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Wine press review for Thursday April 23 -2026

with:

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

Italian wineries

Pasqua Vini looks beyond borders with “QuattroMani”. Born from a collaboration with Charles Smith, this multi-vintage Pinot Noir combines Valpolicella with an American winemaking vision, strengthening the international positioning of the Veronese winery.

1701 Franciacorta launches two new vintages of high stylistic precision. The winery presents the Dosaggio Zero Riserva 2019 and the Ellessedì 2022, confirming a limited, distinctive production oriented towards the expressive purity of the Franciacorta method.

Sicily consolidates its central role in wine tourism. Assovini Sicilia highlights how hospitality at wineries is increasingly a strategic asset for communicating identity, biodiversity, and the region, with tangible economic and reputational benefits.

Alessio Planeta, Sicilian wine as a global language The figure of the new president of the DOC Sicilia Consortium is interpreted as a synthesis of entrepreneurial vision, territorial roots, and the ability to tell Sicily’s story to the world.

Tenuta Cavalier Pepe relaunches Open Cellars in Irpinia. On May 31st, the Campanian estate offers an immersive day among the vineyards, the cellar, technical tastings, and promotion of the territory.

Icaro, the young winery from Castelli Romani that’s already exporting. Four friends transformed a passion into a business venture, building a business capable of tapping into international markets in just a few years.

Wineries and art: a growing structural bond in Italy. Over 60 wineries are investing steadily in contemporary art, architecture, installations, and artist residencies, strengthening the dialogue between wine, aesthetics, and cultural positioning.

Three Cesena wineries are at Vinitaly: Cantina Sociale di Cesena, Tenuta Casali, and Zavalloni. They bring the story of Romagna wine to the Verona fair, combining local identity and territorial promotion.

Trentino closes Vinitaly with encouraging signs. Interested buyers, a coherent territorial narrative, and new international opportunities emerge from the Trentino Wine Consortium’s report.

Italian wine and Italian oenology

ViteLab Network: Northern Italy’s viticultural research unites. Eleven centers of excellence and CREA are joining together in a permanent network to coordinately address the challenges of climate, plant diseases, and the competitiveness of viticulture.

Verona nominated as a national center for wine culture. Institutions and operators are relaunching the idea of a center dedicated to promotion, research, and dissemination, with the aim of strengthening the cultural role of wine in the Italian economy.

Corteva accelerates its commitment to biologicals. The multinational focuses on innovation and training to disseminate biostimulants and biological solutions capable of improving crop sustainability and resilience.

VITESAT brings precision farming to everyday vineyards. The Tuscan project coordinated by CNR-IBE develops a free DSS with a web platform and app to make site-specific vineyard management more accessible.

Syngenta evolves the Syngrape model The program born as the Grape Quality Agreement is strengthening itself as a useful tool for sustainability, phytosanitary management and export compliance of wine companies.

Young farmers, the Generazione Terra call is open. From April 22nd to May 19th, the Ismea tool that facilitates access to agricultural land for those under 41, encouraging generational turnover, is open.

Ronco della Chiesa, appeal to save a symbolic Collio vineyard. After the November floods, producers from across Italy are calling on institutions to discuss protecting Friuli’s historic winemaking heritage.

Copper emerges from a long regulatory dispute. EU Regulation 2026/840 redefines maximum residue limits, bringing to an end a matter that for years has generated considerable uncertainty for European farmers.

Italian agri-food sector to continue growing in the fourth quarter of 2025. The CreAgritrend bulletin reports an increase in GDP and agricultural added value, confirming a moderately positive picture for the primary sector as well.

Urban viticulture in Rome: high-tech vineyard on the Celio Hill. After the first planting at Villa Celimontana, the “Roma Mater Vinorum” project is evolving with new PIWI vines and an innovative experiment in the heart of the capital.

EU puts a stop to greenwashing in wine. The new European regulation requires specific, verifiable, and demonstrable environmental claims, ushering in a more rigorous era of communication in the sector.

“Let’s Gasify”: Oenological Research for More Sustainable Red Wines The DAGRI of the University of Florence is launching a project focused on the timely use of gases in winemaking to improve the quality, sustainability, and aesthetic of the product.

Moscato di Saracena is presented in a book presented at Vinitaly. Saveria Sesto’s book revitalizes the cultural and identity value of one of Calabria’s rarest wines, placing memory and protection at the center.

Four Sicilians among the 40 Under 40 of Italian Wine. Sicily confirms its dynamism also in terms of the new generation of wine professionals, between communication, branding and international projection.

International

The Umbrian Wine District flies to London After Vinitaly, the Umbrian system will participate in the Real Italian Wine & Food Experience on 26 and 27 April, strengthening its presence on international trade markets.

Santorini, wine beyond the tourist image. An in-depth study explores the other side of the Greek island: that of heroic viticulture, hard work, and wine as a defining feature of the region.

Eleven bubbles to tell the story of the terroir. A selection dedicated to the world of sparkling wines highlights Champagnes and productions with character, with attention to style, refinement, and expressive complexity.

Wine events

Milan Design Week: Food & Beverage Takes Center Stage The Fuorisalone confirms the integration of design, cuisine, and beverage, transforming food and wine into an active part of urban creative experiences.

Udine Cocktail Week kicks off with a widespread format. From April 25th, the event dedicated to mixology will expand its scope between the city center and the hinterland, consolidating its national profile.

Nova Eroica Prosecco Hills brings together sport, wine, and families. Over the weekend of April 25th, Borgoluce and the Conegliano Valdobbiadene area will host tastings, outdoor activities, and entertainment for a diverse audience.

Abbey Wines arrives in Calabria. On May 2nd and 3rd, the Abbey of Santa Maria della Matina hosts tastings and meetings that intertwine wine, spirituality, history, and local grape varieties.

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

See you tomorrow.

Wine press review for Wednesday April 22 -2026

with:

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

Italian wineries

Spinelli Wineries, international growth without losing its identity. The Abruzzo-based company continues its solid trajectory in foreign markets, maintaining strong territorial consistency and a strong production structure. Revenue is expected to reach around €18 million in 2025.

Sardinian estate amid historic vineyards and territorial revitalization A few kilometers from Cala Moresca, a winery in Ogliastra promotes Cannonau and forgotten local varieties, strengthening the link between viticultural heritage, agronomic innovation, and Sardinian identity.

Tenuta Olianas expands its wine tourism offerings . In the Sardinian hinterland, “Sa Frorèa” opens, a new space for weddings and events, flanked by an amphitheater amidst the vineyards. This investment strengthens the winery’s position in the advanced hospitality sector.

Cantine Zanchi: Between the Past and Future of Amelia Wine. At Vinitaly 2026, the Umbrian winery relaunches the value of Leonardo Zanchi’s legacy, focusing on authenticity, native grape varieties, and experimentation with agrobiodiversity.

Bio Cantina Sociale Orsogna obtains Plastic Free certification. This is an important recognition for the Abruzzo cooperative’s environmental commitment, recognized for its progressive reduction in plastic use throughout the entire supply chain.

Lento Winery flies with the Pope. Two Calabrian labels will accompany Pope Leo XIV on his apostolic journey. This achievement has strong symbolic and media significance for Calabrian wine.

Angelini Winery: A Dialogue of Wine and Music Gabriele Montanaro’s talk drew great attention. He discussed the parallels between musical interpretation and wine’s identity, highlighting wine culture and dissemination.

Italian wine and Italian oenology

Vinitaly 2026 closes with strong numbers and a focus on geopolitics, advocacy, and alcohol-free trade. The 58th edition closes with 4,000 companies and 90,000 attendees from 135 countries. The event’s international standing, focus on emerging markets, and the increasingly central theme of No-Lo are highlighted.

Alcohol-free wines: strong interest, but production in Italy remains stalled. Wineries believe in the segment, but domestic plants are still awaiting operational authorization. The market is there, but the Italian supply chain is not yet fully unlocked.

No-Lo, a concrete opportunity for the sector. Vinitaly provides an increasingly clear vision: the low-alcohol or no-alcohol wine segment is seen as a lever for revitalization. According to some estimates, it could reach very significant figures in the coming years.

Frescobaldi: No- and Low-Alcohol Wines Could Reach 5% of the Market . The issue is no longer marginal. The growing presence of dealcoholized wines on international wine lists confirms that the shift in consumption is already underway.

Raw Wine: Natural wine enters a more mature phase. In Verona, producers are calling for a new approach: less ideology and more technical precision. The message is clear: the time for flawed natural wines is over.

BluWine: Research towards zero-emission and zero-waste supply chains. The University of Milan and Assoenologi are launching a European project involving 60 researchers and nine international institutions to reduce emissions and waste in the vineyard and winery.

Vine vegetative recovery and abiotic stress management. Technical focus on the key phase of the season’s start: thermal, water, and nutritional stress can compromise the vintage. The goal is to support regular development and production potential.

Italy’s best rosé is on Etna. Al-Cantàra wins the title of Best Rosé Wine at 5StarWines – the Book 2026. This recognition strengthens Etna’s prestige as a distinctive and competitive territory.

SACE: Italian wine remains a pillar of exports. The new report captures a sector of great economic importance, with Italy becoming the world’s leading producer in 2025 and Veneto still the regional export leader, despite a challenging environment.

PwC Italia-Meregalli: Here’s who’s talking about wine online. Analysis of digital conversations confirms the centrality of local culture, conviviality, sustainability, and quality. Millennials lead the way, but Gen Z is more active on visual and native social media channels.

Women in wine challenge the “glass ceiling.” A Crea study presented at Vinitaly shows that women-led wineries have average incomes 5% higher, indicating a supply chain more open to equality than other agricultural sectors.

Wine Ethics: Responsible Production Becomes a Strategic Issue. The debate is moving beyond “organic” or “natural” labels: today the key issue is environmental, social, communication, and supply chain responsibility.

Piedmont, incentives for energy efficiency of wineries. The Region allocates over 6.7 million euros to support investments aimed at improving the energy performance of companies in the sector.

Conegliano, Amorim cork flies into space. The cork-based material developed by Amorim will also be used in NASA’s Artemis II mission. A prime example of advanced innovation based on nature.

Forestry carbon credits: growing interest in Grosseto. The conference promoted by Confagricoltura highlights new revenue opportunities linked to forestry projects and CO2 storage, a potentially strategic topic for integrated agricultural systems.

International

France launches distillation of excess wines. Paris is launching a special €40 million program to dispose of over 1.2 million hectoliters of surplus wine. A subsidy of €33 per hectoliter is planned for producers and distillers.

US tariffs declared illegitimate, refund season begins. The US Supreme Court’s decision opens an important front after the heavy impact of tariffs on wine exports, especially Italian ones, to the United States.

Bali discovers wine as a new production and tourism frontier . Bars, restaurants, and producers focused on wine are growing on the Indonesian island. This small phenomenon is indicative of the cultural expansion of wine into non-traditional markets.

Switzerland, wine consumption continues to decline . Overall consumption will decline by 3.3% in 2025. Domestic wines are holding up better, while imported wines are declining sharply. This is a clear sign of a more selective market.

Wine events

Orange Wine Festival, Isola returns as the capital of orange wines. On April 24, over 90 winemakers from 11 countries will bring white, orange, and sparkling wines for tasting, in an event that combines natural wine, gastronomy, and local identity.

Contrade dell’Etna 2026, a record-breaking edition. Nearly 100 wineries, 3,000 bottles opened, over 45,000 tastings, and a strong press and hospitality industry presence: the event confirms its position as a leading platform for Etna wine.

Vinitaly 2027: Three Issues Not to Be Postponed After the 2026 edition, some structural issues for the event’s future emerge: lower attendance on the final day, the departure of restaurants, and growing discontent among some producers.

Strategic Conclusion The day paints a very clear picture: Italian wine remains strong in terms of reputation, territories, and market dominance, but it is entering a phase in which sustainability, innovation, new consumption patterns, and trade fair models will need to be interpreted from a more industrial and selective perspective.

Thanks for listening, we remind you that today’s wine press review is brought to you by WINEIDEA.IT .

See you tomorrow.

Wine press review for Tuesday April 21 -2026

with:

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

Italian wineries

Trentino after Vinitaly: good numbers, but systemic decisions needed. Vinitaly closed with over 90,000 attendees, nearly 4,000 companies and operators from 135 countries. The results for Trentino are positive, but the issue of overhauling the sector remains unresolved at a time marked by tensions over exports and a more selective buyer base.

Terre d’Aenòr at Milan Design Week The Franciacorta winery brings its wines to Milan Design Week 2026, strengthening the dialogue between wine, aesthetics, craftsmanship, and design culture.

Val d’Oca is the new exclusive distributor of Champagne Encry in Italy. The Valdobbiadene-based company is expanding its premium presence in the high-end Horeca channel by becoming the exclusive partner for Italy of the Maison Grand Cru Champagne Encry.

Historic Families: Amarone Must Rediscover Its Daily Focus The 13 iconic Valpolicella wineries are calling for a new language and positioning to relaunch Amarone on the market, while maintaining its strength in foreign markets.

Koshu in Tuscany: Tatsuhiko Ozaki’s challenge At Fattoria Lavacchio, an original project is taking shape that aims to cultivate the Japanese Koshu grape in Tuscany, enhancing climatic affinities and viticultural experimentation.

Arsen and the Chianti of Armenian Vines A young and unconventional project is emerging in the Florentine area: Arsen Khachaturyants brings an international vision of wine to Tuscany, combining analytical rigor and production identity.

Small wineries more financially fragile. The Fivi-Sda Bocconi research highlights a system composed of resilient companies but often under financial pressure, with increasing attention to liquidity, growth, and capital openness.

Platinum Vineyards: Only 11 Out of Over 2,000 Monitored Vineyards. The Bigot Index recognizes 11 vineyards in Italy and the Mediterranean as the absolute pinnacle of quality in the field, confirming the value of agronomic management, monitoring, and precision.

Cannonau and Forgotten Sardinian Grape Varieties: Reviving a Historic Ogliastra Winery. In Ogliastra, the process of promoting ancient clones and ungrafted vineyards continues, with a third generation focused on identity, revitalization, and territorial protection.

Mandrarossa and the Grillo Bertolino Soprano 2024 The top brand from Settesoli confirms its positioning through innovation, research on terroirs and valorization of varieties, with a Grillo that attracts attention and guides.

Sicily: Wineries Become Cultural Hubs Assovini Sicilia relaunches wine tourism as a strategic lever, transforming wineries into places of experience, storytelling, and integrated hospitality.

Barolo Vajra 2022, between immediacy and family identity. The webinar dedicated to the 2022 vintage focuses on a style that seeks accessibility, depth, and continuity with the Vajra family’s production history.

Etna Doc: more districts and Municipality on the label The Etna Doc Consortium aims to expand the official districts and introduce the name of the Municipality on the label, further strengthening the link between wine, origin and territorial communication.

Italian wine and Italian oenology

Carbon farming: Europe ahead, Italy still behind. The issue of carbon credits in agriculture is entering a decisive phase, but critical issues remain regarding costs, standards, measurement, and real economic viability for Italian agricultural businesses.

Vinitaly in magnums: the great strength of the 2016 vintage A retrospective of approximately 80 magnums confirms 2016 as a benchmark vintage, capable of expressing freshness, tension, and quality across many Italian regions.

Wine tourism increasingly central to the wine business. According to Nomisma, wine tourism generates 3.1 billion euros and accounts for an average of 21% of wineries’ corporate turnover, confirming its role as a concrete lever for revenue and commercial relations.

Wine and Hotels: A Strongly Growing Channel The hotel industry is becoming a strategic channel for Italian wine: the weight of food & beverage in hotel revenues is growing and demand for quality wines by the glass, sparkling wines, and no/low alcohol options is rising.

Rosé wines are growing: less trendy, more territorial identity. Rosé wines are consolidating their position on the Italian market not only for their image, but also for their ability to showcase grape varieties, landscapes, and new consumption styles.

Italian wine exports get off to a strong start in 2026. January closed with a steep decline of 18.7% in value and 13.3% in volume. Tariffs, geopolitical tensions, inflation, and a structural decline in consumption are weighing heavily, with bottled wines suffering particularly.

No and low alcohol: a potential new market driver. The topic of alcohol-free and low-alcohol wines is also gaining ground at Vinitaly. According to some estimates, they could reach up to 5% of the market.

“Winewashing”: Wine Communication Under Fire Nello Gatti’s book sparks debate on authenticity, narrative, and the contradictions of the wine system, challenging the industry’s traditional language.

International

Germany in the crosshairs of Italian wine tourism The April 28 webinar dedicated to the German market reflects on the growing value of wine tourism as a cultural, commercial, and territorial lever for Italian wine.

Switzerland: Consumption declines, but local wines regain market share. In 2025, total wine consumption in Switzerland will decline by 3.3%, but Swiss wines will grow by 2.3% and reach a 37.5% market share, a sign of a strengthening national product.

Wine events

Montevarchi, April 23-24: Double inauguration at the Valdarno di Sopra Organic Rural District. The Covered Farmers’ Market and the National Food Districts Research Center open, in an initiative that combines short supply chains, research, and territorial development.

Vinum 2026 in Alba with the Consorzio del Vermouth di Torino. The Consortium will be present at the event on April 25-26 and May 1-3, promoting guided tastings and promoting Vermouth di Torino.

Distillery and Liquor Tourism: A conference on April 28th at Astoria. In Refrontolo, an event will focus on new opportunities for experiential tourism related to distilling, focusing on hospitality models and success stories.

“Art & Wine” in Castiglion Fiorentino The event that combines contemporary art, tastings, and promotion of the local area returns on April 26th, hosted by the Gabriele Mazzeschi Winery.

Canavese, a gala showcasing excellence in wine, food, and the region. The April 17 event at Casalborgone Castle highlighted territorial branding, tourism, and the promotion of local products.

Olive Growing Sustainability: Comparing Production Models An international study relaunches the debate on environmental impacts and production intensity in olive growing, a topic also relevant to broader agri-food sustainability concerns.

Strategic summary of the day The day highlights four key axes: the financial fragility of small wineries, pressure on exports, the structural growth of wine tourism, and the redefinition of the positioning of Italian wine amid premiumization, no/low alcohol, and a greater connection with hospitality, culture, and the local area.

Wine press review for Monday April 20 -2026

with:

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

ITALIAN WINERIES

Large wineries: stable value, but new impetus needed. The “club” of 27 companies with revenues above €100 million is worth €5.9 billion (42% of the national total), with a strong exposure to exports (47.7%). The Bottega group, an international model with a presence in 165 countries and a strong travel retail channel, joins the group.

New generations: identity, future vision. Luca Monchiero represents generational change in the Langhe: family tradition integrated with sustainability, a global approach, and new market sensitivities.

Valdo Spumanti: 100 Years of Export and Innovation Prosecco remains a key asset of Made in Italy, but it must face new challenges: sustainability, changing consumer habits, and growing international competition.

Dal Bianco Family: Continuity and Territory An example of a winemaking company rooted in the Conegliano Valdobbiadene region, where value arises from the relationship between generations, territory, and technical expertise.

Tenute Agricole 24: Investment platforms The offer of structured assets is growing: multifunctional companies (wine, hospitality, energy) designed for industrial and financial operations, not just agricultural ones.

ITALIAN WINE AND OENOLOGY

Exports slow: the selective phase begins. 2025 marks a shift in the landscape: exports -3.6% (€7.7 billion) and a domestic slowdown. The market is becoming more competitive and rewards only strong and distinctive positioning.

Prosecco by the glass: a new HoReCa strategy. Bisol’s “Cuvée Eroiche” wines make their debut: wines designed for immediate consumption and served by the glass, a concrete response to the changing out-of-home consumption pattern.

Piedmontese Pinot Noir: a quest for identity. Bava presents Sullavìa 2024, a single-vineyard wine without oak or filters: a clear direction toward authenticity, expressive purity, and territoriality.

Evolving pairings: the case of sushi. New pairing strategies: wine must compete with the acidity and structure of rice, not just fish. The winemaking paradigm in global fine dining is changing.

Verdicchio and the longevity of white wines Verdicchio di Matelica is establishing itself as a benchmark for its ability to evolve: increasing attention to the depth and longevity of Italian white wines.

Calabria: Identity and Quality Revitalization Native grape varieties, organic production, and territorial valorization are guiding the region’s new direction.

Prices and consumption: the catering issue Wine is becoming less accessible: solutions such as the “half glass” are emerging to retain customers and sustain volumes.

INTERNATIONAL

Italian Sounding: Stricter Regulations New laws against food fraud: harsher penalties and strengthened controls to protect a market worth over €120 billion.

Growing global competition The success of the Prosecco model is attracting new international competitors, increasing the pressure on Italian producers.

WINE EVENTS

Vinitaly 2026 : Identity, Territories, and New Models . The event confirms wine as a cultural and economic system. Focus on storytelling, territorial identity, and product innovation.

Nepente di Oliena: Wine as a Story. “Gabriele D’Annunzio’s wine” unites literature and the market: an example of how intangible value strengthens positioning.

Friuli Venezia Giulia: bucking the trend, regional exports grew by 8.3%: an effective model based on quality, organization, and a structured international presence.

Cinque Terre and Colli di Luni: Wine and Landscape Wine as a tool for territorial protection and integrated promotion of production and the environment.

Valdobbiadene DOCG Exhibition (24 April – 3 May) Key event of the Prosecco Spring: tastings, technical meetings and promotion of the Rive.

Education and the Future of the Sector Projects such as the “Via dei sogni” (Casa Vajra, University of Turin) highlight the growing link between education and business.

STRATEGIC READING (operational key)

  • The sector is entering a phase of real selection : it is no longer enough to produce, it is necessary to position oneself.
  • The importance of flexible consumption formats (glass, half portions, accessibility) is growing.
  • The value is increasingly shifting towards identity, storytelling and territory .
  • Structured companies focus on internationalization and diversification (wine hospitality energy) .
  • Those who invest today must think in terms of an integrated platform, not a simple cellar .