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Wine press review for Sunday May 17 -2026

with:

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

Gaja invests in the great white wines of Langa

The Gaja family inaugurates a new 6,500-square-meter winery in Trezzo Tinella, dedicated exclusively to still white wines. The project focuses on a fresher “Altra Langa,” suited to the wines of the future, with a strong focus on sustainability, natural gravity, and wine tourism hospitality.

Kettmeir renovates the cellar with technology and hospitality

The historic South Tyrolean company is investing nearly 10 million euros in a new winery focused on “gentle technology,” immersive experiences, and the valorization of mountain sparkling wine.

Folonari inaugurates the new Cabreo Winery

Ambrogio and Giovanni Folonari Tenute’s new production hub is underway in Greve in Chianti: €7 million invested in innovation, optical grape selection, and the promotion of Super Tuscans.

Ten wineries united in the “Basaltic Identities” project

A shared project for wine tourism and the valorization of the volcanic terroir has been launched between Gambellara and Montebello Vicentino. Ten local wineries, united by the basaltic identity of their wines, are involved.

Bio Cantina Orsogna protagonist at Vinorum

The Abruzzo cooperative is participating in the Vinorum festival in L’Aquila and the conference on heroic viticulture, confirming the strategic role of mountain vineyards and sustainability.

Tenute Nicosia opens its doors to wine tourism on Mount Etna.

Cantine Aperte 2026 will take visitors to tastings, cinema, Slow Food, and heroic viticulture at the foot of Mount Etna, highlighting the connection between wine and the Sicilian territory.

Open Cellars 2026 Livens Up Ticino

Over 80 Ticino wineries are opening their doors to the public with tastings and itineraries dedicated to Ticino Merlot, strengthening cross-border wine tourism.

The Fezzigna family promotes Calabrian white wine

Between Cirò and Melissa, Francesco and Enza Fezzigna’s historic winery continues to stand out for its quality, organic approach, and complete supply chain from vineyard to bottling.

Italian wine and Italian oenology

Italian wine is changing style: more freshness and drinkability

According to Knight Frank’s Wealth Report 2026, Alto Adige and Friuli will be among the most strategic areas for wine in the future thanks to their climate, altitude, and ability to produce lower-alcohol, more contemporary wines.

Wine and finance: tailor-made tools are needed

Crédit Agricole Italia emphasizes the need to develop customized financial solutions for SME wineries, tailoring credit and tools to the specific needs of each company.

Resistant grape varieties take center stage in Corbanese

A focus on Piwi wines and naturally resistant varieties during the event dedicated to the Veneto region’s winemaking heritage.

Climate accelerates vine growth in Northern Italy

After the warmest April on record, crops are arriving about two weeks early. The sector is increasingly focusing on climate adaptation and new agronomic strategies.

Abruzzo moves towards Cervim for heroic viticulture

The Abruzzo Region joins the international Cervim network to promote mountain vineyards as a strategic resource to combat climate change and protect inland territories.

CAP 2026 extension until June 30

The Ministry of Agriculture has extended the deadline for the CAP 2026 Single Application, granting farmers over an extra month to access European funding.

Copper in agriculture: balancing effectiveness and sustainability

An in-depth look at the correct use of copper in viticulture, including European restrictions, the risk of soil accumulation, and the need for phytosanitary protection.

Wine Tech Challenge: Innovation between Vineyards and Markets

Startups and large wineries collaborate on precision agriculture, customs management, water recovery, and data analysis through the program promoted by Eatable Adventures and UniCredit.

Wine and gender language

A critical reflection on how the wine world often continues to use male and female stereotypes in wine communication.

Literature and wine: the “vineria” as a cultural venue

A journey through words, conviviality, and wine culture through a reflection on the social value of Italian wineries.

International

Bordeaux En Primeur 2025: Quality and a Cold Market

The new Bordeaux campaign showcases high-quality wines but a more cautious market, with reduced interest in the “en primeur” system from international distributors and négociants.

Italian wine is increasingly looking towards Asia

Wine To Asia confirms Shenzhen as a strategic hub for Italian wine in the Far East. Gradual growth in Asian purchases is expected until 2029.

The Concours Mondial de Bruxelles arrives in Armenia

Yerevan will host the 2026 edition of the prestigious international competition, symbolically bringing wine back to its historic homeland.

Ticino: New strategies to combat climate change

Ticino producers are experimenting with agroforestry and new organic techniques to cope with drought and high temperatures in their vineyards.

Queen’s Roger Taylor launches his own rosé

The Queen drummer presents “Queen Côtes de Provence Rosé”, a project developed with French producers and Sony Music to combine wine, conviviality and music.

Wine events

Monfalcone inaugurates the Wine and Fish Festival

Food and wine, shows, and local traditions officially open the Friulian summer season.

Vinorum animates L’Aquila

The Abruzzo festival dedicates ample space to heroic viticulture, mountain regions, and the relationship between wine and local identity.

Open Cellars 2026 takes center stage between Sicily and Ticino.

A weekend of tastings, experiential tourism, and winery visits between Mount Etna and the Canton of Ticino, with strong participation from the public and industry professionals.

Operations, investments and opportunities in the sector

An industrial winery in the heart of the Prosecco DOC region.

An already operational production facility with 16,000 hl of storage, autoclaves, and an industrial bottling line is available in the Treviso area. This opportunity is aimed at Prosecco DOC operators and investors.

Cellar operating in Prosecco DOCG

In Valdobbiadene, there is an already active winery producing approximately 200,000 bottles annually, ready for growth in Italian and international markets.

Large wine and olive oil estate in Puglia

A 278-hectare agricultural estate in the Castel del Monte area with DOCG vineyards, DOP olive groves, modern facilities, and a strong wine tourism vocation.

208-hectare organic farm in Upper Lazio

For sale is a single-unit agricultural property with DOC Colli Etruschi Viterbesi vineyards, hazelnut groves, olive groves, and extensive agro-energy potential.

Molino Farm focuses on organic farming and wine tourism

In Cori, Lazio, a multifunctional agricultural enterprise with organic vineyards, rural hospitality, and a modern winery focused on sustainability and biodiversity.

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

The wine crisis isn’t just due to declining consumption, new lifestyles, or economic pressure on families.

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One of the deepest, and perhaps least addressed, causes is the way wine continues to tell its story: often distant, complicated, self-referential, incapable of speaking to ordinary people.
Wine, first of all, is pleasure.
It’s about conviviality, memory, emotion, and territory. You don’t need to be a sommelier to understand whether you like a wine or not. Everyone has different taste preferences, just like with music, food, or even people. Expecting consumers to know technical terms, aromatic descriptors, or specialized jargon to feel “up to par” automatically creates a barrier.

And this is precisely where one of the industry’s major problems arises: wine in Italy too often continues to communicate as it did in the 1990s, when the technical and elitist narrative was perceived as modern and aspirational. That model worked, especially abroad, because Italian wine was a symbol of prestige, lifestyle, and Made in Italy. But today the context has changed radically.

Meanwhile, eating habits, relationships with alcohol, leisure time, media language, and, above all, the speed with which younger generations decide what to consume have changed. Today, a young person makes decisions in seconds, through images, short videos, and immediate emotions. Wine, however, often continues to be talked about in interminable press releases, self-referential tastings, and content designed more for industry insiders than for those who should buy it. Added to this is a concrete economic issue. In recent years, purchasing power has declined, while many premium bottles have reached prices that the average consumer perceives as excessive. In the past, a bottle of good wine was a natural part of the daily table; today, in many cases, it is seen as something for special occasions. Meanwhile, cocktails, craft beers, and new consumption formats are more accessible, more immediate, and often even more profitable for those who sell them. The problem isn’t the wine itself. Italy continues to boast extraordinary quality, arguably the best winemaking region in the world in terms of its terroir, price range, and cultural identity. Today, it’s difficult to find truly “bad” wines: the average quality has risen dramatically. But the language used to describe this heritage has lagged behind. Another strategic mistake has been to increasingly link wine to the world of haute cuisine and fine dining. In Italy, wine originated as an element of popular conviviality, linked to the table, family, and the simplicity of being together. When it’s presented only within sophisticated rituals, formal tastings, and exclusive settings, it loses its spontaneity and alienates the public. Many consumers today seek authenticity, immediacy, and simplicity. This is also what has fueled the success of natural wines and craft beers: regardless of ideology, they are perceived as more authentic, less constructed products, closer to people and contemporary lifestyles. The truth is that wine must return to its natural place in everyday Italian culture. It must return to pizzerias, agritourisms, informal occasions, and the simple moments of real life. It’s paradoxical that in Italy there are thousands of pizzerias with hundreds of seats where everything in the glass dominates except wine, when pizza and wine pairing could be one of the most spontaneous and contemporary to promote. A profound shift in mentality is therefore needed. Wine should no longer convey cultural superiority, but rather emotional well-being and social connection. It should not enter the realm of health or ideological opposition. It should remind people of something much simpler: being together. And above all, the industry must understand that communication has changed forever. We have moved from a world dominated by the written word to one driven by images, videos, and visual speed. The new generations live within social media and shape their choices there. Being absent or poorly present digitally today is not elegance or tradition: it is isolation from the market. This is why wineries, consortia, and press offices should have the courage to truly open themselves to young digital professionals, capable of speaking the contemporary language without losing their local authenticity. Press releases or static photographs of bottles are no longer enough. What’s needed are emotions, faces, real stories, immediacy, and the ability to create connections. Even from a commercial perspective, many practices today have lost their communicative power. Participating in a trade fair isn’t automatically news. Presenting a new product is no longer enough. Announcing a brand ambassador or a press tour often only interests industry insiders. Consumers seek something else: authenticity, simplicity, true and recognizable experiences. Italian wine remains one of the country’s strongest cultural assets. But to remain so, it must stop portraying itself as an exclusive club and return to speaking the language of Italian conviviality, of shared dining, and the simple joy of being together. Only in this way can it recapture the younger generations without losing its identity.

Wine press review for Saturday May 16 -2026

with:

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

Wine press review for Saturday, May 16, 2026

Italian wineries

  • New ownership for the historic Dario Coos: entrepreneur Mauro Savio has acquired 80% of the Friulian winery, marking the arrival of an industrial manager in the winemaking sector with the goal of relaunching and consolidating the business.
  • Pinino inaugurates the Ferragamo family’s new era with Rosso di Montalcino 2024. Investments in packaging, brand identity, and territorial development for one of the appellation’s historic wineries.
  • The Montemiglietto Winery received a special mention at Intesa Sanpaolo’s “Imprese Vincenti” (Winning Companies) program: young producer Luca Lesina was recognized for innovation, climate adaptation, and promoting Made in Italy.
  • In Segonzano, the historic Barone a Prato winery continues to promote the famous “Dürer vineyards,” combining wine, culture, and experiential tourism.
  • In the US, Honig Vineyard & Winery is making headlines for its innovative, family-friendly business model: employees can bring their children to work directly at the winery.
  • The role of young Italian women producers is growing in the “Sbarbatelle” project: over 160 Italian producers are participating in Toronto to promote Barolo and Italian wine on the Canadian market.

Italian wine and Italian oenology

  • Consumer tastes are changing: the “less but better” paradigm is taking hold in Italian wine. There’s a growing focus on quality, experience, and product recognition, while consumption is decreasing in quantity but not in perceived value.
  • The winemaking debate is shifting to lower-alcohol wines: for years, high alcohol content was synonymous with quality, but today the market rewards balance, drinkability, and elegance.
  • Signorvino closed 2025 with a turnover of 90 million euros: strong growth in the restaurant business (6%) and confirmation of the centrality of the gastronomic experience in wine consumption.
  • Lombardy is launching the OCM Vino Promozione 2026/2027 call for proposals with €2.4 million to support exports and promotion in non-EU markets.
  • The wine tech sector is accelerating: eight startups selected by the Wine Tech Challenge will work on sustainability, agritech, digitalization, and evolving consumption.
  • Alessandra Piubello sends a clear message to the industry: wine must rediscover a language more in tune with young consumers and reclaim its cultural role.
  • The evolution of precision agriculture continues: the Cremona Agricultural Consortium is investing in multispectral drones for crop monitoring and advanced agronomic management.
  • Growing attention is being paid to agronomic sustainability and natural crop protection with new biological solutions against powdery mildew and bacterial diseases.
  • The agricultural sector is paying close attention to the potential urea ban in the Po Valley starting in 2028: according to Nomisma, it could increase cereal production costs by up to 7%.
  • Environmental sustainability is increasingly becoming part of corporate culture: Fratelli Campagnolo launches the “Park for Bees” project to protect biodiversity.
  • Italian consumption remains stable but increasingly fragmented: food e-commerce is growing and the purchasing habits of Italian families are changing.
  • Geopolitical attention on the agricultural sector is high as the race to renew the FAO leadership continues, with tensions escalating between Italy and Spain over control of the main UN agricultural agencies.

International

  • Asia returns to the forefront of Italian wine strategies with Wine To Asia 2026: over 400 exhibitors and a strong Italian presence to strengthen trade relations with emerging Asian markets.
  • The debate over the international competitiveness of Italian wine continues: exports are slowing, but premium wines and sparkling wines are showing strong resilience.
  • Bordeaux returns to the spotlight with the “Bordeauxgraphy” publishing project: over 2,000 wines tasted to relaunch the cultural and oenological value of the French region.

Wine events

  • Bologna Wine Week 2026 brings tastings of around 40 Italian wineries from Emilia-Romagna to Sicily, focusing on local wines and regional identities.
  • Vinorum 2026 transforms L’Aquila into the capital of Abruzzo wine: 52 wineries, 250 labels, masterclasses, tastings, and a focus on heroic viticulture.
  • “The Purple Heart of Venice and the Euganean Hills” returns to the Euganean Hills, an event dedicated to local wines and the purple artichoke of Sant’Erasmo.
  • The “Vigna & Tavola” event kicks off, showcasing Karst and haute cuisine: wine tastings and gastronomic journeys featuring local wines.
  • Vitigno Italia 2026 hosts the Campania Region with a story integrated into wine, the fish supply chain, and territorial promotion.

Focus on wine-growing assets and opportunities

  • For sale is a prestigious organic and biodynamic estate of approximately 80 hectares in the Eastern Hills of Friuli, with terraced vineyards, charming hospitality, and high wine tourism potential.
  • A historic estate in Vulture dedicated to Aglianico DOCG, with a strong premium positioning and an integrated hospitality project, is now available on the market.
  • In the Castelli Romani area, we offer an organic farm with a winery, a farmhouse, a B&B, and a photovoltaic system, focusing on sustainability and wine tourism.

Final summary for the web

Italian wine continues to undergo profound transformation. Consumption patterns are changing, volumes are decreasing, but the demand for quality, experience, and authenticity is growing. The market increasingly rewards wines with a strong territorial identity and well-presented stories, while the industry is accelerating its efforts in sustainability, technological innovation, and wine tourism.

At the same time, the need to open new international markets, especially in Asia, is growing, while operators are paying close attention to climate change, new generations, and new languages for wine communication.

In this scenario, structured winemaking assets, with a strong territorial identity, hospitality capacity, and premium positioning, are becoming increasingly strategic for investors, wine groups, and international operators.

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

Wine press review for Friday May 15 -2026

with:

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

Italian wineries

Cantina Moros: fairy tale, wine, and territory Cantina Moros hosts a meeting dedicated to the Griko fairy tale “The Little Girl Who Brought Patience ,” an event that unites biodiversity, local culture, memory, and the Negroamaro territory.

Bertani opens the historic Amarone library On May 23 and 24, Bertani offers “Bertani On,” an exclusive tasting of great vintages of Amarone della Valpolicella Classico, paired with creations by chef Giancarlo Perbellini.

Valpolicella Wine Consortium: New Board of Directors and Positive Results The new Board of Directors of the Valpolicella Wine Consortium has been elected, serving until 2028. The 2025 financial statements show a record profit, despite a challenging market for red wines.

Emilia Wine invests in photovoltaic energy. The Emilia Wine cooperative winery inaugurates a nearly one million euro agri-solar system in Arceto, supported by PNRR funds, to reduce energy costs and strengthen sustainability.

Pasqua and the Hey French project Pasqua Vigneti e Cantine recounts the journey of Hey French , a multi-vintage wine created to transcend the vintage paradigm and enhance time, territory, and company identity.

Ca’ di Rajo: The trial continues over the winery accident. The Treviso Court is returning to the case of the death of winemaker Marco Bettollini, who died in 2023 in a nitrogen-saturated autoclave. The focus of the proceedings will be on winery safety.

Italian wine and Italian oenology

Sicily: Positive 2025 Harvest The 2025 harvest restores confidence in Sicily’s winemaking: more rain, better vegetative balance, and quality grapes, with an estimated increase in production of up to 20%.

Lazio, Santarelli calls for more space for regional wines. Antonio Santarelli, owner of Casale del Giglio, decries the lack of Lazio wines on local restaurant menus and draws attention to their value for money.

Orange wine: a return to an ancient practice. Interest in orange wines, made from white grapes macerated on the skins, is growing. This trend emphasizes traditional techniques, complexity, and new ways of enjoying them.

Tignanello among the most desired wines in the world Marchesi Antinori’s Tignanello is the only Italian wine included in Wine-Searcher’s 2026 ranking of the ten most desired wines in the world.

Excessive wine price increases at restaurants. Italgrob is raising the alarm over rising wine and beverage price tags, which threaten to make wine increasingly unaffordable in restaurants.

CMO Wine: Call for Third Country Promotion Opened. The call for submissions of CMO Wine projects “Promotion on Third Country Markets” for the 2026/2027 wine year has been approved. Applications must be submitted by June 26, 2026.

Winemaking innovation with the Wine Tech Challenge Eatable Adventures’ Wine Tech Challenge rewards startups working on water, precision agriculture, customs, large-scale retail trade, dealcoholization, and sustainability, with the involvement of leading Italian wineries.

International

Crisis in the Middle East: Italian agri-food sector concerned According to a TEHA survey, seven out of ten Italian agri-food companies fear negative market effects due to the international crisis, energy costs, and raw materials.

Wine by the glass is growing worldwide. According to Coravin, 57% of global consumers prefer to drink wine by the glass, driven by moderation, curiosity, variety, and the pursuit of quality.

Global wine slows. The OIV report confirms the global slowdown in the sector: consumption is declining, exports are under pressure, vineyard area is shrinking, and the value of international trade is penalized by tariffs and uncertainty.

Famille Perrin invests in non-alcoholic beverages The Perrin family, owners of Château de Beaucastel, enters the non-alcoholic beverage sector by acquiring a majority stake in Alain Milliat, a French brand of premium juices for high-end hotels and restaurants.

Negroni, an Italian symbol around the world The Negroni is confirmed as an iconic international cocktail, born in Florence between 1919 and 1920 and today recognized as one of the most powerful symbols of the Italian aperitif.

Wine events

Soave, Refrontolo, and other wine regions celebrate. Festivals, wine exhibitions, guided tours, farmers’ markets, and events related to wine, culture, and the region continue throughout Veneto and the UNESCO hills.

Aperitif-trekking among the hills of Farra di Soligo. An evening trek through the UNESCO vineyards of Conegliano-Valdobbiadene is planned for May 23rd, with aperitif dinner and return under the stars.

Vinarius in Trentino From May 24th to 26th, the Trentino Wine Consortium will host the Italian wine merchants of Vinarius for a tour of vineyards, cellars, grappa, and the surrounding area.

Cantine Aperte 2026 Cantine Aperte returns on May 30th and 31st: 52 participating wineries are expected in Abruzzo, while in Piedmont the event will involve Langhe, Roero, Monferrato, Colline Novaresi and Canavese.

Gemme di Gusto in Trentino From May 15th to 17th, the event dedicated to wines, trekking, local flavors, and experiential tourism continues, with wine tastings, excursions, and e-bike tours.

Vin-Tour Guagnano: A new itinerary between Lecce and Guagnano dedicated to Negroamaro, local culture, and slow tourism, including visits to museums, the library, the mother church, and local wineries.

Etna Wine at Cantina Pietradolce On May 16th, Cantina Pietradolce hosts a day of Etna wines, signature street food, and solidarity on the slopes of Etna.

Final summary

The day confirms a rapidly evolving wine sector. On the one hand, obvious critical issues emerge: declining global consumption, market tensions, rising restaurant prices, climate risks, and increased attention to winery safety. On the other, Italian wine continues to demonstrate vitality through investments in sustainability, technological innovation, wine tourism, regional development, and new forms of consumption.

The central message is clear: wine can no longer rely solely on tradition. It must better communicate its value, engage with new consumers, and create more accessible, authentic, and recognizable experiences.

Today’s wine press review was brought to you by WineIdea.it.

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