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Wine press review for Thursday February 26 -2026

with:

Wineries, Italian wine producers, and wine news.

Italian wineries

Montalcino, Querce Bettina Acquisition The Querce Bettina winery has become part of the La Faretra agricultural company (75 hectares in Gavorrano). This transaction aims to maintain the identity and develop new projects for a historic Montalcino asset.

Cantina Valpolicella Negrar: Accordini leaves after 30 years. Daniele Accordini concludes his long managerial career. This is a symbolic transition for one of Valpolicella’s most important cooperatives, following decades of qualitative and structural growth.

Villa Sandi invests in training. Three scholarships for Dieffe students in Valdobbiadene, offering access to the WSET program. A concrete example of the wine-training-hospitality supply chain.

Ventiventi and the Evolution of the Modena Classic Method The winery extends the aging period to 40–50 months on the lees: a technical choice that emphasizes slowness, precision, and territorial identity.

Tenute Maestrale, architecture that engages with the landscape. In Sardinia, a new “invisible” winery, designed as an extension of the agricultural land amidst vineyards and olive groves. A case study of the integration of wine, design, and landscape.

Mastroberardino launches new low-alcohol PGI white wines, Fiano, Greco, and Falanghina, with 10% alcohol content: a strategic innovation for a leading company, responding to new consumption styles.

Moscatello di Taggia, the return of a Ligurian grape. The Luca Calvini company is leading the rediscovery of a nearly extinct grape, just minutes from the center of Sanremo.

Italian wine and Italian oenology

Wine consumption in Italy in 2024: 54.7% of the population consumes wine (-0.4% compared to 2023). The peak is in the 35-44 age group. Tuscany, Emilia-Romagna, and Alto Adige are the regions with the highest penetration.

Wine needs time. A reflection on the market paradox: cellars without space and consumers who only want the latest vintage. The bottle as a cultural tool, not just a commercial one.

Wine tourism on the rise: worth $46.5 billion. The Aite–Srm report confirms the strategic role of winery hospitality as an industrial and territorial lever.

Generations and Wine Consumption A cultural and provocative reading on the relationship between young people, alcohol, and changing lifestyles: wine as a historical phenomenon, not a nostalgic one.

International

Gallo, more closures and layoffs in the US. The world’s largest manufacturer by volume continues to reduce production capacity and staff. This is a structural sign of the global consumer crisis.

US tariffs: European wine between 10% and 15% risk. Temporary tariff valid until July 2026. Complex and unstable customs planning for exporters and importers.

US Importers: “Prosecco is a brand, tariffs are unnecessary.” A tour of Friuli and Veneto by a major American importer reveals a simple truth: perceived value transcends tariff barriers.

French wine crisis: €40 million for distillation. The EU has approved the distillation of 1.2 million hectoliters of surplus red and rosé wines. This is a strong signal of public intervention to rebalance the market.

Diageo in trouble, a domino effect on competitors. Guidance cuts and dividends: Campari and Pernod Ricard also slip. The spirits sector is under global pressure.

Events, territories and supply chains

Vinitaly 2026: Carlo Cracco at the Emilia-Romagna Pavilion. A passing of the “starred” baton: from gourmet cuisine to signature piadinas, the Food Valley pavilion is changing face.

Cantine in Città – Ravenna Saturday, February 28th, 38 independent winemakers at Artificerie Almagià. A consolidated format, strong turnover, and direct producer-consumer dialogue.

Sannio Top Wines Award-Winning Cantina del Taburno and La Fortezza. Sannio reaffirms its qualitative and identity trajectory.

Umbria del Vino 2026: The winning wines of the regional competition have been announced: Trebbiano Spoletino, Orvieto Classico, and Grechetto are in the spotlight.

European Carbon Farming Summit 2026 in Padua From 17 to 19 March, the main European event on carbon farming and agricultural climate transition.

Post-2027 CAP: negotiations enter the fray. Financial challenges and opportunities for European agriculture are the focus of the ANSA forum in Brussels.

Olive oil tourism is growing strongly (37%). Italy and Calabria are the protagonists of a food tourism that is increasingly strategic for rural development.

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

See you tomorrow.

Wine press review for Wednesday February 25 -2026

with:

Wineries, Italian wine producers, and wine news.

Italian wineries

  • Brave Wine, Renzo Rosso’s evolutionary project. The entrepreneur relaunches wine as a long-term industrial project: investments in new companies, including abroad, and a focus on iconic regions. Wine as a cultural and strategic asset, not a hobby.
  • Faretra acquires Querce Bettina in Montalcino. From Maremma to Brunello: a consolidation operation in one of the most iconic regions of Italian high-end winemaking. Limited production, strong exports, and extremely high land values: Montalcino remains a magnet for patient capital.
  • Garofano celebrates 30 years with a new Fiano del Salento. After Negroamaro, the opening to white wines marks a phase of broadening identity and a more nuanced understanding of the territory.
  • Castello di Razzano, Monferrato “Tuscan Style” Vineyards, olive groves, hospitality, and sold-out tours: Monferrato is experimenting with an increasingly experience-oriented, integrated model.
  • Cantina Valpolicella Negrar bids farewell to Daniele Accordini. Over thirty years of cooperative leadership and vision: a generational transition that concludes an important historical phase.
  • Four friends, no vineyard, success in the Castelli Romani. The “Icaro” project demonstrates that, with vision and identity, even new winemakers can build fame and a following.

Italian wine and Italian oenology

  • Growing stocks: UIV calls for production flexibility. Stocks reach 61 million hectoliters (up 6%). The proposal: revise the Consolidated Wine Act to adapt production potential to the market. A key issue for CFOs and winery governance.
  • CAP 2026: Unified application deadline by May 15. Agea deadlines confirmed, along with updates on young farmers and eco-schemes. Administrative planning increasingly crucial.
  • EU Wine Package: Breakthrough for Southern Italy. European approval for measures to rebalance supply and demand, targeted grubbing-up, export support, and regulatory simplification.
  • Chianti Classico Collection 2026 Gran Selezione and Riserva as a territorial manifesto: less power, more identity. The UGAs become a strategic key.
  • Umbria, a “boutique” wine region . 20 wineries awarded: lower volumes, greater recognition. A model that can be replicated for non-industrial areas.
  • Smell as the primary sense of wine. From the Naf – Nose Art Festival, a reflection that unites science, art, and food and wine: wine as a cognitive experience, not just a product.

International

  • The first non-alcoholic Cru Classé Bordeaux is born. From Saint-Émilion comes a 0.0% Merlot for €57. This zero/low-alcohol wine officially enters the premium segment. This is a sign not to be underestimated.
  • Maurizio Martina, candidate for FAO leadership , applauds FederBio’s decision to strengthen Italy’s influence in global agricultural and food policies.

Wine events

  • “Dining with the King of Chefs” in Cocconato d’Asti. From Escoffier to Pollo alla Marengo, Monferrato celebrates history, cuisine, and local identity.
  • Terre di Toscana – 18th edition There’s also room for older vintages: 40 years of regional winemaking history up for tasting.
  • Rebel Queen – Vernaccia di San Gimignano Wine Fest 2026 Edition between historical anniversaries and contemporary languages.
  • Slow Wine Fair 2026 Ten wines to remember at a fair that confirms the centrality of ethics, direct relationships, and the “livability” of wine.
  • City Cellars – Ravenna Over 150 wines for tasting: wine returns to the spotlight in urban spaces.
  • AI in the cellar and in the food industry. In Cremona, SMEs are learning to communicate with algorithms: innovation is becoming part of the daily life of family businesses.
  • Umbria del Vino: 57 wineries competing. The competition is a tool for comparison and growth, rather than for medals.
  • Wine Spectator awards the Casa Italia Wine List – Milano Cortina 2026 Italian viticulture takes center stage on the international Olympic stage.

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

See you tomorrow.

VinNatur Tasting 2026

with:

From April 11th to 13th, 180 Italian and European manufacturers will be present at the Margraf showroom in Gambellara. A tasting room for press and industry professionals will be available, along with a new networking area.

The producers of the Association des Vins Libres d’Alsace will also be at the tasting stands.

From Saturday, April 11th to Monday, April 13th , 2026, the 21st VinNatur Tasting , the annual event organized by the VinNatur Association, returns to Gambellara (Vicenza). For three days, the Margraf showroom will host 180 winemakers from six countries—Albania, Austria, France, Germany, Slovenia, and Spain—and 19 Italian regions, united by their commitment to sustainable viticulture.
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New to the 2026 edition will be the presence of the Association des Vins Libres d’Alsace , which will participate with a shared tasting table . Founded in 2019, AVLA now has around 60 members and represents a new generation of Alsatian natural wine producers. This year, VinNatur Tasting will also join the celebrations for the centenary of the birth of Luigi Veronelli , journalist, editor, and food and wine writer, commemorating his extraordinary contribution to Italian wine culture and his role as a pioneer of wine criticism.
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“Luigi Veronelli made a decisive contribution to redefining the meaning of viticulture in our country: he didn’t just talk about wine, he also defended and gave a voice to winemakers. We recognize him as a clear precursor of the values ​​now considered fundamental in the natural wine sector,” explains Angiolino Maule , President of VinNatur. “That’s why we chose to remember him on this anniversary, drawing attention to what he meant and continues to mean.”
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Since its first editions at Villa Favorita, VinNatur Tasting has become a point of reference for enthusiasts, professionals, and those curious about drinking according to nature. This edition will also feature plenty of opportunities for meeting and learning: three masterclasses , Guided by wine experts, they will enrich the event’s program. From 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. each day, visitors will also be able to meet the winemakers, taste, and purchase wines at the tasting tables. The food area will also be open, featuring selected products from small Italian producers: meats, cured meats, and cheeses, regional specialties, craft beers, coffee, and desserts.
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Journalists and industry professionals will be able to access the tasting room , a quiet and private space designed to offer an optimal tasting experience for all the wines featured at the event. Producers and importers will also have the opportunity to meet in the new networking area , dedicated to professional exchanges and building business relationships.
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Tickets for VinNatur Tasting 2026 will be available for purchase on the event website starting March 1st . The cost is €30 for a one-day ticket and €50 for two days, including a tasting glass. All proceeds will go to fund the association’s research and training projects and to support several charitable initiatives .

VinNatur Tasting in brief
When : Saturday, April 11, Sunday, April 12, and Monday, April 13, 2026
Where : Margraf Showroom | Via Torri di Confine – Gambellara (Vicenza)
Opening hours to the public : 10:00 am to 6:00 pm
Admission : €30.00 for a day (€50.00 for two days) includes a tasting glass. Tickets can be purchased on-site, at the event entrance (cash, credit card, or debit card), or online. Accompanied minors do not pay admission and are not permitted to participate in tastings. Small pets are permitted.
Useful information for those arriving by train:
– A free shuttle bus service will be available to and from the San Bonifacio train station.
– On your return journey, we recommend arriving at the event entrance 30 minutes before your train departs.
Useful information for those arriving by car:
At the Montebello Vicentino toll booth exit (A4 Milan-Venice motorway), turn immediately right towards Verona. The Margraf showroom is on the right, 1.2 km along the SR11. There’s ample parking in front and it’s easily accessible.
Website: www.vinnatur.org/eventi/vinnatur-tasting-2026/

Wine press review for Tuesday February 24 -2026

with:

Wineries, Italian wine producers, and wine news.

Italian wineries

Irpinia, saving the “starseta”: the ancient vineyard as a living heritage. In Irpinia, a group of winemakers is mobilizing to preserve the starseta vineyard , a historic training system that characterizes the landscape of the Taurasi area. Tall, intertwined vines, often planted with fruit trees, tell the story of a complex peasant viticulture, now threatened by abandonment but central to the area’s identity.

Marchesi Frescobaldi presents the new CastelGiocondo vintages. Marchesi Frescobaldi presents the Brunello di Montalcino CastelGiocondo 2021 and the Riserva Vigneto Ripe al Convento 2020: two interpretations that express the variety of Montalcino’s soils and microclimates, with freshness, depth, and ripe tannins.

Cantine Di Marzo, the origins of Greco di Tufo. The history and identity of one of the most iconic families of Greco di Tufo, linked since the 19th century to the exploitation of tuff mines and the definition of one of Southern Italy’s most distinctive white wines.

Orsogna Winery and the International Biodiversity Project The Orsogna Bio Cantina Sociale launches the “Biodiversity in and for the Vineyard” project with the Universities of Eastern Piedmont and Milan: replicable scientific guidelines to demonstrate that production quality and ecosystem protection are allies, not alternatives.

Italian wine and Italian oenology

Piedmont, the Consortia raise the alarm: “Structural and market crisis.” At the Agriculture Commission in Turin, the Consortia spoke of a widespread crisis affecting iconic denominations such as Barolo and Barbaresco, comparable in severity to the 2008 and 2020 phases.

Valpolicella Ripasso DOP: recall due to incomplete labeling. Some batches of Valpolicella Ripasso DOP Superiore Corte della Pieve, bottled by Enoitalia, have been recalled due to the lack of the “contains sulfites” label. The warning was issued by the IN’s Mercato chain.

How to Buy Wine at the Supermarket Without Mistakes: From paying attention to the vintage to storage conditions: expert advice for avoiding disappointing purchases, including real deals and bottles penalized by light and heat.

Viticulture: Downy Mildew, Protection from A to Z Technical focus on the management of downy mildew (Plasmopara viticola), from bud break to pre-harvest, with integrated defense strategies and targeted anti-downy mildew programs.

International and sector policies

EU, new wine reform: more climate resilience and less bureaucracy. The Council of the European Union approves the new regulation reshaping the wine sector: balancing supply and demand, administrative simplification, new rules on labeling, exports, and wine tourism.

Green light for the Wine Package from the Agrifish Council. Production control measures approved, greater coverage against climate risks and new definitions for dealcohol-free and reduced-alcohol wines, with EU contributions of up to 80% for environmental investments.

Tariffs and trade tensions: Italian companies on alert. After the G7 trade summit, Minister Antonio Tajani urges companies to maintain investments in the United States, amid growing demand for stability and the protection of international agreements.

Italian oil: exports grow, but production and margins suffer According to the Mediobanca Research Area, Italy is losing its global production share (6.3%) despite strong export growth (40.7%), squeezed between price volatility and structural deficiencies.

Italian organic market hits record highs in 2025. The organic market will reach €6.9 billion (6.2%), driven by large-scale retail and out-of-home dining. Data presented in Bologna at Sana Food and the Slow Wine Fair.

Wine events and wine culture

Conegliano Valdobbiadene Italian City of Wine 2026/2027 190 events are underway across Conegliano, Valdobbiadene, Pieve di Soligo and other municipalities in the province of Treviso, coordinated by the National Association of Wine Cities.

Luca Maroni’s Best Italian Wines: 25 Years of Tastings In Rome, the historic event celebrates a quarter century with tastings, workshops, and a focus on new trends, from dealcoholized wines to the sparkling wine method.

Slow Wine Fair: “Wine is only good if it’s right.” Slow Food focuses on agricultural work and the ethical supply chain, revitalizing the link between wine quality and respect for people.

Vermouth Show: over 10,000 attendees in Turin. The third edition exceeds expectations and consolidates vermouth as a protagonist of renewed international cultural and commercial interest.

VinNatur Tasting 2026 in Gambellara From April 11 to 13, 180 winemakers from six countries will be present. The Association des Vins Libres d’Alsace will also be present. This edition celebrates Luigi Veronelli’s centenary.

Wine Spectator awards the Gold Medal to the Casa Italia selection, which it calls a celebration of Italy’s winemaking biodiversity.

Lazio wines take center stage at Slow Wine. Twenty-eight regional wineries showcased in Bologna, with the support of the Lazio Region and ARSIAL, to strengthen the region’s quality positioning.

Tastings at Villa Selvatico (Euganean Hills) Sunday, March 1, 2026, tastings of local products and crafts in a historical-naturalistic setting, including picnics, aperitifs, and the culture of taste.

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

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