All posts by admin

Wine Trends and Performance in Italy – Final Summary – Week 23–27 March 2026

with:

The picture that emerged during the week of March 23-27, 2026, depicts a market that continues to face pressure on multiple fronts—declining domestic consumption, geopolitical tensions, slowing exports, logistical challenges, and growing consumer sensitivity to health, price, and simplicity of language—but which, at the same time, shows some areas of strong resilience and even growth.

The Italian wine sector continues to experience a complex, but uneven, phase.

The most obvious fact is that Italian wine is not facing a linear crisis. Rather, it is immersed in a structural transformation that clearly distinguishes categories, markets, sales channels, and consumption patterns. In this scenario, sparkling wines, and Prosecco in particular, remain the most resilient segment, while the rest of the industry is being called upon to rethink its positioning, communication, and consumer relations.

1. Prosecco confirms itself as the true strength of Italian wine

In a challenging overall environment, Prosecco once again emerges as the most robust product in the national wine scene. In the run-up to Easter 2026, orders are expected to increase by 4%, a sign that Italian sparkling wines continue to naturally satisfy convivial and festive consumption.

The numbers of the three denominations confirm this strength:

  • Prosecco DOC : 667 million bottles in 2025, 1.1% more than in 2024
  • Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG : approximately 98 million bottles, 8%
  • Asolo Prosecco DOCG : over 32 million bottles, 16%, the most dynamic growth among the three denominations

Prosecco DOC maintains a strong international appeal, with over 82% of production destined for export and an estimated production value exceeding €3 billion. Even the data for the first two months of 2026, which indicates a technical decline in bottling, is not interpreted as a weakening of demand, but rather as strategic inventory management, particularly with the US market in mind. Cellar stocks have increased by 5.8%, a sign of a system that has preferred to modulate flows to accommodate the absorption of foreign inventories.

On the international front, it is worth noting the excellent performance of France, which recorded double-digit growth (18%) and consolidated its position as the third most profitable market for the denomination after the United States and the United Kingdom.

The strategic interpretation is clear: Prosecco continues to win because it perfectly captures the dominant drivers of contemporary consumption—accessibility, immediacy, conviviality, international recognition, and compatibility with less formal consumption occasions.

2. 2025 closed in decline, but Italy held up better than many competitors

2025 ended with a decline in Italian wine exports of -3.7% in value and -1.8% in volume , but this data must be read against an even more negative international backdrop for many competitors. According to an analysis by Denis Pantini (Wine Monitor Nomisma), Italy lost ground, but held up better than other major exporting countries:

  • France: -4%
  • Spain: -5%
  • Australia: -15%
  • Chile: -10%
  • United States: over -33%

This means that, despite a contraction, Italian wine maintains a relatively stronger competitive edge compared to its main competitors. The German and Brazilian markets have shown positive signs, partially offsetting the greater difficulties experienced in other areas.

For 2026, the forecast remains cautious but not dramatic. If the weaker markets were to rebound, if the geopolitical situation improved, and if Italian consumers regained confidence, the year might not even end in negative territory. This forecast doesn’t warrant easy optimism, but it does confirm that we’re not facing a systemic collapse, but rather a very delicate phase of rebalancing.

3. The start of 2026 is weak: Italian exports slowing, agri-food under pressure

However, the first signs of 2026 point to a difficult start. In January 2026, Made in Italy products fell 4.6% compared to January 2025, while the agri-food sector recorded an even more significant decline, at 7.7% . The United States’ performance was particularly severe, with the agri-food sector contracting by 26.4% .

These figures are also affected by the comparison with the beginning of 2025, when many companies had brought forward orders and inventories in anticipation of possible US tariffs. However, the data confirms the fragility of the international context: Germany (-4.8%), France (-7.5%), and the United Kingdom (-12.3%) also saw declines, while positive signs emerged from Switzerland (-15.5%), China (-14.6%), and Austria (-5.1%).

The message for the wine industry is very clear: dependence on traditional markets increasingly exposes it to geopolitical, fiscal, and distribution cycles. It is therefore crucial to strengthen its presence in high-potential markets, with more flexible commercial strategies and greater direct reach.

4. Large-scale retail trade confirms the decline in consumption, but saves sparkling wines

The most immediate thermometer of the domestic market remains the large-scale retail trade, and the 2025 data show a clear contraction:

  • 737 million liters of wine and sparkling wine sold
  • 20 million liters less than in 2024
  • -3.4% in volume
  • -1.1% in value
  • total turnover of around 2.36 billion euros

The data points to a two-pronged decline: purchases are decreasing, and rising prices are no longer sufficient to offset the decline. Bottled wines with designations of origin (DOC, DOCG, IGT) are also down 2.6% in volume, while fortified wines remain the weakest category.

The only segment that continues to grow is that of sparkling wines :

  • 1.5% by volume
  • 1.2% in value
  • approximately 109 million liters
  • approximately 750 million euros

Growth is more moderate than in the past, but it’s significant because it confirms a distinct trajectory compared to the rest of the market. Italian consumers continue to prize wines that combine freshness, ease of consumption, gastronomic versatility, and a sense of accessible gratification.

5. Best-selling wines: Prosecco dominates, many traditional reds suffer

Among the most purchased wines in large-scale retail trade in 2025, the podium is very clear:

  • Prosecco : over 53 million liters, 2.6%
  • Lambrusco : over 28 million liters, -7.2%
  • Trebbiano : over 23 million liters, 0.3%

Prosecco remains not only the best-selling wine, but also the dominant value, with approximately €392 million spent in large-scale retail trade. Chianti and Vermentino follow, but are far behind.

On the consumption front, some consolidated trends emerge:

  • Italians choose more still wines than sparkling ones
  • they choose more whites than reds
  • but the most purchased individual wine is still still red , with over 261 million litres

Among the growing categories, the following stand out:

  • Grecanico : 13.7%
  • Nebbiolo : 9.7%
  • Pinot Noir : 7.8%
  • Classic Method : 6.3%
  • Ribolla Gialla : 4.2%
  • Primitivo di Puglia : 3%
  • Vermentino : 2.5%

This is an interesting signal: while part of the market is declining, some typologies are growing thanks to a more defined identity, greater recognisability or better harmony with new consumer tastes.

6. Prices are rising, but wine in Italy remains among the least inflated products in Europe.

One of the most significant aspects is that wine continues to suffer in consumer perception, but not because it has seen particularly sharp price increases in Italy. On the contrary, according to Eurostat data compiled by FRED and analyzed by the American Association of Wine Economics, between 2015 and 2025, consumer wine prices in Italy increased by only 7.4% , one of the lowest levels in Europe.

For comparison:

  • Germany: 22.6%
  • France: 25.7%
  • Spain: 27.4%

Even in Italian large-scale retail trade, the average price of bottled wines with a designation of origin stood at 5.69 euros/litre , up 2.1% on 2024, in line with the 2% increase already recorded the previous year.

This data leads to an important reflection: the problem with wine today isn’t just its absolute price, but the relationship between price, perceived value, frequency of consumption, and available alternatives. In other words, it’s not enough to say that wine prices haven’t increased significantly; we need to ask ourselves whether consumers still perceive wine as a natural, simple, and justified purchase.

7. Foreign markets are becoming more selective: Germany is more solid, the United Kingdom is more difficult

On the export front, two different signals emerge.

Germany

Germany remains a major market for Italian wine. In 2025, Italian wine imports exceeded €1 billion , accounting for over 40% of the market. Italian PDO wines are:

  • 5.4% by volume
  • 4.2% in value

Prosecco remains the most exported Italian wine, but Veneto whites, Piedmont reds, and PDO sparkling wines other than Prosecco and Asti are also growing. Germany remains a highly price-oriented market, yet very open to Italian wine, which maintains a competitive advantage thanks to cultural familiarity, the variety of its offerings, and the strength of its appellations.

United Kingdom

The British picture is more challenging. In 2025, wine imports to the UK will decline:

  • -4.6% in value
  • -6% in volume

Italy remains the leading supplier in volume, with 298.3 million liters , but recorded a 2% decline and a 2.4% reduction in average price. Italian sparkling wines still generate more value than still wines, with £440 million versus £431 million , but the British system is clearly showing signs of tightening due to taxation, changing consumption, and increased competition.

Here, the issue isn’t just selling, but selling better: a comparison with France clearly demonstrates this. The French generate almost the same value as Italy on sparkling wines, but with much lower volumes and much higher prices. This signals a strategic difference in positioning that Italian wine will increasingly have to address.

8. The sector must change its language, not just its product

One of the strongest themes that emerged this week is cultural rather than commercial. The most effective summary is this: it’s not consumers who are turning away from wine, it’s wine that’s losing them .

The problem isn’t just tariffs, conflicts, or the Highway Code. The problem also lies in wine’s difficulty in speaking to new generations, simplifying its language, making itself accessible without losing depth, and presenting itself as an experience and not just a technical term.

Wine continues to have enormous symbolic, territorial, and emotional power, but it often presents itself with codes that are too elitist, self-referential, or unsuitable for new audiences. This is why everything that creates a direct connection becomes central:

  • wine tourism
  • opening of the cellars
  • hospitality
  • authentic storytelling
  • commercial training
  • simple but not trivial communication
  • conscious drinking culture

In essence, the industry must shift from a product-centric approach to one that focuses on the consumer, the relationship, and the experience.

9. New directions: dealcoholized products, logistics, geopolitical tensions and supply chain imbalances

Alongside market themes, this week also highlighted new lines of transformation.

Alcohol-free wine

Alcohol-free wine is emerging as a niche with high potential, especially in Northern European, American, and Australian markets. In Italy, the sector is still in its infancy, but the fact that it can be produced in our country as of this year, albeit excluding DOP wines, opens up new opportunities for diversification.

Logistics under pressure

The war in the Middle East is creating significant complications for wine transportation: airspace closures, maritime diversions via Africa, longer lead times, higher costs, temperature risks, and unpredictable deliveries. For a seasonal and promotional industry like wine, the impact on planning can be significant.

Imbalance between wine and grapes

In areas like the Oltrepò, another critical signal is emerging: while bulk wine prices may be rising, grape prices continue to plummet, in many cases to levels close to production costs. This imbalance is challenging the agricultural base and risks structurally weakening entire production areas.

10. Final picture: Italian wine holds up, but needs to reposition itself

The week of March 23-27, 2026, therefore paints a very clear picture. Italian wine isn’t in decline, but it is experiencing a very tough competitive selection process.

Wine press review for Thursday March 26 -2026

with:

Italian wineries, Italian wine producers, and current wine news.

The Italian wine sector continues to navigate structural market transformations, designation innovation, international consolidation, and new economic challenges . Below are the day’s key news items, organized by topic.

Italian wineries

Mezzacorona awarded as the best Italian cooperative of the last 25 years

The Mezzacorona Group confirms its position as a leading player in Italian wine cooperatives. At Mundus Vini 2026 , during ProWein in Düsseldorf, the Trentino-based company received the award for “best Italian cooperative of the last 25 years.” The group, active in over 60 countries , includes companies such as Rotari (Trentodoc) and Feudo Arancio in Sicily , while the subholding Nosio manages international marketing. The award confirms the path taken by several Italian cooperatives, which have focused on quality, price positioning, and global growth .

Cantina di Carpi activates protective measures for a €12.8 million debt.

Cantina di Carpi, Sorbara e Bazzano has requested the activation of the protective measures provided for by the Corporate Crisis Code to address debt of approximately €12.8 million . The procedure allows for a freeze on creditors’ claims for twelve months, allowing management to develop a recovery plan.

Compulsory liquidation for Cantine Leonardo da Vinci

The historic Tuscan cooperative Cantine Leonardo da Vinci , founded in 1961, has been placed into compulsory administrative liquidation by the Ministry of Business and Made in Italy. As of August 31, 2025, it had short-term debts of over €13 million , against a negative net equity. Despite the liquidation, operational continuity of production for its members has been guaranteed.

Centopassi, the wine from land confiscated from the mafia

In Sicily, Centopassi , a winemaking project linked to the Libera Terra cooperatives, represents a virtuous model for valorizing lands confiscated from organized crime. The winery combines native grape varieties, territorial identity, and a presence on international markets , demonstrating how a strong ethical project can also generate solid commercial results.

Feudi di San Gregorio celebrates 40 years of wine and design.

The Campania winery celebrates forty years of activity with an exhibition at the Milan Triennale dedicated to its collaboration with designers Lella and Massimo Vignelli , who contributed to the company’s visual identity. The project explores how wine can become a cultural object through design, graphics, and storytelling.

Italian wine and Italian oenology

Wine remains central to Italians’ habits

According to an analysis by the Nomisma Wine Monitor Observatory , 9 out of 10 Italians have consumed wine in the last year . However, the sector is changing:

  • Global consumption fell from 236 to 215 million hectoliters between 2019 and 2024
  • Italian consumption is stable ( 22.6 → 22.3 million hectolitres )
  • Over the last twenty years , Italian exports have grown by 141%

Territory is increasingly emerging as a determining factor in purchasing choices .

Asti Rosé arrives: a new typology for the denomination

Piedmont officially introduces a new style: Asti Rosé , made with Moscato (70–90%) and Brachetto (10–30%) using the Martinotti method. The wine will be available in various versions, from sweet to extra brut , to meet the demands of international markets. Its commercial debut is expected at Vinitaly .

The return of Nas-Cëtta to the Langhe

Once nearly extinct, the native Nas-Cëtta grape is experiencing a resurgence in the Langhe. In the 1990s, experiments brought this rare white wine back to life, and today it is promoted by producers like Elvio Cogno and Le Strette , becoming a symbol of Piedmont’s viticultural biodiversity.

The “Italian model” of moderate consumption

A study promoted by Federvini and La Sapienza University highlights how Italy maintains a moderate and convivial drinking style. Over 80% of wine is consumed during meals, and average consumption is 8 liters of alcohol per capita , lower than the OECD average.

Prosecco still the driving force for Italian wine

The Prosecco system continues to grow:

  • Prosecco DOC : 667 million bottles in 2025 (1.1%)
  • Conegliano Valdobbiadene DOCG : 98 million (8%)
  • Asolo Docg : 32 million (16%)

Over 82% of production is intended for export and Easter orders are estimated to grow by 4% .

High stocks in Italian cellars

The Cantina Italia report highlights 61 million hectolitres of wine in stock , an increase compared to 2024. This figure highlights the need for the sector to redesign production and market strategies .

Local wines prevail in restaurants

According to an analysis of the HoReCa market carried out by Trinko , between 70% and 75% of the labels in Italian restaurants come from the same region as the restaurant , confirming the strong link between wine, cuisine and territory .

Roero relaunches Arneis and Nebbiolo

The Roero area aims to strengthen its winemaking identity through the promotion of Arneis and Nebbiolo , with the aim of definitively emerging from the shadow of the Langhe.

Valoritalia expands its sustainability certifications

The Valoritalia certification body, which controls approximately 60% of Italian bottles with a denomination of origin , is expanding its activities towards environmental and sustainability certifications, such as Equalitas, VIVA and the ISO standard on carbon footprint .

“Consumers are confused”: the industry demands clarity.

Wine expert Graziana Grassini highlights how conflicting messages about health, prices, and alcohol consumption are creating confusion among consumers , highlighting the need for clearer communication from the industry.

International

Napa Valley in trouble

According to Silicon Valley Bank ‘s annual report, the U.S. wine industry saw declining revenues and production in 2025, with demand expected to bottom out between 2027 and 2028. Major groups such as E.&J. Gallo and Constellation Brands have announced staff reductions and industry reorganizations.

The EU-Australia agreement and the name Prosecco

The new trade agreement between the European Union and Australia stipulates that the name Prosecco cannot be used for Australian exports for ten years , although it will remain permitted on the domestic market as a varietal indication.

British viticulture is growing

In the United Kingdom, viticulture continues to expand. WineGB’s 2025 Harvest Report highlights a “mast year,” or exceptionally abundant vintage, confirming the consolidation of the quality of English wines.

Wine remains the favorite drink of the French

According to the SoWine Barometer 2026 , wine remains the most popular alcoholic beverage in France with 52% of preferences , ahead of beer and Champagne, despite a general trend of moderation in consumption.

The phenomenon of collectors with too many bottles

More and more collectors find themselves with cellars that are too large for their consumption. This phenomenon is fueling the secondary wine market and new strategies for managing private collections.

Wine events

Vinitaly 2026: over 4,000 exhibitors

The next edition of Vinitaly will see:

  • 4,000 exhibitors
  • 18 pavilions
  • over 100,000 m2 of exhibition area
  • more than 2,000 accredited journalists

The event confirms its position as one of the main international wine hubs.

OperaWine 2026 celebrates great Italian wine

The Wine Spectator event pays homage to the history of Italian wine and its protagonists, from Sassicaia to Tignanello , recounting the journey that has brought Italy to the pinnacle of world quality.

The “Cantine d’Italia 2026” guide has been presented.

The Go Wine guide dedicates ample space to winery visits, with information on production, hospitality, and wine tourism itineraries.

Sicily Trophy 2026

The event dedicated to the great Sicilian wines highlights the role of native vines , with Nero d’Avola as the protagonist of the island’s qualitative rebirth.

Wines of the Heart 2026 in Genoa

The guide, born from a social media project conceived by Olga Schiaffino, brought together producers and enthusiasts in Genoa for a tasting of the community’s most popular wines.

Italian wine also arrives at the cinema

The film “It’s Not the End of the World” , shot in Verona, brings the world of Valpolicella to the big screen, starring iconic wines such as Amarone Costasera and Campofiorin by Masi Agricola.

Strategic summary of the day

Today’s news shows a sector undergoing profound transformation :

  • global consumption down but Italian exports still strong
  • continued growth of some denominations such as Prosecco
  • return of native vines and territorial identities
  • increase in wine stocks in cellars
  • economic tensions affecting some historic cooperatives
  • increasingly intense international competition.

Italian wine remains one of the pillars of the national agri-food sector, but its future will increasingly depend on the ability to enhance territories, quality and global positioning .

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

See you tomorrow with the next wine news.

Prosecco, Confindustria Veneto Est: Exports are resisting tariffs and are ready to accelerate, with 4% orders for Easter 2026.

with:

The President of the Settimo Pizzolato Wine, Spirits and Liqueurs Group: «The demand from international trade fairs is booming.

The challenge is to preserve the value built over time and make it grow through quality, identity and the ability to work together.

Prosecco is limiting the impact of tariffs and is poised to accelerate, with demand booming and orders estimated to grow 4% ahead of Easter 2026 compared to the previous year. “Prosecco is one of the Veneto’s strongest symbols worldwide and the result of long-standing collective effort. Veneto has established itself globally thanks to this wine, rich in aromas, freshness, and balance, which must be constantly promoted, showcased, and its identity protected. The real challenge today is not growth per se, but the ability to continue protecting this heritage without ever taking it for granted,” said Settimo Pizzolato, President of the Wine, Spirits, and Liqueurs Group of Confindustria Veneto Est , upon returning from Wine Paris and ProWein, the leading international trade fairs in the sector.

The most recent data confirm the system’s solidity. Prosecco DOC closed 2025 with 667 million bottles bottled (1.1% more than 2024) and over 82% of production destined for export, for an estimated production value of over €3 billion.

Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG recorded approximately 98 million bottles (8% compared to 2024), confirming the central role of quality and territorial identity.

The Asolo Prosecco DOCG remains the most dynamic denomination, with over 32 million bottles bottled and a 16% growth compared to 2024.

In the first two months of 2026, Prosecco DOC recorded a technical decline in bottling compared to the same period in 2025. Pizzolato comments: “This phenomenon does not indicate a decrease in demand: cellar inventories increased by 5.8%, demonstrating that companies have managed bottling to allow foreign markets, particularly the US, to sell off the stocks accumulated in the first few months of 2025 to protect themselves from potential tariffs.”

While the first two months of the year saw this technical decline, inventory data and the surge in orders ahead of Easter 2026—estimated to have increased by 4% compared to the previous Easter —confirm that the sector is poised for further growth, supported by exports that surpassed the €2.2 billion mark in 2025, confirming the segment’s consolidation. France recorded a double-digit increase (18%), confirming its position as the third most profitable global market for this denomination after the US and the UK.

“The Veneto wine sector has already demonstrated a strong capacity for resilience and adaptation in recent years ,” Pizzolato emphasizes . ” We remain attentive to the global context: the current economic and geopolitical instability is affecting the costs of raw materials and energy, with direct effects on producers. This is why the joint work of the three consortia—the Consortium for the Protection of DOC Prosecco, the Consortium for the Protection of Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG, and the Consortium for the Protection of Asolo Prosecco DOCG—along with the companies and cooperatives is essential. Only through a shared vision, founded on quality and consistency, can we continue to generate true value: for the product, for the region, and for the communities that represent it,” concludes President Pizzolato .

Prosecco’s strength also lies in its ability to unite: it is one of the few Italian wines capable of appealing to diverse audiences, both in Italy and abroad, thanks to its elegance and immediacy. This inclusive power can continue to promote Veneto throughout the world, opening up new cultural spaces, even before commercial ones.

Wine press review for Wednesday March 25 -2026

with:

Italian wineries, Italian wine producers, and current wine news.

Italian wineries

Leonardo da Vinci Winery is in liquidation: a story spanning over 60 years has come to an end.

A symbolic event for the Tuscan wine cooperative has come to an end. The Ministry of Business and Made in Italy has ordered the compulsory administrative liquidation of the historic Cantine Leonardo da Vinci, founded in 1961. The company’s financial situation is now compromised: current assets of approximately €5.5 million, short-term debt of €13.5 million, negative equity, and ongoing litigation. The liquidation process has been entrusted to commissioner Luigi Zingone. A key point: this case confirms how financial strength, governance, and debt control are today just as crucial as the quality of the wine.

Caviro Group inaugurates its dealcoholization plant and presents its low-alcohol Tavernello sparkling wine.

Caviro is accelerating its no- and low-alcohol production with a €1.8 million investment in a new facility in San Felice sul Panaro, in the province of Modena. The 200-square-meter facility can process up to 30,000 liters per day, equivalent to a potential annual production of approximately 9 million bottles. The technology employed aims to reduce alcohol while preserving the wine’s aromatic profile and structure. Key point: the Italian cooperative sector is making a tangible entry into the dealcoholization supply chain, a sign that the market is changing more rapidly than many producers realize.

XtraWine launches “Vigne d’Italia”: a private label offering professional selection and producer anonymity.

The online wine club XtraWine presents a new private line of 17 labels distributed across four Italian regions: Piedmont, Tuscany, Veneto, and Alto Adige. The project strengthens the company’s positioning as a selector and brand owner, but it brings with it a delicate issue: the producer’s identity remains secondary to the commercial strength of the distribution brand. Key point: models are emerging that shift value from the winery to the distributor-brand, with significant implications for margins, recognition, and building relationships with consumers.

OperaWine: Cantina San Michele Appiano debuts among Wine Spectator’s “Classics”

The Alto Adige winery has entered OperaWine’s “Classics” category with its Sauvignon Sanct Valentin 2016. This recognition consolidates the company’s international presence and highlights the consistent quality it has built over the years. Key point: when a winery manages to combine style, identity, and consistency over time, international recognition becomes a real asset for positioning.

Masottina celebrates 80 years with a multi-vintage Prosecco

To celebrate its 80th anniversary, RDO Multivintage Brut is born, a blend of five vintages from 2020 to 2024. This launches the Venetian winery’s Heritage Collection and introduces a more experimental approach to Prosecco, inspired by the logic of classic method blends. Key point: innovation within a strong denomination is possible, but it must be done with stylistic rigor and clear brand consistency.

Eleusi, Mattia Binotto’s wine debut with the Trentino Chardonnay “Animantica.”

Cantina Eleusi’s first wine is called Animantica: a 2021 Chardonnay Trentino DOC, approximately 2,300 bottles from a forty-year-old vineyard in Faedo. The project was born with a strong identity and has already attracted attention thanks to Mattia Binotto, known for his Formula 1 career. Key point: new entries in the wine industry can only generate value if accompanied by long-term vision, technical credibility, and territorial authenticity.

Marchesi di Barolo: Barolo Coste di Rose 2022

The Abbona family’s 2022 Barolo Coste di Rose stands out for its elegance, freshness, precise tannins, and aromatic complexity. This label confirms the Piedmontese winery’s ability to interpret even complex vintages with restraint. Key point: true quality emerges especially when the vintage is challenging.

Flour: Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Mezzadro alla Fontana Riserva 2015

A reserve that chronicles the journey of the Farina family, from sharecroppers to contemporary interpreters of Valpolicella Classica. Limited production, only in the finest vintages, and long aging in barriques, large barrels, and bottle. Key point: family storytelling, when authentic and supported by quality, remains one of Italian wine’s strongest assets.

Bubble: Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Le Poiane 2020

Bolla confirms its leading role in Veneto wine with a production facility spanning 312 hectares and 3.7 million bottles. The brand, now part of Gruppo Italiano Vini, continues to operate consistently on international markets. Key point: the strength of a historic brand lies in its ability to remain recognizable even after changes in ownership and scale.

Cantina 366: Canavese Nebbiolo Vine Selection 2022

A lively, fresh, and drinkable Nebbiolo, created in a winery focused primarily on local whites. Careful vinification, light oak, and a balance focused more on tension than power. Key point: even less central appellations can generate interest when they interpret the grape variety with personality and contemporary lightness.

Arianna Occhipinti and the wines that break down stereotypes about the South

Vittoria has a consolidated vision: Southern reds aren’t necessarily brawny, but refined, fresh, territorial, and moderately alcohol-rich. Organic farming, spontaneous fermentations, the prevalent use of cement, and no filtration define a consistent and recognizable style. The key point: Southern wine continues to generate the most interesting signals when it stops chasing power and returns to interpreting identity and drinkability.

Italian wine and Italian oenology

Friuli designs the wine of the future: less alcohol and more resilient vineyards.

Alessandro Leon, president of Vivai Cooperativi Rauscedo, looks to 2030, focusing on varietal resistance, new markets, and adapting to geopolitical and climate change. A strategic question is on the table: what kind of wine should Friuli produce to remain competitive? Key point: the future of wine depends on the ability to plan today for what the market will demand tomorrow, not simply defending the historical model.

Wine prices are falling: why is it cheaper than beer and spirits?

ISTAT data for January 2026 show a 1.9% drop in wine consumer prices compared to January 2025. Over the same period, spirits and liqueurs fell 0.5%, while beer stabilized. A structural deflationary phase in wine is thus consolidating. Key point: price pressure is no longer an episodic phenomenon, but rather a symptom of a deeper imbalance between supply, positioning, and demand.

Oltrepò: Wine prices rise, but grape values plummet.

According to Unioncamere, production will rise again by 32.6% in 2025 compared to 2024, though still below 2023 levels. Wine is growing, but the price paid to winemakers for their grapes continues to suffer. Key point: when the supply chain becomes polarized, the risk is that industrial recovery will not translate into agricultural income.

Wine & Business: “Healthy” Business Management According to Renzo Cotarella

Renzo Cotarella reiterates that today’s competitive winery must coherently integrate planning, finance, agronomy, cellar, people, marketing, and sustainability. Sound management isn’t a theory, but a measurable method. The key point: in modern wine, it’s not enough to make a good product; the business must be managed as a system.

Regenerative viticulture: initial experiences from the Bayer Crop Science project

The “Regenerate to Grow” project, launched in 2025 and explored in depth at the meeting on March 11, 2026, in San Patrignano, aims to integrate agronomic sustainability, digital support, and biodiversity monitoring. Key point: regenerative viticulture is moving beyond the theoretical stage and beginning to be tested with concrete field applications.

Mountain on the Wine Route: land of noble vines

A regional study dedicated to Montagna sulla Strada del Vino, in Alto Adige, where Pinot Noir, landscape, soil, and microclimate create a highly valuable winemaking identity. Key point: in strong terroirs, the denomination alone isn’t enough; the ability to express the place in a distinctive way is increasingly important.

Confused ideas about the price of wine

A reflection on the pricing debate: wine isn’t “too expensive” in an absolute sense, but rather its value is what the market is willing to recognize. In a global and hypercompetitive context, there are no artificial shortcuts to price formation. Key point: the real issue isn’t the price itself, but the perceived value and the ability to sustain it.

Puglia rediscovers its white grapes

The region is embarking on a strategic rebalancing that pairs structured reds with a new focus on whites, combining the rediscovery of local grape varieties, freshness, and the potential for market repositioning. Key point: Apulian whites can become a concrete lever for renewing the region’s image.

ISO certifications and wine: why they are an advantage for wineries

Organizational certifications, often perceived as mere formalities, are being reinterpreted as concrete tools for managing and improving processes. The topic is also addressed through the technical contribution of the Italian Wine Union. Key point: certifications create value when they become corporate governance methods, not just paperwork.

France and Italy invest over 1.3 million euros in alcohol reduction

The DEVIN0 cross-border project, funded by the Interreg VI-A France-Italy ALCOTRA Program, will launch on March 31st in Castagnito. Its focus: innovation, training, and development of alcohol-free de-alcoholization down to 0°C. Key point: de-alcoholization is no longer an experimental niche, but a strategic focus of research and training.

Venetian Prosecco and Radicchio at the Heart of the European Bioeconomy

The TeBiCE project has concluded its work in Legnaro, focusing on opportunities for valorizing agricultural biomass within the framework of a circular economy. Key point: winemaking supply chains will increasingly be judged by their ability to transform waste and byproducts into value.

Prosecco: resilient exports and growing orders for Easter 2026

According to Confindustria Veneto Est, Prosecco is holding up well on international markets and is seeing an estimated 4% increase in orders for Easter 2026. Key point: in a challenging period for Italian wine, Prosecco continues to stand out as a denomination with high commercial elasticity and strong global recognition.

International

The European Union allows Australia to use the Prosecco name on the domestic market.

The new trade agreement between the EU and Australia grants Australian producers the right to use the Prosecco name on the domestic market, while exports under that name must cease within 10 years. A key point: this sets a delicate precedent regarding geographical indications and the protection of the identity of European denominations.

Goodbye wine, Beijing chooses sobriety

China’s crackdown on conspicuous alcohol consumption at official events, combined with the economic slowdown, is severely impacting the demand for imported wine. The consequences are being felt from Bordeaux to Australia. Key point: China is no longer the mirror market many producers imagined; today, caution, repositioning, and a political as well as commercial perspective are required.

Which is better: wine or beer? A study on its effects on the heart.

An observational study of over 340,000 British adults, to be presented on March 28 at the American College of Cardiology, suggests possible differences in the cardiovascular impact of low-to-moderate consumption between wine and beer. Key point: this remains a highly sensitive topic, where communication and scientific rigor must be combined to avoid risky simplifications.

Wine events

Wine & Wellness at Tenuta Roletto

The experience that combines a winery tour, outdoor Pilates, and tasting is back. A format that ties together landscape, wellness, and conviviality. Key point: the most engaging wine tourism today is one that builds experiences, not just visits.

I WINE: Marche and Campania on display in Rome

The ninth edition of “IO VINO, Selezione da Vitigno Autoctono” brought to the capital a comparative reading of two regions distinct yet united by a strong viticultural identity. Key point: events dedicated to native grape varieties remain crucial for differentiating the Italian offering.

2026 Wine Proposal at Leopolda

In Florence, the presentation of the 2026 Proposta Vini catalog brought together over 200 exhibitors from Italy and abroad, with masterclasses and tastings focused on understanding the different regions and production styles. Key point: high-quality trade events continue to be strategic venues for selection, networking, and positioning.

DEVIN0: Official launch on March 31st in Castagnito

The presentation event for the Italy-France project on alcohol reduction will be one of the first structured discussions between research, education, and businesses on a topic expected to grow rapidly. Key point: the supply chain is beginning to organize itself culturally, not just technologically.

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

See you tomorrow.