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Wine press review for Wednesday February 18 -2026

with:

Wineries, Italian wine producers, and wine news.

Italian wineries

Trentino: Local Reds Under €15 Alongside the excellence of Trentodocs, the quality of still whites and reds is growing, particularly Teroldego della Piana Rotaliana: distinctive wines, profound yet easy to drink, the result of increasingly informed viticulture.

Nizza: the cooperative winery undergoes a makeover. The board of directors has been renewed, with Andrea Ghignone elected president. The stated goal is to revitalize the identity and role of cooperatives in a region that is a symbol of Barbera.

Tenuta di Castellaro (Aeolian Islands) The 2021 Nero Ossidiana showcases Corinto Nero and a winemaking project that combines landscape, native grape varieties, and organic and vegan protocols. A rare example of an “island wine” with the ambition of a great red.

Malenchini – Chianti Colli Fiorentini La Riserva Vigna di Lappeggi 2021: vineyard selection, maturation in large barrels, and an elegant profile. An example of how the Chianti subzones can express distinctive characteristics.

Cinque Maggio Winery (Torrecuso, Sannio) A family project that reclaims memory, territory, and identity, placing wine back at the center of an authentic agricultural narrative.

Masseria di Sessa (Falerno del Massico DOP) Organic farming, agritourism, and environmental protection: an integrated model where wine, oil, and hospitality become a single value system.

Italian wine and Italian oenology

2025 bottling: -2.1%, but DOC and DOCG hold up. Overall decline, but clear signals:

  • DOCG and DOC 1%
  • Whites 2.7%, rosés 5.7%, sparkling wines 1%
  • Red wines stagnate -13%. IGT wines suffer (-12%). The system holds up thanks to strong, export-oriented denominations.

Wine exports: slowdown confirmed. As of November 2025: €7.2 billion (-3.6%). The United States weighs negatively (-8% in value). Tariffs and the euro/dollar exchange rate have a structural impact.

Alcohol-free: The Lunelli Group enters the segment. With Tassoni, a non-alcoholic gin designed for mocktails is debuting. Not a fad, but an industrial response to new consumption styles.

Wooden barrels and fire prevention. Clarification from the Fire Brigade: the wood from barrels, as technical equipment, is not included in the quantities to be calculated for fire prevention purposes.

Agricultural cohousing for seniors. Agricoltura Nuova’s CARE project experiments with a replicable social model that brings agriculture back to the center of community life.

International and markets

Italian exports to the US: 7.2% in 2025 (net of duties) Made in Italy products grew by 3.3% overall, demonstrating resilience despite geopolitical tensions.

Trade Agreements: Mercosur and India at the Center. A clear message from the institutional and manufacturing world: without new agreements and protection of emerging markets, wine risks marginalization.

“Lumbarda” PDO: Italian opposition. Lombardy producers challenge the Croatian application for the risk of confusion with “Lombardia.” Geographical indications remain a strategic asset.

Tariffs and Politics The Italian Parliament has criticized the communication approach to this issue: operational strategies are needed, not propaganda.

Wine events and territory

UNESCO Prosecco Hills: Record Visitors in 2025: 7.3% Arrivals and 8.5% Visitors. Non-hotel and international “slow” tourism are growing: the region functions as an economic hub.

Chianti Classico Collection 2026: A record 223 wineries present. Two vintages compared:

  • 2024 fresher and more direct
  • 2023 (Riserva and Gran Selezione) richer and more enveloping Il Gallo Nero grows on markets and strengthens the message “Wine is culture”.

Slow Wine Fair: strong presence from the Marche region, 36 wineries, and a masterclass dedicated to Verdicchio Riserva DOCG: targeted promotion and continuity up to Vinitaly.

Anastasia Mancini confirmed as president of the Tuscany Wine Tourism Movement : wine tourism is a fundamental part of the agricultural enterprise.

Virtual Wine Museum – Castiglione di Sicilia A participatory project that combines memory, technology, and Etna identity, with Lauria Castle as its symbolic centerpiece.

Milan Cortina 2026 Italian wine takes center stage at Casa Italia: 26 labels as a tool for cultural diplomacy and positioning Made in Italy.

Wine Marketing: Stepping Out of Your Comfort Zone. Experts at Wine Paris warned: business models need to be rethought, adaptability as a new key skill.

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

Wine press review for Tuesday February 17 -2026

with:

Wineries, Italian wine producers, and wine news.

Italian wineries

Tenuta Monsignore (Alta Langa) The Alta Langa classic method that “looks like Champagne”: Chardonnay and Pinot Noir in perfect balance for one of the most interesting labels of the Piedmont region, presented at the Grandi Langhe in Turin.

Il Verro Winery – Formicola (Caserta) Cesare Avenia’s project promotes rare grape varieties such as Pallagrello, Casavecchia, and Coda di Pecora, with a return to the land that combines managerial skill and agricultural vision.

Cantina Foradori – Trentino 125 years of history and a radical and consistent biodynamic philosophy. An agricultural model that focuses on listening to the land, territorial identity, and certified sustainability.

Casa Grazia – Sicilia Vi Veri and Victorya: Cabernet Sauvignon and Cerasuolo di Vittoria DOCG that tell the story of an agricultural and entrepreneurial Sicily par excellence, on the edge of the Biviere Reserve.

Centopassi – Sicily Wine as a social and industrial project: Libera Terra cooperatives, organic farming, native grape varieties, and a structured presence on global markets.

Vogadori Winery – Valpolicella Weekend dedicated to bulk wines in Negrar: tradition, informed consumption, and a direct relationship between producer and enthusiast.

Cantina Produttori Cormòns is mourning the passing of Andrea Tofful, vice president and key figure in the winery’s rebirth.

Italian wine and Italian oenology

Gen Z and wine: it’s not rejection, it’s a rejection of the model. Young people haven’t abandoned wine, but an elitist and unsustainable narrative. What’s needed is a cultural shift, not moralism.

Drinking “in stripes”: alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks together “Zebra striping” is becoming increasingly popular among young people: alternating consumption that redefines the concept of moderation.

Growing Quality Grapes From soil to agronomic management: the practices that make the difference between an ordinary harvest and excellent grapes.

Production Concentration in Italian Wine The top 5 wineries produce 18% of DOC and IGT wines: the Valoritalia data opens the debate on aggregation and industrial scale.

Identity and Future of Vino Nobile di Montepulciano: Culture, landscape, and sustainability as strategic pillars of one of Italy’s historic DOCGs.

Chianti Classico Collection Wine as a cultural identity: positive signals from North America and Canada despite a complex context.

Cuzziol Grandi Vini Entrepreneurial strategy and romanticism: growing in wine amidst uncertainty, vision, and the selection of authentic stories.

International and market scenarios

Tariffs and foreign markets: US alarm. Shipments to the United States -9% in 2025. The sector calls for acceleration in Mercosur and India to diversify markets.

Certified wine 2025: DOC and DOCG hold steady . Sparkling, white, and rosé wines are growing. Red and IGT wines are declining. A market that rewards identity and certified value.

Overall bottling volumes in 2025 are down 2.1%, but DOC and DOCG production is growing. The data confirms the “structural stability” of the quality sector.

Policies, territories and supply chain

Piedmont: €18.8 million for wine. CMO funds for foreign promotion, winery investments, and vineyard renovation. 2026–27 priorities shared with the supply chain.

Città del Vino: Renewables banned in DOC and DOCG areas. Updated guidelines to protect the landscape, winemaking quality, and land use planning.

Wine events and wine culture

Vinetia Tasting – Santa Lucia di Piave (March 22) 800 labels to showcase Venetian winemaking in a major event organized by AIS Veneto.

Traminer Weingassl – Termeno The wine festival that combines Gewürztraminer, conviviality and the culture of South Tyrolean Törggelen.

Barbera Red Night – Turin (February 20) 20 piole, live music and popular cuisine: wine as a social ritual awaiting the Turin Wine Fair 2026.

Taste Alto Piemonte – Milan (March 9) Tastings and insights to tell the story of a region undergoing a strong resurgence.

Today’s wine press review is brought to you by WINEIDEA.IT. See you tomorrow with new strategic insights from the world of wine.

Wine press review for Monday February 16 -2026

with:

Wineries, Italian wine producers, and wine news.

Italian wineries

  • Poderi Luigi Einaudi: Barolo DOCG Ravera 2022 (Novello) debuts. A new Cru/MGA in the portfolio: Nebbiolo from a single vineyard (approximately 400 m, south/southeast exposure, Sant’Agata Marl). “Limited production terroir” as a reputational and commercial lever.
  • Pio Cesare: Over a Century of History and Generational Transition. Identity Story and Family Governance: Post-2021 Continuity with the Fifth Generation (Federica Boffa, Pio, and Cesare Benvenuto). Key Themes: Succession, Leadership, and Brand Stewardship.
  • Sankt Pauls Winery: new Pinot Bianco “Kalkberg” and focus on soils Historic cooperative (1907) with communities of winemakers and vineyards between 400–650 m: geological narrative (limestone, porphyry, gneiss, basalt) as positioning driver.
  • Molise: the cellar in an old farmhouse and the “new red” of the area. Case study of a small region that focuses on quality and native grape varieties: small scale as an advantage (care, authenticity, curiosity of the evolved consumer).
  • La Caplana (Bosio, AL): a great white wine under €15 between Piedmont and Liguria. Frontier storytelling (Ligurian Apennines, sea breezes, white clay) accessible pricing: a credible “value wine” theme.
  • Il Verro (Formicola, CE): “niche” grape varieties and a return to the land Pallagrello/Casavecchia and experimentation (pure Coda di Pecora): biodiversity entrepreneurial project with a managerial profile.
  • Cavalier Mennato Falluto Wineries (Torrecuso, BN): Memory, Award, and Agritourism. Family continuity, Samnite roots, and a dual spirit (vineyard/winery hospitality). Theme: wine tourism as a stabilizer of marginalization.
  • Caruso & Minini (Marsala): brand ambassadors in 40 countries. Evolution “from suppliers to complete supply chain”: partnerships and international marketing as a growth lever.
  • Perillo (Irpinia): Taurasi 2014, elegance and management in a difficult vintage. Technical narrative “time as an ally”: useful for communicating stylistic solidity and value in the long-lived red segment.

Italian wine and Italian oenology

  • Gambero Rosso: The 12 Best Gewürztraminers (Many Under €20) Educational focus on aromatic grape varieties (terpenes) and the South Tyrolean origin/identity (Termeno/Tramin). Message: quality, affordability, and price.
  • Cantina Vignaioli di Scansano: Vermentino “Vigna Fiorini” 2024. “Unconventional” vinification (over-ripening on the vine, carbonic fermentation in stainless steel and fine lees): rich aromatic profile and savory palate. Contents: technique as differentiation.
  • Gentleman Ranking: 100 Best Italian Reds 2026 Ranking constructed by cross-referencing guides/scores: useful as a reputation thermometer and for reading “shifts” in the hierarchies.
  • Vermouth di Torino: A Resurgence and the Question of Identity. Not Just a Cocktail Trend: A Return to the Proper Name as a Cultural and Conservative Key.
  • Wine culture and pop storytelling: “Sentimental Tasting” by Giulia Latini. The language of tasting used to discuss choices and memory: a sign of how wine is entering new editorial formats.
  • Wine list: the best in Europe is Italian (Trattoria al Cacciatore – La Subida, Cormòns) International “Star Wine List of the Year” award: Italy is strong not only in production, but also in service and cellar management.

International

  • “War” over designations: the ‘Lumbarda DOP’ case (Croatia) and Lombardy’s reaction. Tension over phonetics/toponymy (Lumbarda/Lombarda) and protection at EU level: a sensitive issue for consortia and territorial branding.

Wine events

  • Wine tourism: Elba DOC Consortium – interview with the new president, Antonio Arrighi. Consortium governance and Elba’s positioning within the regional context (PrimAnteprima 2025). Wine tourism as a strategic destination.
  • Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Preview: 4.5/5 rating for 2023. Technical assessment by the commission (finesse/balance, structure, analytical parameters). Market message: vintage ready to “speak” to the consumer.
  • Previews of Tuscany 2026: focus on “Le Pievi” (2022 and 2021 vintages, blind tastings). UGA as a lever for segmentation and promotion. Pay attention to samples that are not all present and some still undergoing maturation.
  • Caiarossa: presentation of the new vintages “Icons 2022 – I Rossi” (February 21, Riparbella) An on-site event featuring a tour of soils and microclimates and comparisons with previous vintages: the perfect format for the press, trade, and top clients.
  • Fieragricola 2026 (Veronafiere): Over 100,000 attendees and a focus on innovation. Technology and supply chains: smart irrigation, digitalization, biosolutions, renewables. Direct impact on viticulture: “costs/climate/productivity.”
  • Inclusion: “The teetotal sommelier” (AIS) for young people with disabilities 16 Alcohol-free training, geared towards skills and employment: a cultural and social project that strengthens the sector’s reputation.

Industry focus (cross-cutting theme, to be highlighted on the homepage)

  • 2025 harvest stable (0.7%) but inventories rising: UIV calls for reforms. 2025 production reported at 44.383 million hl; inventories indicated at 61 million hl (6% year-on-year). Signal: supply chain balance still fragile, with pressure on prices and inventory management.

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

Wine press review for Sunday February 15 -2026

with:

Wineries, Italian wine producers, and wine news.

Italian wineries

Gaja’s Barbaresco Sorì Tildin 2022 named best Italian red according to Gentleman 2026. The Gentleman ranking, a cross-reference between Italian guides and international critics, crowns Gaja. Giacosa, Antinori, and Sassicaia also make the podium: an authoritative snapshot of Italian excellence around the world.

Bosio (AL): a fine white wine under €15 between Piedmont and Liguria. Caplana showcases a family-run, distinctive border viticulture, amidst white clay and sea breezes. A coherent, local project with an excellent quality/price ratio.

Cantina Ca’Stelle (Castelvenere) Thirty years in business, ongoing generational transition, and a strong push towards communication and sales, maintaining a solid production style for Falanghina and Camaiola.

I Cacciagalli in Teano (CE) A biodynamic project combining viticulture and hospitality, on the slopes of the extinct Roccamonfina volcano. Wines that tell the story of the land.

Moncaro at auction: vineyards, cellars, and a restaurant. The Terre Cortesi Moncaro cooperative is up for sale: three cellars, approximately 100 hectares of DOC vineyards, and 52 labels. Estimated value over €13 million. A strategic move attracting groups and investors.

Italian wine and Italian oenology

Longevity and wine: a glass a day, especially between the ages of 40 and 65. Professor Giovanni Scapagnini rehabilitates conscious consumption: benefits on stress, sociality and quality of life.

Veronelli to the “Corriere”: 130 praises for wine. A hundred years after his birth, Gino Veronelli’s cultural legacy remains central: wine as an expression of ethics, agriculture, and humanity.

Italian wine 2025: DOC and DOCG growth, micro-denominations suffer. Valoritalia data: bottlings down 2.1%, but DOC and DOCG down 1%. Significant decline for IGTs. Lower volume, better positioning.

Five groups bottle 18% of the denominations . Concentration in certified Italian wine is growing. The sector is holding up, but undergoing changes in its structure and governance.

Tuscan wine: lower volumes, higher quality. Millennials are driving the trend. Volumes will decline slightly between 2021 and 2025, but purchases will increase by 24% among the 35-45 age group. A shift toward “less but better.”

Wine no longer stands upright. The container changes, and so does consumption: from the bottle to the bag-in-box. This isn’t the end of wine, but a cultural shift.

International

US alcohol market: wine down 3.5%, ready-to-drinks soar. In the United States, wine declines slightly, while RTDs are growing double-digitly. Spirits and beer remain dominant.

Lucanian wine on its way to Switzerland. The Basilicata Region is launching a structured promotion project in Switzerland: internationalization as an economic and territorial lever.

Primum Familiae Vini: the quiet strength of family businesses. Twelve great historic families of global wine united by a long-term vision. In Paris, over 2,800 years of history under one roof.

Wine events

Wine Paris conquers the world (and Italy) . Over 1,350 Italian exhibitors. Qualified buyers, effective organization, and a growing importance in the global calendar.

Prosecco DOC and the Olympics: an €8 million investment. The largest promotional effort ever undertaken by an Italian wine consortium. The goal: to capture the imagination of young people.

WinePrime Milano: the new high-end wine fair. Debuting in January 2027. Milan as an international hub for high-end wine. Luca Cuzziol speaks.

Previews of Tuscany 2026 – Vino Nobile di Montepulciano The 2023 vintage was judged positive, with balanced and refined wines. The 2022 Reserves are still too few to fully evaluate.

4.5 stars for Vino Nobile di Montepulciano 2023. High rating for structure, balance, and finesse. Analysis presented by winemaker Lorenzo Landi.

DiVinNosiola: a journey into the heart of Trentino Vino Santo. From March 28th to April 12th, masterclasses, tastings, and the pressing ritual. Sixteenth edition.

Luca Maroni’s Best Italian Wines (Rome) From February 20th to 22nd, unlimited tastings, workshops, and a focus on alcohol-free and sparkling wines. 25th edition.

Umbria del Vino 2026: the winning wineries have been announced. Twenty years of companies have been awarded in the regional competition promoted by the Umbria Chamber of Commerce.

The best wine list in Europe is Italian. Trattoria al Cacciatore – La Subida in Cormòns has been awarded: “Best Long List” and “Special Jury Prize”.

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

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