News on Italian wine and oenology.
organized by thematic areas.
ITALIAN WINERIES
Pasqua Vini arrives in Pantelleria and acquires Carole Bouquet’s winery. Pasqua Vini, a historic Veronese company celebrating 100 years of business, has acquired 70% of the Sangue d’Oro winery, founded twenty years ago by French actress Carole Bouquet. This acquisition sheds new light on the island of Pantelleria, a UNESCO World Heritage site and the birthplace of the famous Zibibbo wine.
Mesa Winery: Gavino Sanna’s dream that has given a new voice to Carignano del Sulcis. A project born in 2004 to showcase Sardinia and Mediterranean conviviality. Gavino Sanna has made his “Mesa”—Sardinian for table—a symbol of hospitality and affordable yet high-quality wine.
Cinti Grassano: The Santoro Cave-Cellar Reopens. On Saturday, October 11th, the historic Santoro cellar-museum will open in Grassano (MT), restored and returned to the community. Professor Giuseppe Santoro’s original instruments will become an educational resource for the new generations.
Suavia: 2025 harvest marked by terroir, technique, and talent. A challenging yet consistent year for Suavia, an icon of Soave. The Tessari sisters describe a harvest of balance and authenticity, the fruit of the resilience of the hillside vineyards.
ITALIAN WINE AND NATIONAL OENOLOGY
Tre Bicchieri 2026 and Cinque Grappoli: Lazio surprises Eleven Gambero Rosso Tre Bicchieri and twenty-eight Bibenda Cinque Grappoli consecrate Lazio as the new frontier of Italian wine, with Malvasia del Lazio and Cesanese the absolute protagonists.
Wine tourism: Tuscany, the capital of wine lovers. With its experiential formats and strong territorial identity, Tuscany leads the national wine tourism scene. The model, launched 32 years ago by Donatella Cinelli Colombini, continues to generate value and beauty.
“SOS Marzemino”: Vallagarina defends its iconic grape. Trentino producers and institutions unite to promote Marzemino, the star of the “La Vigna Eccellente” (Excellent Vineyard) event. The grape remains an emblem of territorial identity and quality.
“Barolo en Primeur” 2025: 4,000 liters of Barolo up for auction for social causes. The international charity auction returns to Grinzane Cavour Castle on October 24th. Fourteen barrels of Gustava Barolo will be auctioned to support over 70 social and cultural projects.
Wine List Italia 2025: the “perfect” wine list. Presented at Milan Wine Week, the guide, authored by 100 sommeliers, showcases 1,000 iconic labels. Highlights include 842 Italian wineries and a palate-first view of fine dining.
Edoardo Freddi: “Tariffs shouldn’t scare us, we need to focus on quality and brand identity.” The CEO of Edoardo Freddi International urges us to view US tariffs as a temporary measure: Italian wine must respond by investing in value and distribution.
WINE AND INTERNATIONAL OENOLOGY
Italian wine is strategic for the US economy. Italy remains a key partner for the American market, with $2.2 billion in exports in 2024 and a total impact of $19 billion on the US wine industry. The topic of tariffs was a central theme at the “wine2wine Business Forum” in Chicago.
Vinitaly.USA 2025: Sardinia’s success in Chicago. The Sardinia Collective won over buyers and distributors at Navy Pier, with 18 wineries present and a climate of optimism for Italian wine overseas.
Castel-Vins Group Acquires Tannico from Campari and Moët Hennessy The Italian e-commerce platform joins the French giant Castel-Vins, which aims to strengthen its direct connection with consumers and consolidate its presence in Europe.
Putin and Luxury Wine: The Italian Winemaker Behind the Krinitsa Winery An investigation by The Insider reveals the financial backstory of the $330 million Russian presidential winery, run at a loss in the millions and led by an Italian winemaker.
US Shutdown: The American Wine Industry Stalled. The political battle over the federal budget is stalling key agencies for the wine industry. California, the driving force of American wine, is reporting the economic damage.
Wine overproduction in the EU: 13% in 2024/2025, in line with the historical average. According to the American Association of Wine Economists, Europe consistently produces more wine than it consumes. This structural phenomenon also affects Italy, France, and Spain.
VinNatur Paris 2025: Natural wines arrive in the City of Light. Ninety producers from seven countries and five technical masterclasses at 116 rue de Turenne. The Italian association’s Parisian debut marks an international breakthrough for natural wine.
WINE EVENTS
Hostaria Verona: Three Days of Wine and Culture From October 17th to 19th, the 11th edition transforms Verona into a grand collective toast with 350 wines and the theme “Where Wine and Culture Meet.”
The Harvest on Via Monte Napoleone: the Quadrilatero turns ruby red. From October 6th to 12th, Milan celebrates the synergy between wine, fashion, and haute cuisine. Boutiques, restaurants, and hotels host tastings and themed installations, including “La Tela del Mosto” by Vincenzo Dascanio.
Barolo en Primeur and the Truffle Auction: Charity Takes Center Stage in the Langhe. From Piedmont to Hong Kong, wine puts itself at the service of philanthropy in a double international event.
RULES AND TERRITORY
Agricultural land: no need to declare IMU changes. The Court of Cassation (ruling no. 26291/2025) establishes that the change in classification to building area is known to the Municipality and does not require a declaration by the taxpayer.
In closing: This is the wine press review for Wednesday, October 8, 2025, curated by QUIDQUID and brought to you by WineIdea.it . The vine continues to tell the world, one story at a time.
with the main trends, events, and useful signals for the world of wine and cellars:
Wine Report of October 8, 2025
Relevant news
- French production revised downward for 2025. The French Ministry of Agriculture has reduced its 2025 wine production estimate to 36 million hectoliters (-1% vs. 2024), a full 16% below the five-year average, due to intense heat and drought. Interestingly, Champagne is an exception: production is expected to increase 14% year-over-year, though still below the historical average.
- Champagne Demand to Revitalize Thanks to Quality Champagne producers are counting on improved grape quality in 2025 to stimulate a recovery in global demand, which has so far shown signs of contraction.
- Tasting Room to Open for California’s Natural Wine Scene Martha Stoumen, an emerging figure in the natural wine movement, will open her first tasting room in Healdsburg, California, on October 9, 2025. The winery features Italian varietals such as Negroamaro and Nero d’Avola.
- Trade tensions and the relaunch of Italian wineries in the US
- Huge Italian investments and the “Sistema Italia” strategy are underway to relaunch the company’s presence in the United States during the Vinitaly.USA platform in Chicago.
- US tariffs remain a critical issue: the US market is vital for Italian wine, with significant economic and strategic impacts if tariffs persist.
- Six new “Italian Wine Ambassadors” were appointed during this year’s Vinitaly.USA, strengthening the representation and soft diplomacy of Italy’s wine industry.
- Italy: 2025 harvest growing and leadership expected Italy is preparing to maintain world leadership in wine production in 2025, with approximately 47 million hectoliters , an 8% increase compared to 2024, driven by the contribution of the South (Sicily, Puglia).
- Innovation and Sustainability: AI Enters Vineyards, Wineries, and Tourism. A recent study explores how Artificial Intelligence can guide sustainable management in viticulture, production, and wine tourism, with benefits for water efficiency, yield forecasting, preventative maintenance, and customer experience. arXiv
- Milan Wine Week 2025 is live From October 4th to 12th, Milan hosts Wine Week, with masterclasses, immersive experiences, partnerships with local venues, the presentation of the “Wine List Italia 2025” and numerous events around the city.
- Winery Spotlight: Librandi, Roots and Innovation in Calabria The history of the Librandi family emerges as an example of how tradition and innovation can coexist: three generations in the business, a strong local presence, and an international vision.
Trends and signals to consider
- Climate as a discriminating factor : declining production and regional fluctuations show how climate change is increasingly affecting the performance of wine-growing regions.
- Quality as a defense lever : Champagne and other premium appellations focus on improving quality to justify price positioning and resist commercial pressures.
- Reducing US dependence?: Remaining exposed to the US market is strategic, but competitive parallelism in other markets is needed to reduce the risk of tariffs.
- Enabling Technology : AI adoption is becoming a differentiating factor for those who want to optimize costs, sustainability and reputation.
- Narrative value of the territory : consolidated stories like Librandi can be used as strategic assets in brand storytelling to enhance authenticity and heritage.
- Pay attention to the timing of physical events : events like Milan Wine Week can become key moments for launching content, collaborations, and coordinated storytelling.