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Wine press review for Wednesday December 31 – 2025

with:

wine news, Italian cellars and wines.

ITALIAN WINERIES

Gaja, Ornellaia, Monteverro, GB Burlotto, Antinori: the top Italian wines for “BWW 2025.” In Tasting Book’s “Best Wine of the World” competition (over 3.3 million votes from 19,000 wines, with international participation), several Italian icons shine. Monteverro also won “Best New Winery of the Year,” while globally, major names from Bordeaux, Champagne, and the Rhône stand out.

Librandi’s Tenuta Rosaneti: Calabria’s winemaking laboratory. A journey through the Librandi group’s largest estate, between Rocca di Neto and Casabona (KR): its production heart and experimental space, described during a tour dedicated to discovering Calabria’s wine scene.

Adami – Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG Rive di Colbertaldo “Vigneto Giardino” 2024 Focus on one of the Adami family’s iconic labels: the history of the “Asciutto” cru and the sensory profile of the 2024, within an overall production that includes several Rive, Cartizze, and various types of Prosecco.

Cantina Settecani: Growth (8.7%) for the Modena-based cooperative in 2025. Positive results for the historic cooperative: rising revenues and growing grape deliveries, despite stagnant consumption. This is a sign of operational solidity and structural decisions that are paying off.

A selection of the “best” Italian wineries of 2025. A “vineyard by vineyard” review: not just labels, but companies evaluated for their identity, vision, technical consistency, and ability to interpret the territories.

Baglio di Pianetto: only high-altitude vineyards for freshness and elegance. A strategic choice geared towards contemporary taste trends: focus on mountain vineyards and sale of the Noto vineyard area (Tenuta Baroni) to a specialized agricultural company.

Santa Lucia: Argentario in a glass. The story of a winery nestled between the sea and vineyards in Maremma, in the Morellino di Scansano area closest to the coast, with historic family roots on the Argentario.

Assoenologi Sicilia: Giuseppe Figlioli new president. A change at the helm of the regional section: Figlioli (Birgi Winery) takes over after more than ten years as president, with a message of continuity and commitment.

ITALIAN WINE AND ITALIAN OENOLOGY

Italian sparkling wine beats Champagne: 1.03 billion bottles in 2025. According to UIV–ISMEA, production and sales of Italian sparkling wines will reach 1.03 billion; over 360 million destined for the holidays. Prosecco remains the driving force: growth estimates for Conegliano Valdobbiadene DOCG (8% vs. 2024) and substantial stability for Prosecco DOC.

No/Low-Alcohol Wines: Production Approved in Italy, Northeast Divided. The inter-ministerial decree (MEF–MASAF) unblocks alcohol-free drinking across the country, amidst enthusiasm (the opportunity for future production quotas) and “identity-based” caution, especially in areas most closely tied to tradition.

Decree on dealcoholized wines: rules, excise duties, authorizations, and circulation. The measure defines the fiscal and operational scope: licenses, requirements, product movement, and distinctions by production category (including based on quantitative thresholds). The requirement to use foreign facilities is eliminated.

UIV: Castelletti on the alcohol-dealcohol decree, “good news after a troubled 2025.” The position of the Italian Wine Union: a turning point to compete on equal terms in Europe and a call for support for the operational launch (licenses and authorizations) in the initial phase.

Veneto, sparkling wines & gangmastering: shadows over the supply chain. An investigation and complaint about the exploitation of workers (especially migrants) in seasonal agricultural activities, including those in the sparkling wine districts. An issue that impacts reputation, compliance, and the supply chain.

INTERNATIONAL

BWW 2025: the “Best of the World” and global benchmarks In the world rankings: Pétrus 2020 as best wine, Salon 2012 as best Champagne, E. Guigal as “Winery of the Year”, and the winemaker of Screaming Eagle awarded as best winemaker.

Global wine tourism: “World’s Best Vineyards” 2025 and the key word: “experience.” The winners clearly point the same direction: winery hospitality becomes a strategic (not an optional) channel. Among the best: Chilean and German wineries top the list; Ceretto is the best Italian winery, in the top 20.

WINE EVENTS

Cantine d’Italia 2026: Impronta Go Wine in Zidarich (Trieste Karst). The highest award for wine tourism: recognition for the ability to combine production excellence, hospitality, and landscape identity. The Trieste Karst region makes a strong entry into the list of destinations to watch.

Winemag: “Wine in 2025” month by month (series from January 1, 2026) An editorial project that retraces twelve months of news and changes in the sector, to interpret 2025 as a year of structural transformation (not just cyclical).

San Basilio: “La Cantina del Duca” opens at Casa Isabella (from January 4, 2026). A new tasting space in Puglia inside a renovated historic residence: open to the public with a focus on experience and hospitality.

AGRICULTURAL POLICIES, TERRITORIES AND SUSTAINABILITY

(Context section, useful for winemaking operators and related supply chains)

Lombardy: €4.6 million for sustainable agriculture in Valtellina. 25 projects in Sondrio have been funded (measure SRD02 CAP 2023–2027), with a focus on mountain farms and investments in the environment, climate, and animal welfare.

Lombardy: 12 projects funded in the Cremona area (14 million) Resources for concrete interventions: effluent management, optimization technologies, tools for corporate sustainability.

Agricultural ZES and income tax relief: measures for Southern Italy in the 2026 Budget. Extension of Irpef tax relief on agricultural/land-based income and new levers for investment and innovation: agricultural ZES and greater offsetting of tax credits.

Veneto Agricoltura: Federico Caner appointed director. Governance change at the agency for primary sector innovation: focus announced on ecological transition, competitiveness, and markets.

Thanks for listening. We remind you that today’s wine press review was brought to you by WINEIDEA.IT . See you tomorrow.

FORBUS – The business and innovation generator for Italian wineries

with:

It takes method. It takes vision. It takes someone who knows how to manage complexity before complexity manages the company.

In wine today, quality is no longer enough.

It is from this awareness that FORBUS was born, the network of professionals created by QUIDQUID Srls , a company that for fifty years has supported entrepreneurs, industrial groups and investors in decisive moments:

acquisitions, divestments, expansions, joint ventures, industrial investments, and strategic repositionings.

We don’t sell theoretical advice.
We build operational solutions , accompanying companies until they achieve results .

What is FORBUS

FORBUS – Winery Business Generator is a joint venture, a structured network of professionals with real experience in the winemaking and oenological sector.
Not a container of services, but a single management capable of transforming a winery into a more solid, recognizable and profitable enterprise.

FORBUS works on five key pillars:

  • Viticulture – vineyard development and economic sustainability
  • Cellar Management – New Organizational and Decision-Making Tools
  • Oenology – product optimization and style consistency
  • Sales – concrete strategies to sell better and sell more
  • Communication & Branding – clear and credible market positioning

One goal: create measurable value .

FORBUS projects

1) Management lease & Joint Venture

To tackle complex phases without losing control of the company.

  • Lease of the business unit (5–7 years) with variable fixed rent
  • Redemption option at contracted values
  • Time to rebalance the accounts and evaluate a conscious sale
  • Joint ventures and new companies to share facilities and technologies (e.g., dealcoholized beverages, new beverages)

A smart solution to defend your business today and create options tomorrow .

2) Open the cellar on the weekend

Wine tourism is growing, but too many wineries remain closed just when the public is there.
FORBUS creates a simple and profitable model:

  • Cellar rental on Saturdays and Sundays
  • Guided tastings and organized visits
  • New visitor flows, direct sales and territorial visibility

The cellar returns to being a living place , not just a productive one.

3) Rent to Buy for agricultural and wine-making companies

We are looking for companies to acquire and sell using sustainable formulas.

  • Easier access for young farmers
  • Valorization of existing companies
  • Innovation and generational continuity

The project also operates through the Tenute Agricole 24 portal, which specializes in professional matching between supply and demand.

4) “Come to the cellar… there’s a gift for you”

A platform that brings real people into the cellar.

  • Dedicated corner with personalized gifts
  • Free basic tasting or branded gifts
  • Loyalty card valid in all participating wineries
  • Restaurant, hospitality and B&B reservations
  • Seasonal offers (harvest, new wine, special events)

Word of mouth becomes a structured sales tool .

5) “Water & Wine” Project

Smart vending machines with PET and glass eco-compactors.

  • The more you recycle, the more you earn
  • Points convertible into vouchers or cash
  • Real sustainability, not just a story
  • Involvement of the territory and consumers

Circular economy that generates value and reputation .

6) Electronic nose and palate

Technology applied to sensory analysis.
A portable device capable of:

  • Analyze wine vapors
  • Collect olfactory and gustatory chemical data
  • Compare them with reference databases
  • Return objective qualitative reports

Applied research, not science fiction.
A tool that opens new perspectives on product quality, consistency, and perception.

7) Wine Days – The Wine Festival in the Cellar

Eight days, once a year, before the grape harvest.

  • Unbeatable prices
  • Intelligent inventory emptying
  • Direct meeting with the public
  • New trade relations

An event that transforms a logistical necessity into a valuable celebration .

8) Connected Vineyard 4.0

Digital and predictive vineyard management.
Thanks to the HO-W system:

  • Real-time monitoring of weather, soil, plants and pests
  • Timely warnings and decisions
  • Fewer treatments, lower costs, more effectiveness

Technology that makes viticulture more sustainable and more profitable .

FORBUS is not for everyone

It’s for those who have understood that wine is culture, yes.
But it is also business, strategy and the future .

If your winery really wants to grow, FORBUS is the right place to start.

Wine press review for Tuesday December 30 – 2025

with:

Wine news, Italian wineries and wines.

Italian wineries

Damilano Group acquires Morra and aims to reach €120 million in revenue by 2025. The Group acquires Morra, a Piedmontese beverage distribution player (Ho.Re.Ca. channel). This transaction is consistent with an industrial growth strategy and marks the first step toward potential future acquisitions in the mineral water, wine, and retail sectors .

Settecani: Growing revenues and foreign markets for the 130-member cooperative winery. Positive results despite stagnant consumption: 8.7% revenue (approximately €6.75 million ), 18.7% grape deliveries , and member remuneration above €50/q, confirming a path of strategic and structural choices.

Tre Secoli Winery: DOCG excellence that speaks the Asti dialect Awards that enhance Piedmontese cooperation: Barbera d’Asti Superiore “Sorangela” 2022 in the Top 300 and Corona d’Oro (Vini Buoni d’Italia 2026), as well as an international award for the Asti DOCG Extra Dry (Falstaff).

Cantina Santa Lucia: Argentario in a glass between sea, vineyards, and Morellino. A story of territory and identity: historical origins, coastal vineyards, and a focus on Ansonica/Vermentino and Sangiovese reds, with an increasingly recognizable “Maremma-Argentario” profile.

Italian wine and Italian oenology

Green light for dealcoholized wines produced in Italy: inter-ministerial decree signed (MEF–MASAF). The fiscal/excise framework regulating the production and, above all, the management/taxation of alcohol obtained from dealcoholization processes has been approved: a step eagerly awaited by companies already ready to invest in the No/Lo segment, driven by growth in foreign markets.

Lollobrigida: “A clear regulatory framework, new opportunities for businesses.” The Minister emphasizes the goal of enabling the sector to compete in the dealcoholized sector as well, with an initial phase in which procedures and authorizations will be crucial.

Decree on Dealcohols: What It Means Operationally The measure regulates the authorizations and management of ethyl alcohol derived from alcohol, distinguishing between operators with annual quantitative limits and operators authorized to exceed certain thresholds with a specific license.

Frescobaldi (UIV): “Now we have equal competitiveness with Europe, investments are finally protected.” The UIV president emphasizes that the decree unlocks investments already made in the winery and eliminates the need to resort to foreign processing for dealcoholization.

Castelletti (UIV): “Good news after a challenging year, support is needed for implementation.” Attention must be paid to the implementation phase: licensing, authorizations, and system deployment will be the real test of transforming the regulation into an industrial opportunity.

Fine winemaking: the logic of limited editions between collection and investment. Focus on the phenomenon of limited editions: bottles as collector’s items and auction assets, where exclusivity, storytelling, and rarity become part of the value.

Lazio: Must-See Wines and Wineries Just a Stone’s Throw from Rome. Overview of a “constellation” region: a diverse identity, many micro-regions, and signs of qualitative growth (even in the guides), with stronger denominations and key grape varieties than in the past.

Consorzio Italia del Vino: the key words for 2026. From the top management of a group that represents a significant share of exports, guiding concepts emerge: stability, resilience, experimentation, beauty , and the need to manage the complexity between markets and positioning.

Kiwifruit die-off: defense strategies and new rootstocks (Piedmont) A technical and agronomic update on the kiwifruit crisis: soil/water management, climate-controlled irrigation, shade nets, and rootstocks; the figures show a significant reduction in production areas.

FORBUS: When Quality Is No Longer Enough (Partner Content) Scenario message: Quality is a prerequisite, making a difference through management of markets, costs, inventory, channels, wine tourism, digital, and new categories (low/no). Declared approach: not consultancy, but execution with integrated management. Operational insight: tools such as management leases/business units (5–7 years) and joint ventures/NewCos to share investments and open markets (e.g., alcohol-free), as well as models for making wine tourism profitable even on weekends.

International

Alcohol-dealt products and the foreign market: a rapidly growing segment. The Italian green light comes amid accelerating international demand for non-alcoholic beverages : the game is now being played on industrialization, perceived quality, and distribution channels.

Highly collectible: the global benchmark for “auction” bottles The phenomenon of rare editions is interpreted internationally: price and desirability are built on reputation, scarcity and storytelling (continuously compared with the global tops).

Wine events

UMBRIA TOP announces its presence at Vinitaly 2026 (Verona, 12–15 April 2026) Dedicated pavilion and cohesive regional project: around 40 companies already confirmed, with a program of tastings, insights and professional meetings for cultural, wine tourism and commercial boost.

Go Wine: “Cantine d’Italia 2026” and awards in Milan. A new edition of the wine tourist guide features a broad national selection, a focus on “signatures of excellence” and useful addresses; highlights for some Piacenza-area businesses and awards for hospitality.

Antica Bottega del Vino opens in Cortina d’Ampezzo, an extension of the historic brand and venue: the opening was announced on December 30th, not as a simple pop-up, but as a new structural milestone in a strategic destination, also with a view to 2026.

AIS Padova: “Let’s Raise Our Glasses” (end-of-year dinner and sharing) A story of community and wine culture: a convivial event with tastings and artistic moments, celebrating the association’s year and the relational value of wine.

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

Wine press review for Monday December 29 – 2025

with:

Wine news, Italian wineries and wines.

Italian wineries

In Salento, a historic winery produces Italy’s best rosé for under €20. Puglia confirms the stylistic maturity of its rosés: territorial identity, targeted winemaking choices, and the centrality of Negroamaro give life to wines that are no longer “derivatives,” but rather a distinct and recognizable category.

Alta Langa DOCG, a year of leadership: 2025 report and 2026 calendar. The Consortium closes out 2025 with growth and visibility, including the launch of the Alta Langa Academy, participation in the Slow Wine Fair, and a record-breaking “Prima dell’Alta Langa” in Turin with 82 producers and over 20,000 toasts.

The Md cellar is among the best in Italian discount stores. The Md store on Via Pecchio in Milan stands out for its solid and well-structured wine department, enhanced by the house brand Enotrium, a rare example of winemaking identity in the world of discount stores.

Ert1050, the mountain bubbles project by Federico Veronesi A new project dedicated to Trentodoc Metodo Classico is born in Trentino: high-altitude viticulture, sustainability, and a “vertical” interpretation of the mountain at 1,050 meters on Monte Baldo.

The common thread that unites Dosimo to the Ferrari cellars of Trento. A historical tale reveals the connections between Giulio Ferrari and the Vini Ferrari cellars of Dosimo, intertwining the Cremona and Trentino regions in a little-known story of Italian wine.

The Ascheri Classic Method becomes “Metodo Classico 8pari”. The Bra winery structurally links one of its labels to a social inclusion project, making a permanent job placement program for people with disabilities and vulnerable groups.

Le Pievi: the new story of Vino Nobile di Montepulciano. The “Pieve” typology, 2021 vintage, debuts on the market: an identity-defining, mid-to-high-end interpretation that strengthens the connection between wine, history, and the territory of the Tuscan denomination.

Leaving London for (alcohol-free) wine Eleonora Spadotto’s story tells the story of her transition from international finance to an innovative winemaking project in Friuli, focusing on dealcohol-free wines and a new idea of contemporary rurality.

Dante’s Vernaccia wins legal battle with Spain. Intellectual property protection for Vernaccia di San Gimignano: a European ruling blocks the improper use of a trademark evocative of the Divine Comedy.

Tollo, political clash over municipal budget. The opposition is challenging the soundness of the 2026–2028 budget, denouncing waste and management issues: an issue that also indirectly affects the local economy.

Italian wine and Italian oenology

The ALTO wine list: over 1,000 labels by the glass. A rare approach in Italy: great Italian and international wines available consistently by the glass, with unprecedented accessibility even for iconic labels.

New Year’s Eve 2025: How to Choose the Right Wine for a Toast Light, crisp bubbles are best: Alta Langa Metodo Classico, Erbaluce Spumante, and Gavi Spumante are reliable options for a light, convivial toast.

Interview with winemaker Andrea Pala During the fourth edition of Vinodabere Sardinia, the story of a winemaking talent who follows some of the island’s most interesting realities.

International

Germany: Unprecedented crisis for wine producers. Selling prices below production costs, US tariffs, and rising minimum wages are putting vineyard acreage at risk, especially in sloping vineyards.

France: €130 million for vineyard uprooting. The government launches a support plan to reduce production potential: €4,000 per hectare and a structural response to the crisis in the European wine market.

Visit Markogianni Winery in the Peloponnese. A Greek family-run business that has focused on the recovery of native grape varieties and innovative production models, with results recognized by the market.

Nomisma Wine Monitor: Wine imports in 2025: Value growth in Germany, Switzerland, and Brazil; sharp declines in China, South Korea, and the United Kingdom. Canada and Brazil stand out as the most dynamic markets for Italian wine.

Wine events

Spirito Autoctono 2026: Italy’s artisanal spirits. The new guide lists over 900 labels and 200 producers, describing a sector in full evolution between tradition and experimentation.

The Gallura Award toasts aboard the Moby Fantasy. A symbolic ceremony uniting wine, territory, and economic development, confirming the award’s role as an incubator for new winemaking ventures.

Pietrabbondante DiVino 2025: Christmas Cellars and ‘Ndoccia In the heart of Alto Molise, an event that intertwines wine, gastronomy, and popular traditions, transforming the village into a journey of flavors and light.

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

See you tomorrow.

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