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Wine press review for Monday February 9 -2026

with:

Wineries, Italian wine producers, and wine news.

Italian wineries

  • Top 100 Italian Reds 2026 : Gentleman ‘s definitive ranking crosses the five main guides. At the top are Gaja , Tenuta San Guido , Bruno Giacosa , and Marchesi Antinori .
  • Change at the top of the Cantina di Nizza : Andrea Ghignone elected president, launching a strategic phase of cooperative relaunch.
  • Oltrepò Pavese, 200 years of history : Feudo Nico di Mornico Losana celebrates two centuries with Pinot Noir, Classic Method and an integrated business model (wine, catering, short supply chain).
  • Alto Adige, signature Lagrein : the Rottensteiner Estate in Gries presents a great limited-edition Lagrein, an urban-rural expression of Bolzano.
  • Langhe, 40 years of Darmagi : Angelo Gaja’s “Bordeaux” from Langa turns forty, a symbol of vision and breaking the mold.
  • Made in Italy : Castello di Meleto enters the MIMIT Register of Historic Brands of National Interest.
  • New business stories : San Martin is born between Canavese and Vercellese, an Italian-Argentine union between Mendoza and Piedmont.

Italian wine and Italian oenology

  • Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG takes center stage at Casa Veneto during the Olympics: territory, winemakers, and quality are at the heart of the story.
  • Viticulture and innovation : technical meetings on agricultural mechanics, genetics, alien insects, and AI applications (drones and regulations) return to San Pietro di Feletto.
  • Territory and Value : At “Grandi Langhe and the Piedmont of Wine,” reflections on the role of the Crus for Barolo and Barbaresco with the region’s key players.
  • Rules and maintenance : farmers are given an ultimatum regarding cleaning ditches for flood prevention and road safety.
  • Wine Culture : “Wine has brought us together for 10,000 years,” between history, sociality, and pleasure (conference “The Taste of Feeling Good”).
  • Inventories and the market : full cellars, exports as a relief valve; talk of reduced production is returning.

International

  • Champagne, the luxury paradox : declining shipments but high revenues; the risk of losing the heart of the terroir, according to Gianni Moriani.
  • Michelin Guide and wine : after restaurants and hotels, the historic guide extends its expertise to the promotion of wine and service professionals.

Wine events

  • Wine Paris 2026 : Over 1,100 Italian wineries at Porte de Versailles; Italy is the second largest exhibiting country.
    • Consortia and collectives : the Consorzio Vini di Romagna with 10 wineries; the IMT Marche with 15 wineries and 16 DOPs; Sicily with 41 wineries coordinated by IRVO.
    • Advanced format : Wine Paris, Be Spirits and Be No together to cover wine, spirits and no/low alcohol.
  • New formats : Fiera Milano and Excellence SIDI launch Wine Prime (debut January 2027).
  • Terre di Toscana : 18th edition in March with 140 winemakers at the UNA Esperienze Versilia Lido Hotel.
  • FuoriVinifera : Vinifera becomes widespread (21–22 March) in the Piana Rotaliana Königsberg.
  • Wine tourism : Valentine’s Day 2026 with the Umbria Wine Tourism Movement.

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

Wine press review for Sunday February 8 -2026

with:

Wineries, Italian wine producers, and wine news.

Italian wineries

Ornellaia 2023: Art Interprets the Terroir Marina Abramović signs the 2023 vintage of Ornellaia for the 18th edition of Vendemmia d’Artista . “La Vitality” becomes the story of a virtuous balance between nature and human intervention, debuting on the Italian market on April 1st.

Pio Cesare, the last winery in the heart of Alba. A physical and symbolic bridge between history and future: the Alba winery combines historic spaces and modern technology, remaining the only production facility still operating in the city center.

Terre d’Aenòr and Tenuta Martinelli Two young Franciacorta wineries (both founded in 2018) that represent a new generation focused on personal style, quality, and recognizability rather than instant success.

Davide Campagnano Winery (Castel Campagnano) A “third generation” story and a return to the land: organic viticulture, a non-invasive approach, and Caiazzo sandstone soils as a territorial signature.

Moncaro at auction: estimated value €2.3 million. The Marche-based cooperative Terre Cortesi Moncaro is headed for judicial auction: the focus will be on the value of the company’s branches and the decisions of the new Board of Directors, which have impacted contracts and the membership.

Lombardy Region: €3.7 million for wineries and hospitality. 2025/26 CMO Wine grants to 139 Lombardy companies for modernization, direct sales, and wine tourism, ahead of Wine Paris and Vinitaly.

Italian wine and Italian oenology

Out-of-home consumption: €2.2 billion. The alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverage market is returning to pre-pandemic levels. Still-carbonated soft drinks, cocktails, and spirits are growing. This trend is increasingly intertwined with the world of wine and mixology.

Veneto, a winemaking crossroads. A cultural journey through iconic reds and sparkling wines: wine as an everyday language, capable of integrating tradition, cuisine, and lifestyle.

Young winemakers: less technique, more storytelling. Between the Langhe, Roero, and Monferrato, a generation is emerging that speaks about wine starting from people and values, not just from winemaking.

Natural Wine: The Revolutionary Drive Is Over Roberto Frega’s book Post-Natural Wine proposes a paradigm shift: from the cellar to the vineyard, from an ideological break to an agronomic responsibility reconciled with science.

White challenges red. A cultural and generational analysis of changes in Italian consumption: color, occasion, and form of drinking are transforming along with people.

High inventories, exports as a lifeline. Italian wineries are facing inventories equivalent to nearly two harvests. International agreements are helping, but discussions about reducing production are returning.

International

Rooted vines blocked: alarm raised by Rauscedo. Morocco has halted the import of vines due to concerns about a bacterium present in Puglia. This has affected a sector that in Friuli represents over 60% of national production.

Hundred Hills (UK): a success with Italian roots Behind one of the best English sparkling wines is Enrico Cassinelli, a winemaker from Oltrepò Pavese, protagonist of the exploration of a new terroir in the Chilterns.

Luxury, wine, and AI. A week packed with global events: financial statements, French exports, the World AI Cannes Festival, and the Italy-Africa Summit. Signs of a world where wine, technology, and geopolitics are increasingly intertwined.

Wine events

Beer & Food Attraction 2026 (Rimini, February 15-17) Europe’s leading event for out-of-home dining, including beverages, foodservice, and new trends.

Vinitaly 2026: Spirits Make Way for Xcellent Spirits is launched, with an entire pavilion dedicated to mixology and spirits. Italian exports in the sector are worth €1.7 billion.

Wine Paris 2026: Franciacorta showcased by 30 wineries. The Parisian fair confirms its position as a key hub for international positioning.

Barolo joins Iter Vitis. The Piedmont region strengthens its European cultural profile by joining the Council of Europe network dedicated to the culture of vines and wine.

Wine tourism: billion-dollar projections. According to SRM-Intesa Sanpaolo, wine tourism could generate an additional €1 billion. Over half of companies will continue investing between 2025 and 2027.

“When Wine Meets Tourism” Report Presents figures and models of Italian wine tourism: from ancillary activity to strategic asset for value, territory, and new demands.

Organic Wine Guide 2026: Le Chiuse’s Brunello Riserva Diecianni 2015 (best red) and numerous other eco-friendly wines were awarded. Barone Pizzini was named best company with the lowest environmental impact.

Michelin Guide: the “Bunch” of Wine is born. A new distinction dedicated to wineries, a natural extension of Michelin’s expertise in catering and hospitality.

Milan-Cortina 2026: Wine at the Winter House Tastings and storytelling for the American press, with seven Italian wineries starring in Olympic hospitality.

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

Wine press review for Saturday February 7 -2026

with:

Winery, Italian wine producers, and wine news.

Italian wineries

Oltrepò: Losito and Guarini remain in the running.

  • The Losito and Guarini company confirms its interest in acquiring the Terre d’Oltrepò cooperative.
  • After the complaint of “failure to respond”, a formal communication arrives (29 January 2026) from ministerial commissioner Luigi Zingone.
  • Position: “open to any possible formula” → the game is still open, with territorial and socio-economic implications.

Tedeschi (Valpolicella): transition to the new generation

  • Enrico Giacomelli Tedeschi (from January), the first of the seven cousins of the new generation, will take over the role.
  • Key message: family continuity as a structured project (not just symbolic), with legal and managerial skills.

Tenuta Santa Maria Valverde: Organic certification halted, transition to integrated pest management.

  • Producer Nicola Campagnola makes a clear choice: abandoning certified organic production.
  • Hot topic: costs/complexity/perceived effectiveness of certification vs. “integrated” agronomic management.
  • Market insight: be careful about reputational risk and communication (how you tell it matters as much as what you do).

Lungarotti and “Progetto 1962”: Heritage as a Strategic Lever

  • Story of a structured reality (foundation company), with a focus on sustainability, biodiversity, and continuity of vision.
  • Reading: the past not as nostalgia, but as a tool for positioning and industrial coherence.

Santa Maria La Palma Winery (Alghero): A cooperative as a “widespread value”

  • Declared numbers: over 300 members , 800 hectares , approximately €28 million turnover , 8 million bottles .
  • Over €30 million redistributed to members (2021–2025), €8 million in the last year.
  • Model: international growth without relocation, with measurable local economic impact.

Italian wine and Italian oenology

Large-scale retail trade: wine closes 2025 in the red (but holds up)

  • Large-scale retail trade sales (Circana): €2.3 billion value ( -0.5% ), 618 million liters ( -3.1% ).
  • Average price: €3.77/L ( 2.6% ).
  • 0.75 bottle: value 0.2% , volume -1.9% ; sparkling: value 3.6% , volume 3.1% .
  • Reading: volumes down, price up → promotional pressure and selective “trade-down” remain the themes.

Freisa: “Second Youth” in Piedmont

  • Focus on the origins, aromatic identity and contemporary rediscovery of the grape variety.
  • Undercurrent: return of natives with “character” when they manage to speak a modern language.

Prosecco “col fondo”: the ancestor that comes back to count

  • Cultural difference: “Easy” Prosecco vs. “straight” Prosecco, more gastronomic, less accommodating.
  • Market insight: identity niches that become credible (not artificial) storytelling.

Amarone: More elegance and drinkability (concrete signs)

  • The Verona preview revealed a stylistic evolution perceived as more realistic and less declarative.
  • Direction: “intelligent” lightening without losing identity.

Calabria on the Rise: Gambero Rosso’s Best Ciròs

  • Cirò as a symbol of a qualitative leap in the region and the consolidation of the native varieties.
  • Note: a new dynamic in events/national attention (festivals and local initiatives) is cited.

Palizzi (IGT): a territorial tale between the Ionian coast and Greek roots

  • Emphasis on cultural identity and soil and climate conditions (clay, sea breeze, altitude).
  • Theme: Micro-territories that work if they become experiences (not just labels).

Wine and the young: fewer slogans, more culture and people

  • Interventions by young winemakers (22–40 years): shifting the focus from technicalities to storytelling, values, and faces.
  • Implication: The question isn’t “do they drink,” but “what really hooks them.”

Institutional wine campaign: Coldiretti

  • Support for supply chain communication against “demonization”, with reference to the economic value of 14.5 billion .

Observatory: “Uncertainty is the new normal”

  • The “Wine Permanent Observer” report was presented in Alba: a complex scenario and declining exports.
  • Message: We need governance of change, not defense of vested interests.

International

Low/no alcohol drinks: yes, but maximum caution is required.

  • A young and growing market; a “Trojan horse” risk for bringing alcohol consumption back to sensitive targets.
  • Alerts and analyses recalled (WHO 2024 and expert summaries in scientific journal).

Dry January loses its grip (USA): fewer mocktails, more spirits

  • From American bars: January busier than expected, driven by corporate events.
  • Demand composition: fewer non-alcoholic drinks, more spirits → a signal to monitor for those investing in no/low alcohol.

UK: New alcohol excise duties (from February 1) and protests

  • Excise duty increase in line with the RPI index (3.66%); wine/beer sector disputes.
  • Topic: balance between revenue/health policy and competitiveness of the sector.

Australia: Wine Exports to Decline in 2025

  • Wine Australia data: -8% value (2.34 billion AUD), -6% volume (613 million litres).
  • Average value per litre decreasing → pressure on positioning and market mix.

Wine events

Wine Paris 2026: Sicily takes center stage with IRVO (41 wineries)

  • Project: “Sicily of Wine. Roots of the Future” (February 9–11, 2026, Paris Expo).
  • Format: beyond the fair, identity storytelling, training events and food and wine pairing (also in a hotel school context).

Wine Paris 2026: Consortium of Romagna Wines with 10 wineries

  • Presence at the fair (Hall 5.2 – Stand B130) and participation in the “Selection by VertdeVin” event (10 February).
  • Objective: label selection and international positioning.

Oltrepò Pavese: Buttafuoco Storico turns 30

  • Anniversary 1996–2026 with calendar of events: tradition, future, stricter DOC rules to protect identity.

“The Great Verticals of the Cities of Wine” (January–April 2026)

  • Format: vertical tastings (young vs. mature wine) and in 2026 a focus on wine and food pairing as a participatory experience.

Winery Event: Bagna Cauda at Francesco Rosso (February 21)

  • An experiential evening in Roero: local food and wine as a driver of direct connection.

Cross-cutting focus of the day (strategic reading)

The common thread is crystal clear: the market isn’t collapsing, but its grammar is changing .

  • Distribution : volumes down, prices up → margins to be protected with mix and identity.
  • Styles and products : drinkability (Amarone), authenticity (with sediment), native wines that “return” (Freisa, Cirò).
  • Policy & reputation : organic between new rules (national brand) and unconventional choices (exiting certification).
  • International : health, excise duties, and “hybrid” consumption make the picture more unstable but legible for those who govern data and positioning.

See you tomorrow.

Wine press review for Friday February 6 -2026

with:

Wineries, Italian wine producers, and wine news.

Italian wineries

Cantina Tollo presents its “TO BE” line. Making their debut at Wine Paris are TO BE Fresh (a chilled red) and TO BE Light (a low-alcohol white). A concrete response to new international consumption trends and a younger audience, without alcohol-free wines but with targeted agronomic choices.

Cantina Santa Maria La Palma: a cooperative that creates value. A virtuous model with a €28 million turnover and 8 million bottles produced. Over 300 members, 800 hectares, and growth without losing value: the wealth remains local.

Sankt Pauls renews governance and vision The historic South Tyrolean cooperative (1907) presents its new production and managerial course in Rome: a more modern style, strong attention to sustainability and terroir.

Tinazzi is among the greenest wineries (EcoVadis Silver). It has become one of the top 15% of companies certified for sustainability worldwide. A path of concrete action regarding suppliers, the environment, and social responsibility.

Pizzolato Winery: lower turnover, solid 2025 margins at €24 million (-€2 million), EBITDA stable at 15%, exports at 93%. Long-term international strategy and strengthening of the HoReCa business in Italy.

Enio Ottaviani among the excellences of Milan-Cortina 2026 Selected for the American Winter House: wine as a tool for cultural relations and food and wine diplomacy.

Italian wine and Italian oenology

The wine market is sailing by sight. Record exports in 2024 (€8.1 billion), but a contraction in 2025 (-2.2% in value, -1% in volume). The message is clear: volume growth no longer guarantees value. “Uncertainty is the new normal.”

Institutional wine ads: Masaf launches a €105,000 campaign for a national communication campaign promoting Italian wine. This move is more symbolic than structural, amid pressure on margins.

Vitae Guide 2026 – Abruzzo takes center stage with 76 wineries reviewed, 45 excellent wines scoring above 90/100. Best Italian wine: Trebbiano d’Abruzzo 2021 Valentini (98.5/100).

Langhe: Reclaiming Vineyards to Save Villages In Rocca Cigliè, reclaiming uncultivated land is becoming a tool to combat depopulation and attract new winemaking investments.

Glera Piwi: the future of Prosecco . Seven new resistant varieties presented in Rauscedo. Fewer treatments, more sustainability, and the same territorial identity. A key step for the future competitiveness of DOC and DOCG wines.

Bag-in-box: the taboo that no longer scares. Still only 3.5% of global trade, but a strategic format for price, convenience, and sustainability. Even some DOCs are starting to explore its use.

Anima Aurea: wine refinement in gold and silver. A patented project that combines science and experimentation: chromatographic analyses show improvements in taste and aroma in structured reds.

International

US: Wine consumption declines for the fifth year, down 7% in value and 9% in volume. Italy holds up better than the market (down 3% in value), thanks to Chianti Classico, Prosecco, and Brunello.

US market saturated: not just tariffs. In 2025, Italy will lose 5.2% in volume. France and New Zealand are holding up better; Australia, Chile, and Argentina are struggling.

Australia: China continues to slow down exports in 2025 (-8% in value, -6% in volume). Beijing remains an unstable and highly risky market.

Ningxia, the new frontier of Chinese wine China’s leading wine-producing region, now enjoying strong international growth and a new destination for luxury wine tourism.

Edoardo Freddi International expects 6% growth in value and 9% in volume in 2025 , with 38 million bottles sold in 112 markets. Europe is at 45%, while the US remains stable (-1%).

Wine events

VinNatur Genoa (February 8–9) 90 winemakers from 17 regions, masterclasses, and training. Natural wine continues to develop as a cultural and commercial segment.

Wine Paris (9–11 February)

  • Valpolicella: 50 companies, 24% stand, focus on Amarone
  • Brunello di Montalcino: 77 wineries, 71% less than in 2025
  • Asolo Montello: first stage of the 2026 export plan

Slow Wine Fair – Bologna Over 1,000 wineries to reflect on “good, clean, and fair wine”: quality, ethics, environment, and supply chain.

Milan-Cortina 2026: the toast is Prosecco DOC. A major investment by the appellation as the Official Sparkling Wine. Over 3 billion viewers: an unprecedented territorial positioning operation.

WinePrime is born (Milan, January 2027) A new high-end B2B fair dedicated to dialogue between excellent international producers and qualified distribution.

QUIDQUID Strategic Note

This week’s common thread is clear: those who govern supply chains, markets, and industrial models are withstanding the pressure; those who remain stagnant are suffering. Wine isn’t experiencing an identity crisis, but rather a crisis of adaptation.

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

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