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Wine press review for Monday January 5 -2026

with:

Wine news, Italian wineries and wines.

Italian wineries

Tenuta San Leonardo: organic certification suspended (for now). The Trentino winery explains its decision: significant production declines (-30% annually over the last three harvests) and the “industrial” cost of organic farming, deemed no longer sustainable under current conditions. Key issues: economic as well as agronomic sustainability.

Odoardi: Release of seizure and return to full operations (with clarifications). The Calabrian company is back in the hands of its owner. In parallel, the Scavigno Agricultural Consortium has published clarifications: the release cited by the press concerns an area/land associated with consortium restrictions, urging people not to confuse “release of seizure” with “resumption of operations” in the full sense.

Alex Maccan: From Furniture to Viticulture in Friuli (Le Monde and La Ponca) A story of a life-changing entrepreneurial career: from the furniture industry to the vineyards, a journey that unites vision, territory, and winemaking.

Farewell to Arnaldo Caprai (192?–2026): the man who transformed Sagrantino into a global brand. One of the protagonists of the promotion of Sagrantino di Montefalco: entrepreneurship, territorial vision, and building an international reputation, has passed away at the age of 92.

Italian wine and Italian oenology

Italian wine inventories are growing: “Cantina Italia” reports high volumes. As of November 30, 2025: 53.4 million hectoliters (8.6% vs. November 30, 2024), 9.5 million hl of new wine in fermentation, and 9.7 million hl of must. This trend is interpreted in the context of different harvests (2023 poor, 2024 more generous, 2025 even more abundant) and slower sales/consumption (health concerns, tariffs, pressure on incomes).

Dealcoholized wines: Protopapa (Lega) calls for “regulatory clarity” to protect identities and denominations. The interministerial decree between the Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF) and the Ministry of Health (MASAF) ushers in a more structured phase for the low/no alcohol segment. The political and operational message is: innovation is welcome, but with clear rules to avoid ambiguity regarding the positioning of Piedmontese and Italian wines.

Zibibbo (Moscato d’Alessandria): a Mediterranean grape variety, between history and identity. Cultural and agronomic insight: Zibibbo as a “bridge” between peoples, trade routes, agricultural techniques and traditions (Pantelleria as a symbol, but not only).

Grapur – “Italian Red Wine”: Sustainability told through packaging. Project 2025 by Mack & Schühle Italia (a joint venture between Mack & Schühle AG and Latentia). A broad supply chain (cooperatives and an extensive vineyard network) and a narrative/industrial approach: sustainability built from the ultra-lightweight bottle, cork, and materials (with partners such as Verallia and Nomacorc Ocean).

Tasting Notes: Primitivo di Manduria Dionysos 2010 (De Quarto) A wine “out of time” (in a good way): long maceration, no oak, released only at the ripeness deemed ideal by the producer. Very low sulfur content; broad and mature aromatic profile.

The Fiano that defies time: Fiano di Avellino Riserva 2015 (Di Meo) Focus on evolutionary capacity and taste tension: eight years in steel, refined in the bottle, with freshness still alive.

Falanghina identity: the Tenuta Le Albe project (Arturo Erbaggio) Portrait of a winemaker/agronomist who “sets up on his own” and builds an essential and territorial Falanghina (plot in Irpinia, project launch 2012).

International

France: Sweetening of still AOC wines, doctrine changes. From November 27, 2025: regulated opening to sensory profile correction in still AOC wines, with technical limitations (9 g/l limit, traceability, operational constraints). Impact for Italy: potential competitive pressure on the medium segments and, at the same time, an opportunity to reposition “Made in Italy” on transparency and the strength of the appellations.

The Academy (Vinexposium): training and data to understand global markets. Confirmation of its role as an international hub in 2025: sessions on the geopolitics of wine, consumption trends, strategies, and a focus on the blending theme as a possible industrial direction.

“Wine Flight” wine tourism experiences in the castle. Visit/tasting story: wine tourism as an experiential product (replicable format), with attention to scenography, hospitality and tasting itinerary.

Wine events

Palio del Groppello 2025: Saottini wins (2024 harvest). A historic first: debut and victory, and the first win for the Lonato del Garda area. A tradition since 1970, with the awards ceremony in Salò.

Triveneto Winemaking Hub: inauguration on January 31, 2026 (San Vito al Tagliamento). A new consortium governance hub promoted by Triveneta Certificazioni, with a conference entitled “Building Connections, Building the Future.” The goal: quality, traceability, and market competitiveness, with a networking approach between regions and control systems.

Tuglie (LE): “Nativity Scenes in the Village” and “Christmas in the Cellar” until January 6th. A calendar will be distributed among wineries and historic locations. A special presentation of the book “Generazione alternativa. 1991-1995” will be held at the Peparussu Winery (wine-related cultural event).

Agro-economic context and assets (supply chain focus)

Italian farmers’ income: growth above the EU average. Statements by the Minister of Agriculture: Masaf strategies on supply chains, generational turnover, and valorization (including through tourism and cultural recognition).

Agricultural land: “silent” value selection (data and levers). Average value in Italy: €22,400/ha (1%) with significant regional differences (the Northeast is at its highest). Drivers cited: logistics, water availability, structured supply chains, brand strength, and earnings potential. Tax note: revaluation of land (2025 Budget Law) with a substitute tax of 18% by November 30, 2025, through a certified appraisal.

Operations and market

Beverage Risk 2026: M&A Expectations in Italy. 2025 is described as a year of slower transactions compared to 2024 (more caution, longer evaluation and closing times), but with overall values still solid. Reading: a less “noisy” pipeline, but deals are possible for well-positioned assets with defensible numbers.

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

Wine press review for Sunday January 4 – 2026

with:

Wine news, Italian wineries and wines.

Italian wineries

La Gerla, Monteraponi, and Cavallotto: the podium of the “Top 100” by Kerin O’Keefe. Three iconic denominations of Italian red wine lead the ranking:

  • Brunello di Montalcino La Pieve 2021 – La Gerla (100 points)
  • Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Radda Bragantino 2021 – Monteraponi (100 points)
  • Barolo Bricco Boschis Vigna San Giuseppe 2019 – Cavallotto (100 points)

Only high-altitude vineyards: Baglio di Pianetto’s strategic choice. Focusing on mountain vineyards for freshness and elegance. The winery focuses production on Santa Cristina Gela and Piana degli Albanesi, ceding its vineyards in Noto.

The new has ancient roots: Siridia is born in Negrar. Samuela and Edoardo Speri’s project combines distinctive wines and an innovative liqueur offering, with an Amaro that integrates Amarone dried grapes and select botanicals.

Ungrafted vineyards and Roman cisterns: La Sibilla in the Phlegraean Fields. The Di Meo family promotes Falanghina and Piedirosso, along with native varieties rediscovered in a unique setting with volcanic soil and history.

Chiarli 1860: One Hundred Years and a Major Renovation The historic Modena winery is investing in a new bottling line and technological systems to meet an increasingly demanding market.

Epiphany toast: “Lumia” by Carlo & Marco Carini. Late harvest Sans Année, organic, from Sémillon grapes, aged in barriques. Limited production of 1,100 numbered bottles.

Vigna Laure Greco di Tufo DOCG Riserva 2023 – Cantine Di Marzo The Irpinian white wine wins the Gambero Rosso Tre Bicchieri award , confirming the value of the project led by Ferrante Di Somma.

Italian wine and Italian oenology

Sergio Mattarella : “Thanks to food and wine, we are appreciated around the world.” In his end-of-year speech, the President emphasized the cultural value of Italian food and wine, just days after UNESCO recognized Italian cuisine.

The return of Prünent, Nebbiolo from Val d’Ossola A historic Nebbiolo ecotype is reborn thanks to the work of the Garrone family, in one of the northernmost areas of Piedmont.

The future of Italian wine according to the Consorzio Italia del Vino. Keywords for 2026: enthusiasm, beauty, experimentation, stability, and resilience. Reflections from the leaders of 24 major groups representing 15% of exports.

Growing stocks: from major DOCs to “jewel” territories. Cantina Italia data (updated November 30, 2025) show 53.4 million hectolitres (8.6% year-on-year), with slow sales and declining consumption.

Alcohol-Dealcoholized Wines: The Decree Is Here With the interministerial decree between the Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF) and the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MASAF), Italy finally defines the regulatory framework for low-/no-alcohol wines, protecting historic denominations.

“Pazza Idea”: Ca’ di Frara’s alcohol-free wine. Luca Bellani’s project was born in Germany, using osmosis technology and Moselle grapes, anticipating the Italian market for dealcoholized wines.

How we will drink in 2026 According to sommelier Luisito Perazzo, indigenous will be the key word of the future, along with greater consumer awareness.

The 2025 harvest will be excellent, but 2026 looks set to be complex. Production estimated at 47.4 million hectolitres (8%), high quality but high stocks in a context of declining consumption.

International

The World’s Best Winery is Viña Vik According to The World’s 50 Best Vineyards 2025 , the Chilean project combines iconic architecture, experiential wine tourism and wines from unique microclimates.

April 2025: Italian and International Wine A key month marked by agricultural policies, surplus management, and structural reflections on the future of the sector.

Wine events

The Michelin Guide introduces the “Grappoli” Starting in 2026, a new selection will reward wineries with one, two or three Grappoli, alongside recommended vineyards.

Wine takes center stage once again: the countdown to Wine&Siena begins. Three days dedicated to the excellence selected by The WineHunter Award, with over 100 wineries and a new partnership with the Consorzio del Nobile di Montepulciano.

The Under-40s of Italian Wine: Talent, vision, and new energy, as told through the protagonists we met in 2025, ahead of Only Wine.

Strategic focus

FORBUS: When quality is no longer enough. In wine, quality is a prerequisite. The difference lies in managing complexity: markets, costs, inventory, channels, wine tourism, low/no alcohol, and true sustainability. FORBUS, a network created by QUIDQUID Srls , works with a single management team covering viticulture, cellar management, oenology, sales, and branding, all the way to operating results.

Contact : info@quidquid.eu | +39 329 9298985

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

Wine press review for Saturday January 3 – 2026

with:

Wine news, Italian wineries and wines.

Italian wineries

The most surprising wines of 2025 A selection that rewards not only absolute excellence, but the ability to amaze: authentic interpretations, respectful of the grape variety and territory, capable of exciting and standing out in the “ideal wine list” of the year just ended.

Vigna Laure Greco di Tufo DOCG Riserva 2023 – Cantine Di Marzo. This Irpinian white wine has won Gambero Rosso’s Tre Bicchieri award. A wine with great personality, created by Ferrante Di Somma and winemaker Vincenzo Mercurio, confirms the strength of the volcanic Greco di Tufo.

Schola Sarmenti: Salento among the world’s elite wineries. A 2025 packed with accolades for the Salento winery, recognized by major international guides and competitions. A coherent winemaking project, rooted in the Apulian bush vine system, capable of combining tradition and contemporary vision.

Pellegrino Winery and Pietro Russo MW launch a strategic partnership to promote Western Sicilian wines. The arrival of Italy’s first Master of Wine strengthens the winemaking development and international positioning of one of Marsala’s historic wineries.

La Gerla, Monteraponi, and Cavallotto: the podium of the “Top 100” Three iconic appellations—Brunello di Montalcino, Chianti Classico, and Barolo—lead the ranking compiled by Kerin O’Keefe, with wines rated full points.

Ruggeri and the new Cartizze Dry Millesimato 2024. A project that unites history and future in the most prestigious cru of Conegliano Valdobbiadene, focusing on identity, continuity, and territorial value.

Cantine Pellegrino 1880 – Nero d’Avola Gazzerotta 2022 Over 140 years of history and a production that exceeds 5 million bottles annually: one of the key players in the Sicilian wine scene.

Donna Elvira: from London to Irpinia. The story of a winery born from a return to its origins, amidst family ties, volcanic soils, and a winemaking vision rooted in the territory.

Cantine Risveglio becomes a Valtur Brindisi business partner. The sports partnership has been renewed for the 2025/26 season. The historic Brindisi cooperative confirms its leading role in local viticulture and innovation, including in the classic method sparkling wine sector.

Trentino Doc Riesling 2023 – Cembra Cantina di Montagna Heroic viticulture in Val di Cembra: terraced vineyards between 450 and 900 meters, 300 members and a cooperative model that protects the landscape and Alpine identity.

Italian wine and Italian oenology

The value of wine comes from its territory. Alessandro Profumo’s vision: wine as a strategic national asset, to be enhanced through territorial marketing, community, and production quality.

10 Questions for Winemakers: From Piwi to dealcoholized wine, from vineyard uprooting to the freedom of IGTs: an open discussion on the major issues facing the present and future of Italian wine.

Alcohol-free wine: production rules approved. The decree defining the tax and excise framework has been approved. Italian companies can now compete on equal terms in the rapidly growing no-/low-alcohol segment.

Wine and longevity Aging capacity remains one of the great challenges in winemaking: useful technical judgments, but always provisional, until time gives its verdict.

Carema: an ancient wine with a contemporary face. Mountain Nebbiolo establishes itself as a model of elegance, freshness, and lightness, in tune with current tastes and resilient to climate change.

After standardization: the wine bar we’d like in 2026. In Milan, the “wine bar with a kitchen” format is growing. Quality is widespread, but so is the risk of standardization in a model that has been too successful.

Gambero’s Lessons: A Review After 25 Years. A personal story that spans the press, communications, and Italian food culture, amid profound changes and new awareness.

International

Sparkling wines will continue to grow. According to FactMr, the global sparkling wine market will reach $59 billion by 2035 (28.3%). Premium, conviviality, and expanding product offerings are driving growth, with a CAGR of 2.5%.

France: Green light for chaptalization of PDO still wines. A historic turning point for AOC wines, designed to address the sector’s crisis and capture the tastes of new generations, with precise limits on residual sugars.

The world’s best winery isn’t in Italy. Wine tourism is growing at double-digit rates and now accounts for about a quarter of wineries’ global revenue. The “World’s 50 Best Vineyards 2025” ranking rewards the overall experience, not just the wine in the glass.

Wine events

Steve McCurry – Umbria Until May 3, 2026 in Montefalco, the exhibition tells the story of Umbria through food, conviviality, and agricultural culture, intertwining photography, territorial identity, and food and wine.

Cantine d’Italia 2026 – Go Wine 911 selected wineries, 270 Impronte d’Eccellenza (Imprints of Excellence) for wine tourism, and over 5,000 wines featured. A guide that invites you to journey through the territories, stories, and landscapes of Italian wine.

Tuscany tops the Go Wine Guide. With 56 Impronte d’Eccellenza (Imprints of Excellence), the region confirms its leadership in Italian wine tourism, thanks to its quality hospitality and diverse territories.

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

See you tomorrow.

Wine press review for Friday January 2 – 2026

with:

Wine news, Italian wineries and wines.

Italian wineries

BWW 2025: Italy Leads the Way Among the World’s Best Wineries At the BWW 2025 – Best Wine of the World Competition , Italy confirms its global influence, with iconic wineries such as Gaja, Ornellaia, Monteverro, GB Burlotto, and Marchesi Antinori among the most voted. Monteverro also wins the title of Best New Winery of the Year . Among the award-winning wines, Masseto 2020 (Platinum) stands out, while among the Gold wines, Sassicaia 2021, Solaia 2020, Barolo Sperss 2018, and Monteverro 2019. This result is based on over 3.3 million votes cast by 449,000 professionals from 129 countries.

Elisa Dilavanzo and Maeli: Moscato among the top 100 wines. Colli Euganei producer Elisa Dilavanzo has named Maeli wines among the top 100 in the 2026 Vitae Guide. A journey studded with international recognition that highlights Moscato Giallo as an expression of the region’s identity.

Mourning in the wine world: farewell to Chicco Riccardi. Chicco Riccardi, the historic owner of Nettare dei Santi di San Colombano, has passed away at the age of 86. Under his leadership, the company grew to a production of approximately one million bottles, becoming a benchmark in the area.

Colonnella bids farewell to Umberto Camaioni. Umberto Camaioni, one of the founders of the Colonnella Social Winery (now Cantina Colonnella), has passed away at the age of 92. He was a key figure in the development of the Val Vibrata winemaking sector.

Donegato Winery: new winery in Montiano . The Berretti brothers’ Donegato Winery opens. A contemporary project that connects wine and the Romagna region, with a new facility featuring a tasting room.

Italian wine and Italian oenology

Europe’s wine industry: uproot or evolve? The structural decline in consumption (-35% since 2000) and continued overproduction present the European industry with a strategic choice. EU plans appear defensive, while the global market for 2025 is set to hit an all-time low of 214 million hectoliters.

Alcohol-Free Wines: Interministerial Decree Approves Green Light. With the Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF)–Masaf (Masaf) decree, Italy officially opens the door to the production of alcohol-free wines. Companies can now compete on equal terms with other European countries, albeit with the exclusion of DOC, DOCG, and IGT designations.

Alcohol-free wines: an industrial opportunity and a key identity issue. Investments are growing, especially in the Northeast, but the Consortia reiterate their position: no alcohol-free wines under historic appellations. The debate between market innovation and value preservation remains open.

2025 Harvest in Valtellina: Positive Signs The year promises to be favorable thanks to an overall balanced climate, with good-quality grapes and regular ripening.

Tuscany tops the Go Wine 2026 Guide The region leads the ranking with 56 Impronte d’Eccellenza out of over 900 selected wineries, confirming its leadership in Italian wine tourism.

Agricultural Taxation: Focus on the Special VAT Regime The special VAT regime for agriculture, established by Directive 2006/112/EC and implemented in Italy, remains a key tool for the flat-rate compensation of input tax for agricultural producers.

Agricultural land: changing value landscape. In 2024, the average value of agricultural land in Italy will rise to €22,400/hectare. The Northeast leads the ranking, while the data signals a reversal from years of stagnation.

Agriculture and Education: Cotarella’s Proposal Riccardo Cotarella (Assoenologi) proposes a weekly agriculture lesson in primary schools to reconnect younger generations with the land and its productive culture.

Agriculture in the Marche region: red wine in difficulty. The Cia Marche is calling for more effective policies to support the sector, given market challenges, limited resources, and companies’ need for liquidity.

International

The 12 Grapes of New Year in Spain: History and Myth The tradition of the “12 Grapes of Good Luck” has roots dating back to the late 19th century, well before the famous reconstruction linked to the production surplus of 1909.

Back to February 2025: Wine and the European Union The international news story highlights the weight of EU policies on labeling, health, and communication, with strong concerns about the economic impact on the sector.

Wine in 300 strokes: Crémant de Bourgogne Pierre Bleue Focus on a French Extra-Brut sparkling wine from the Grand Chais de France group: freshness, citrus notes and a dynamic drinkability.

Wine events

From Grandi Langhe to Amarone Opera Prima The 2026 calendar promises to be packed: from Turin to Verona, passing through Bologna, with events such as Grandi Langhe, Salone del Vino, Amarone Opera Prima, Slow Wine Fair and Fieragricola.

The Vino Nobile di Montepulciano “Pieve” project in Milan. Official presentation of the project with a press conference and guided tasting, to explain the origins and future of the historic zoning.

Christmas in the Cellar and Nativity Scenes in the Village of Tuglie. Until January 6th, events will take place at wineries, courtyards, and oil mills in Salento, with free admission and guided tours.

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

See you tomorrow.

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