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Wine press review for Friday February 27 -2026

with:

Wineries, Italian wine producers, and wine news.

Italian wineries

A historic Ligurian winery relaunches Vermentino in a former warehouse in the Imperia area. The Laura Aschero winery, a landmark on the Western Ligurian Riviera, embodies a model of family continuity and modernization: from vineyards handed over to third parties in the 1970s to a technologically advanced winery beneath the Pontedassio square, now run by the second and third generations.

Enio Ottaviani, from the demijohn to the model cellar in Romagna A story of wine as a social and family language: from bulk sales between Romagna and Marche in the 1960s to an identity project that unites land and sea, mobility and roots.

Cantina Girlan presents “Piz Rosé,” a mountain rosé made from Pinot Noir. A new, contemporary interpretation of Pinot Noir: high-altitude plots, freshness, and drinkability respond to evolving consumer trends. A rosé conceived as an expression of its terroir, not a mere accessory.

Ventiventi extends its Classic Method refinement process. In the winemaking district north of Modena, the Razzaboni family is investing in time: five of their flagship wines have spent months on the lees, confirming a consistent, non-industrial quality strategy.

Malvasia delle Lipari DOC from Tenuta di Castellaro, a symbol of heroic viticulture. On the lava terraces of Lipari, a passito with a distinctive identity is born, the result of agricultural recovery, mass selection, and the protection of Mediterranean biodiversity.

Domini Veneti and Cantina Valpolicella Negrar: from organic to integrated pest management. After years of organic farming, some of the members have chosen SQNPI certification. A concrete reflection on the relationship between sustainability, perceived quality, and economic viability.

Italian wine and Italian oenology

Cristina Mercuri, the first Italian Master of Wine. From a legal career to the pinnacle of global wine education: a historic achievement that strengthens the international standing of Italian wine, both culturally and educationally.

Why some bottles don’t show the producer’s name Regulatory focus on the ICQRF code, the alternative provided by law to the company name on the label: responsibility, traceability and transparency in the supply chain.

The Methanol Scandal: Why It Could Never Happen Again Today An analysis of the strengthening of controls, from the role of the ICQRF to organizations like Valoritalia , which certifies over half of Italy’s DOC/DOCG.

Precision viticulture in the Cinque Terre: the Hero-Vine project kicks off. Drones and precision agriculture are being used in Liguria’s terraced vineyards to reduce water and spray use by up to 70%, with the goal of preserving the landscape and family farms.

International

United States: Gallo closes wineries and lays off 93 workers. The American giant E&J Gallo Winery continues its downsizing: closures in California and staff cuts confirm the structural difficulties of the global market.

Spain: Wine exports down 3.3% in value for 2025. Geopolitical instability, tariffs, and declining consumption are also affecting Madrid: volumes are down and there’s an urgent need to diversify outlet markets.

Canada: US tariffs benefit Canadian wine An unexpected side effect of US trade policies: measurable growth for Ontario and British Columbia, with the Niagara Peninsula and Okanagan Valley leading the way.

France: Consumption in decline and young people away from wine. Alarming data presented at the Salon International de l’Agriculture : declining consumption, grubbing-up, and EU funds for the distillation of surpluses.

Wine events and supply chain

IO VINO – Selection of Native Grape Varieties | March 15, 2026, Rome. Focus on the Marche and Campania regions at the Courtyard by Marriott Roma Central Park: biodiversity, identity, and targeted tastings.

Enovitis Business at Fiera Milano Rho Technologies for vineyards and winemaking in conjunction with SIMEI : smart farming, machinery, and digital solutions for the supply chain.

Casoni Liquori debuts at Tirreno CT in Marina di Carrara, with a graphic restyling of the “I Classici” line for the historic distillery in Finale Emilia.

Assovini Sicilia takes center stage at FINE Wine Tourism Marketplace (Valladolid). Wine tourism and international B2B: over 2,000 meetings scheduled with global buyers.

Salone del Vino Torino 2026 | February 28 – March 2 OGR Turin hosts over 500 wineries, masterclasses, talks, and new digital wine languages.

The Other Tuscany: From Outsider to Plural System The “non-major” denominations become a space for structured comparison, overcoming the logic of smaller consortia.

mareMMMa, the nature of wine doubles in Alberese Two days (wine lovers and operators), 113 companies and 582 wines: the widest selection ever seen in Maremma, Montecucco and Morellino di Scansano.

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

See you tomorrow.

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/

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