Wine news, Italian wineries and wines.
ITALIAN CELLARS
Cantine di Verona: 2024/25 revenues of €58.3 million. The cooperative (Valpantena, Custoza, Colli Morenici, Brolo dei Giusti) closed the fiscal year (11 months, ending July 31) with revenues of €58.3 million. On a 12-month basis: 1.57%. Exports accounted for 80% of the total (Scandinavia, UK, Netherlands, Switzerland, Germany). Profit was €420,000.
Cantine Riunite & Civ: revenue of €266.5 million, net profit of €1.8 million. Balance sheet as of July 31, 2025: revenue down but profit positive. Shareholders’ equity strengthened to €205 million and net financial position improved. 2025 estimate: consolidated revenue over €650 million, with presence in foreign distribution networks.
Vallepicciola “Best Winery of the Year” according to Le Guide de L’Espresso The Chianti Classico winery (owned by the Bolfo family) consolidates its reputation with the award and with a path made of solid winemaking, national and international criticism, and wine tourism development.
Schmid Oberrautner (Bolzano): Grand d’Or at the 2025 Mondial des Vins Extrêmes The 2022 Lagrein Riserva wins the Grand d’Or medal, a recognition linked to heroic viticulture, with an award ceremony at the Forte di Bard.
ITALIAN WINE AND ITALIAN ENOLOGY
“Wine is Europe’s Identity Card”: Gianfranco Ravasi on Culture, Food, and Symbols. A reflection on the value of wine as a European and Italian cultural and identity element, linked to the sense of the table, conviviality, and tradition.
Italian wineries as of November 30, 2025: growing inventories. In the factories: 53.3 million hectoliters of wine, 9.7 million hectoliters of must, 9.5 million hectoliters of VNAIF. On an annual basis: 8.6% wine, 12.5% must. Strong concentration in the North (Veneto in the lead). Shares: 54.6% PDO, 26.5% PGI. 20 denominations out of 526 account for 58.4% of the PGI inventories.
Nomisma: Weak domestic demand, exports more central but more complex. Wine Monitor highlights a slowdown in large-scale retail trade and more cautious consumers. On the US front, tensions over costs, exchange rates, and tariffs, putting pressure on margins and requiring a more structured trade strategy.
Rhetoric and wine: communication is a profession (and must be studied) A “systematic” reading: communication is an economic and reputational lever, but requires specific method and training, which is still not widely available in Italy today.
Wine in 300 words: Erbaluce di Caluso “La Rustìa” 2022 (Orsolani) Focus on a white wine from Canavese: ripe grapes, a fresh and vertical profile, citrus notes and aromatic herbs.
INTERNATIONAL
French Champagne Test: Major Brands Bottom of the Classification In Que Choisir’s test of 32 bottles, none exceed 15/20. Veuve Clicquot (22°), GH Mumm (24°), Moët & Chandon (26°): “Noise” affects perceived value for money.
Selosse: “Italian sparkling wine shouldn’t imitate Champagne.” The winemaker, a symbol of artisanal Champagne, reiterates his anti-standardization vision and focuses on still wines. He criticizes the collaboration with Feudi di San Gregorio on the Dubl project.
From iconic Champagnes to signature Metodo Classico: 15 bubbles for New Year’s Eve. A selection of Champagnes, Metodo Classico wines, and even a non-alcoholic Blanc de Blancs. A spotlight on historic houses (Billecart-Salmon, cuvée Nicolas François) and the theme of “time” as a production style.
“Do you want to be French?”: Christmas menu with French wines available in large-scale retail outlets. A selection of Christmas pairings featuring French wines available in Italian supermarkets (focusing on affordable quality and thoughtful selection).
MARKETS, CONSUMPTION AND TRENDS
Holiday trends 2025 by Partesa: great Italian wines are an international curiosity. For the HoReCa sector: demand for authentic experiences and excellent products. Champagne and American reds are joining Italian brands. There’s also room for beers, grappas, and bitters. The scenario: out-of-home consumption is slightly down, but consumers are more mature.
Vinarius: Premiumization confirmed, fewer bottles but higher value. Wine shops report declining volumes and increasing value. Wines with a distinct identity and a strong territorial identity are growing, along with a focus on low alcohol content and sustainability (green packaging).
Vinarius Trends 2025/2026: Whites and sparkling wines on the rise, with Classic Method leading the way. Confirmation of a changing market: lower-end wines under greater pressure, premium wines more resilient; a preference for freshness and lightness, without abandoning the great classic reds.
No/low-alcohol wines: readers divided. Survey (892 responses, closed December 18): 35% favor it as a health/conviviality compromise; 22% are curious about it, but it doesn’t replace traditional wine; 42% are opposed (“it’s not wine”).
REGULATIONS AND SYSTEM
UIV: Tax decree on dealcohol products still stalled, Italy lagging behind in competitiveness. The Italian Wine Union (Unione Italiana Vini) urges the MEF-MASAF interministerial decree: investments have already been initiated by companies, but regulatory stalemate. UIV reports a competitive advantage abroad that has been established for approximately four years (post-EU Regulation of December 2021). (The three news items on the topic converge on the same point: “conclude by the end of the year.”)
WINE EVENTS
AIS Veneto presents Vinetia: the best Veneto wines for the holidays. Twelfth edition in Venice (Hotel Ca’ Sagredo): prizes for the 7 winners chosen from 21 finalists, with blind tastings and a jury of 40 professionals.
“Foreign Wines” in Verona: ten producers at Osteria Ratafià (December 21) Event dedicated to natural and artisanal wine (ticket €15 including a glass and tastings), with winemakers from various Italian regions and a focus on community and discovery.
Villa d’Este: wine as an experience, a monumental cellar, and high-level hospitality. A Christmas lifestyle story on Lake Como: atmosphere, dining, and the cellar as the narrative heart of the place.
Marche: initiatives on well-being, the environment, and quality supply chains. Focus on regional policies (Law 7/2023) and initiatives: food education, districts, protection of quality products, collaboration with Slow Food, and territorial valorization.
QUIDQUID – Strategic Business Advisor
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