oenology

2025 Harvest: Less Wine, More Problems. Production stable at 44.3 million hectoliters, but inventories rising to 61 million (68 million including must). The paradox of a system no longer able to absorb even ordinary production. The UIV’s warning points to a structural, not a cyclical, crisis.

Falling prices and rising stocks . Despite the reduction in yields, quotas aren’t enough. Surpluses of common wines and IGT white wines are growing, while PDO wines are holding up better. Financial pressure on wineries will become the real issue for 2026.

Tuscany: Less Volume, More Value. A clear strategy emerged at the PrimaAnteprima in Florence: focus on quality and identity. Ninety-seven percent of the vineyards are PDO. Exports are slightly up in volume but declining in value, interpreted as a readjustment after record years. On the domestic market, the region is holding its position better than the national average.

EVO oil, like wine, is changing the narrative of Made in Italy: extra virgin olive oil follows the path already blazed by wine, from commodity to cultural product. Territory, supply chain, research, and storytelling become levers of value.

Water Management in the Winery Water as a Critical Process Factor: Timely Measurement, Sensors, Optimization of Washing Cycles, and Wastewater Management are at the Center of New Strategies for Operational Efficiency and Sustainability.

Young people and alcohol consumption: Ferrara’s alarm bells ring. University students are already drinking Spritz in the morning: data on youth addiction is growing. This issue is raising questions about responsibility, communication, and new consumption patterns.

International

Mercosur, the post-2027 CAP, and wine. In Strasbourg, the European Parliament unanimously voted on the new support framework for the wine sector (625 votes in favor). This is a strong political signal, but the system remains fragile amid trade liberalization, transition, and generational change.

Zorah Winery, Armenia A new chapter in Armenian viticulture with ancient roots and an Italian soul. Zorik Gharibian’s project combines historical memory and contemporary vision, putting Armenia back on the map of quality wine.

Italy and France: the art of living through wine. The cultural dialogue between two superpowers of taste is strengthened at Wine Paris, between territory, aesthetics, and UNESCO heritage. Wine as a common language of identity and cultural industry.

Wine events

Zero-alcohol cocktails in Cortina d’Ampezzo. Bartenders at top hotels are once again experimenting with zero-alcohol mixology using Castagner products. A clear signal: the out-of-home experience is evolving and embracing sports, wellness, and new consumption styles.

Irresistible PIWI – Lazise, April 26–27, 2026. The third edition of the event dedicated to resistant varieties. Not just a tasting, but a discussion on sustainability, research, and the future of viticulture.

The best bottles for Valentine’s Day From reds to whites to sparkling wines: a selection of iconic labels to celebrate the occasion, with a focus on Alto Adige and Pinot Bianco.

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

See you tomorrow.

Wine Trends and Performance in Italy – Week 9–13 February 2026

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The week of February 9–13, 2026, captures a sector moving on two parallel tracks: on one side, the global “showcase” (Olympics, major events, exports, and international promotion), on the other, the daily industrial reality of more selective consumption, pressure on margins, and a structural issue that is once again central: inventories.

In the meantime, a third, increasingly crucial route to business profitability is gaining ground: wine tourism, now seen as a countercyclical asset

1) Milan Cortina 2026: Prosecco DOC uses the Games as a global megaphone

The most symbolically powerful event of the week is the activation of the Prosecco DOC Consortium as the Official Sparkling Wine of the Milan Cortina 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, defined by the Consortium as the most important partnership in the history of the denomination , with the declared aim of bringing the Veneto-Friuli region before a global audience estimated at over 3 billion spectators .

The strategy is “capillary”, with the presence of:

13 race venues (family lounges) between Cortina, Milan, Val di Fiemme and Valtellina
6 Live sites / Fan villages (Milan, Bormio, Livigno, Cortina, Predazzo, Brunico)
Casa Italia (Milan Triennale, Cortina, Livigno) and related projects such as the “Musa” wine selection
a proprietary hub with high media impact: Prosecco Doc Sparkling Hub (a 600 m2 lounge in Milan’s San Babila area), designed for media and opinion leaders, with content that intersects haute cuisine, mixology, art, and technology.

Sixteen DOC companies involved in official activities are participating in the operational management, while the visibility campaign will reach strategic hubs (airports, ski resorts, tourist destinations) with very high exposure estimates (e.g., 23 ski lift stations and an estimated 6.6 million impressions ). Completing the plan: educational tours with operators and journalists from the USA, UK, Canada, Japan, China, and Germany, to transform the sporting event into a commercial and narrative bridge to the markets.

Key message: Prosecco DOC is pushing for a positioning that is not “just wine”, but territorial identity, a productive community, a global story , using the Olympics as an accelerator of reputation and demand.

2) Out-of-home consumption: 2.2 billion and a changing beverage market

On the domestic front, out-of-home consumption of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages has returned to the pre-pandemic level of €2.2 billion . The most interesting data is not just the recovery, but the composition of this growth , which reflects a more “hybrid” consumer:

24% carbonated soft drink
alcoholic cocktails : purchases from 69 to 91 million (32%)
liqueurs and spirits : from 58 to 76 million (30%), with a 23% acceleration over the last year.

The “low & no alcohol” theme is firmly on the radar: non-alcoholic beers reach 49 million purchases (18% compared to 2025 and 79% compared to pre-Covid), and the system event Beer & Food Attraction 2026 (Rimini, 15–17 February) is positioning itself as an evolutionary observatory, with the debut of Mixology Attraction dedicated to spirits, cocktails, soft drinks and low/no alcohol products.

Implication for wine: competition for “consumption occasions” in the out-of-home market is growing. Wine must better address contemporary social gatherings (evolving aperitifs, smart pairings, more “dynamic” glasses), because growth is driven by alternative categories that are more agile and narrative.

3) USA: consumption in structural decline, Italy “holds up” thanks to three denominations – still

The US market continues to lose ground: wine consumption has fallen for the fifth consecutive year , with sales in distribution (horeca retail) down 7% in value and around 9% in volume .

In this context, Italy does better than average , but remains in the red:

Italian wine: -3% in value, -5% in volume
the denominations that support the estate are above all:
Chianti Classico (strong growth, 12% in value; in the other reading also 12% and 17.2% in volume)
Prosecco (approximately 3% in value; with growth in volumes as well)
Brunello di Montalcino (2% in value; with increasing volumes)

The rest of the basket shows widespread suffering (with explicit mentions of Moscato d’Asti, Pinot Grigio delle Venezie, and Valpolicella). The UIV analysis adds a crucial industrial point: the five-year decline should be interpreted as a coherent and structural phenomenon , aggravated by market saturation and inventory accumulation along the supply chain, with prices also affected by tariffs (a trend increase of around 4% in December) while producers have already “sacrificed” average price lists (quoted cuts of 10% in the six-month period).

Key message: In the US, wine isn’t “collapse” due to a single factor, but rather to a shift in the landscape: less automatic, more selective demand, and channels that absorb less inventory. Those who grow do so because they have a strong category (bubbles) or a denomination with a very clear premium identity .

4) Export and business models: the case of Edoardo Freddi International

In a period of global complexity (geopolitics, inflation, barriers), emerging players confirm that the issue isn’t “wine in crisis” in general, but rather the marketing model . Edoardo Freddi International closes 2025 with:

6% in value and 9% in volume
over 38 million bottles
presence in 112 markets , with a focus on Europe (approximately 45% of exports) and stability in the USA (indicated at -1% in their perimeter).

Among the trends cited for 2026: resistant/climate-adapted varieties, lighter and more gastronomic wines, and growing interest in no- and low-alcohol options . Also interesting is the “anti-obvious” approach to packaging/format: for example, the 500 ml Amarone in Denmark (a market with a high share of singles), to increase rotation and willingness to purchase.

Key message: you win not only with “good” wine, but with formats, channels, storytelling, and positioning designed around real consumer behavior.

5) Italy, large-scale retail trade: 2025 negative but not falling, bubbles bucking the trend

The large-scale retail channel remains central to volumes and shows a “resistance” dynamic:

2025 sales: 618 million liters ( -3.1% ), value 2.3 billion euros ( -0.5% )
average price: €3.77/litre ( 2.6% )

Within the general data, a polarization can be seen:

0.75 l bottle (including bubbles): 1.8 billion (0.2%) but volumes -1.9%
sparkling wines : 3.6% in value and 3.1% in volume , average price €7.29/litre (0.4%)

Market analysis: Large-scale retail trade emphasizes the “less quantity, more value where there’s desirability” mix. Sparkling wines remain the category that best captures social interaction and attendance.

6) Cantina Italia: high and concentrated stocks, with the North (and Veneto) at the forefront

The structural data that weighs on the bargaining power of companies is the snapshot of inventory:

as of January 31, 2026 : 60.9 million hectoliters in stock
2.4% on 31 December 2025 (1.4 million hl)
5.9% on 31 January 2025 (3.3 million hl)

Added to these are:

6.4 million hl of must
601,663 hl of VNAIF (new wine still fermenting)

Territorial and qualitative concentration:

56.8% of the stocks are in the North, with Veneto at 26%
53.5% of the stocks are DOP (32.5 million hl), 26.7% IGP (16.2 million hl)
strong concentration by denomination: 20 denominations out of 531 make up 58.5% of the GI stocks
Prosecco DOP accounts for 11.7% of stocks (5.7 million hl), followed by several significant IGP and DOC/DOCG wines (including Chianti DOCG 1.45 million hl).

Key message: Inventories aren’t just “a number”: they represent commercial pressure , promotional risk, and a brake on investment. Supply management (even with crisis measures) is once again a key issue for industrial policy.

7) Rules and Politics: EU Wine Package, Transparency on Alcohol-Dealcoholized Products and Crisis Levers

On the regulatory-institutional level, the week saw a strong push from the European Parliament towards a new package for the sector (broad approval: 625 in favour), with measures ranging from:

support for promotion in third countries (EU co-financing up to 60% )
Clearer definitions for dealcoholized wines :
“non-alcoholic” with the wording “0.0%” only up to 0.05% vol
“reduced alcohol content” for wines over 0.5% vol with a reduction of at least 30% compared to the origin
Recognition and support for wine tourism (projects up to three years, renewable up to nine)
uniform crisis measures, and the possibility of drastic interventions such as eradication in the event of a structural oversupply
25% cap on the national budget for crisis distillation and green harvesting.

Coldiretti emphasizes that simplification and transparency are steps forward, but that adequate resources are now needed to make the reform truly effective, noting the economic size of the sector (estimated turnover of €14.5 billion, 241,000 businesses, 681,000 hectares).

8) Wine tourism: countercyclical lever, potential 1 billion with more incoming visitors

Contrary to the slowdown in wine consumption, wine tourism continues to grow and is being described as a strategic asset . Key points that emerged:

Global wine tourism market: $46.5 billion , Europe at 51%
In Italy, the foreign component is still relatively low (around 32% ), with room for growth compared to other benchmarks
77% of companies have invested in wine tourism (2022–2024), with average investments exceeding 14% of turnover ; for 2025–2027, over half plan new investments (digital, sustainability, accessibility, quality of experience)
Each tourist presence generates over 150 euros of added value in the area (broad supply chain: catering, services, crafts, culture)
Estimate: with 5% international tourist presence, approximately 1 billion euros could be generated as an additional result.

The main obstacle remains fragmented governance (many non-integrated local actors), but there is a growing willingness to “work as a system” with public-private consortia for territorial marketing.

Key message: for many wineries, wine tourism is no longer “hospitality”, but a business unit : margins, direct sales, loyalty and deseasonalization.

9) Culture and communication: Cotarella pushes for an offensive and responsible narrative

In terms of public discourse, Riccardo Cotarella’s appeal stands out: enough defending ourselves, we need to make ourselves heard again . The key point is the distinction between moderate consumption and abuse, and the shift in international language toward “harmful use of alcohol” rather than generalized demonization. In this context, the Irish postponement of health labels is also cited as a political and cultural signal that “the issue is complex” and cannot be reduced to uniform messages.

Key message: Demand is rekindled not only by discounts or increased production, but also by cultural legitimacy , clarity, responsibility, and coordinated communication.