Wine news, Italian wineries and wines.
1) Italian wineries
Tenuta di Bibbiano (Chianti Classico): Vertical tasting 1997–2019. A portrait of a “classicist” Sangiovese winery, combining elegance, sobriety, and a careful interpretation of individual vineyards. A focus also on the legacy of Giulio Gambelli, an absolute master of Sangiovese culture.
Specogna among the best agricultural companies in Italy (America Agricoltura Award) Recognition to Cristian and Michele Specogna (Corno di Rosazzo) for entrepreneurial ability, sustainability, and innovation, with enhancement of commercial relations with the USA.
Siddùra and the “dominance” of Vermentino di Gallura Three consecutive years of top results for different Vermentino di Gallura DOCGs: growing the denomination’s reputation and strengthening the “territorial value” (not just of the individual brand).
Calabria in turmoil: one of the most interesting wines is born near Cosenza. Signs of a qualitative and identity-building revival in Calabrian winemaking (also thanks to increased visibility and selection/guided tasting efforts).
Pollenzo Wine Bank: historic vintages and winemaking heritage. Over 50,000 bottles stored: conservation as a cultural and professional asset, with a growing role for enthusiasts and professionals.
2) Italian wine and Italian oenology
Oltrepò Pavese: Pinot Noir surpasses red varieties. A push for “Classese” is underway. Ampelographic and strategic changes are underway: classic method sparkling wines are increasingly central, with the aim of evolving “Classese” from a consortium brand to a denomination.
Piwi (resistant grape varieties): growth focused on Prosecco and Pinot Grigio. Resistant varieties as a structural lever: reduced spraying and greater climate resilience. Contextual note: Italy is perceived as “behind” its potential.
Transparency and back-labeling: the Xtrawine case and the “grey areas” Hot topic on traceability and consumer clarity: discussion on unidentifiable “producers” and how the rules are used (or circumvented) in practice.
Alcohol prices: Italy the cheapest in the EU (October 2025 data). According to Destatis, wine/spirits/beer prices are below the EU average; compared with more expensive countries (Finland leading the way). Implication: a price advantage, yes, but not enough if demand slows.
Out-of-home consumption: fewer trips, more selectivity, and a quality experience. Federvini/Tradelab: a slight decline in visits, but value growth at certain times (after dinner). Consumers aren’t “disappearing”: they’re buying better, more thoughtfully.
Treatment Registry: Digital Transition De facto Postponed to 2027. The Campaign Notebook (Agea) remains voluntary through 2026; mandatory as of January 1, 2027. Impact: An additional year to organize processes and data.
Zero-interest liquidity for farmers (CAI “Risultato Sicuro” initiative) Zero-interest commercial credit for purchases in 2026: useful financial leverage especially during investments and cash management.
Health and wine: Garattini’s “no” for longevity. A clear position (no wine, no red meat, no butter) in the debate on public health and consumption: a narrative that continues to weigh on general sentiment.
Curiosity outside the supply chain: “ecclesiastical diet” with wine always. Colourful news: wine required daily in the catering specifications of ecclesiastical structures (more of a cultural than a market issue).
3) International
Investment wines: an uncertain market, but Italy holds firm (Supertuscan) Liv-ex Power 100: after a tough 2024 and an even more severe 2025, a shift in mentality is emerging (“what’s best to buy now”), with timid signs of stabilization towards 2026.
EU: Wine consumption to decline through 2035. EU Agricultural Outlook 2025–35: forecast annual decline and overall decline compared to recent averages. Drivers: health, public policies, competition from other beverages.
China: Young people and new rituals – mulled wine booms, white wine is popular even in winter. Meituan data shows a sharp increase in white wine and a surge in searches for mulled wine kits. The signal: “ritual” and self-consoling consumption, rather than traditional.
Australia: Fire at Fowles Wines, 2026 vintage lost . Extreme weather event directly impacting vineyards and production. Brutal reminder: physical risk increasingly business-critical.
Wine Spectator – Top 10 Values 2025: Italy Present Highlights of Italian labels awarded for quality/price (examples: Chianti Classico Tenuta di Arceno; Barbera d’Asti Michele Chiarlo). Value: strong commercial leverage in a period of cautious demand.
4) Wine events
Art & Wine Siena (January 15, Piazza del Campo) A meeting between wine and contemporary art: leading producers, focus on signature labels and storytelling.
Haute Cuisine & Franciacorta (Ravenna, January 15) Show cooking and pairing with the historic Bersi Serlini winery: a “high value” experiential format, consistent with the most selective demand.
Visit and tasting at Monteversa (Euganean Hills, February 1st) A winery experience focusing on volcanic soil, territorial identity, and organic production: wine tourism as a conversion channel.
Casa Italia Milano Cortina 2026: LT Wine selects 26 labels International showcase during the Games (6–22 February 2026): positioning and reputation opportunities for Italian wine.
Vulture Italian City of Wine 2026–2027 Operational launch of the “system” project with institutions and consortia: not just an event, but a territorial journey (wine tourism identity).
Strategic reading of the day (2 lines, no unnecessary poetry)
2026 is shaping up to be a year of “less volume, more choice”: demand is structurally declining in Europe, but real opportunities exist where perceived quality, transparency, wine tourism, and the ability to embrace new rituals (No-Lo, experiential consumption, investment/collecting) are at stake. Meanwhile, regulation and climate are definitively entering the bottom line, not the press release.
Wine news, Italian wineries and wines.
Italian wineries
- The best wine in the world comes from Irpinia, according to Wine Enthusiast. This award recognizes not just a wine, but a production vision capable of transforming experience into a lever for evolution. Irpinia confirms its position as a region of depth, where identity and openness to innovation coexist.
- Altagamma: Masciarelli joins as a new member, increasing wine’s representation. The Abruzzo winery’s entry strengthens the wine sector’s position within the Altagamma Foundation, underscoring the symbolic and economic value of wine in Italy’s high-end luxury goods industry.
- Poggio Severo, the Lisini family’s new Brunello di Montalcino. A new interpretation of high-altitude Sangiovese: 2,666 bottles, vineyards at over 500 meters, tension and freshness as its stylistic signature. A project that begins in the vineyard before it begins in the cellar.
- A Friulian winery wins the 2026 America Agriculture Award. The Specogna brothers were honored at the Chamber of Deputies for innovation and sustainability. The US market remains a strategic hub for quality Friulian wine.
- On the Tuscan estate once owned by the Medici family, a modern and spectacular winery, Villa Saletta: over 700 hectares of biodiversity, historic restoration, and an international outlook. An example of the integration of heritage, wine, and luxury hospitality.
- Stella di Lemmen, the biodynamic soul of the Cinque Terre. From abandoned village to extreme winemaking oasis: the largest continuous vineyard in the Cinque Terre, amidst dry stone walls, biodiversity, and heroic viticulture.
- Brunello: the Lisini family relaunches in Montalcino with Poggio Severo. The official presentation in Florence confirms a product strategy that combines tradition with new local influences.
Italian wine and Italian oenology
- Wine has always survived crises by changing shape. Alcohol-free is not a break with tradition, but rather a reflection of historical continuity. Between declining consumption, climate change, and regulatory pressure, the wine industry is entering a phase of structural reorganization.
- Mountain wines: quality grows at altitude. From Valtellina to Etna, six producers share a vision of a winemaking future that lies at high altitudes. A masterclass that captures one of the strongest trends of the next decade.
- With the decree on alcohol deregulation, Italy can finally dominate the market. Settimo Pizzolato’s comment: regaining competitiveness and access to a global segment worth over $2.4 billion, destined for growth.
- The prospects for Italian wine according to Derenoncourt Vignerons Consultants A lucid and pragmatic analysis: reading soils, vineyards, and cellars as a single identity story, without chasing misleading trends.
- Xtrawine wine labels on the back: the transparency issue. A case study that raises the issue of consumer transparency and the gray areas permitted by European regulations.
- The Zodiac in a Glass | To Each His Own Wine A light-hearted yet cultural tale that intertwines zodiacal characteristics and winemaking styles, combining curiosity and popularization.
International
- Wine Spectator’s “Top 10 Values 2025” ranking includes two Italian labels (Chianti Classico Tenuta di Arceno and Barbera d’Asti Michele Chiarlo) among the best value wines. A Uruguayan wine from the Bulgheroni group also makes the list.
- EU-Mercosur Agreement: Green Light from Europe. After 25 years of negotiations, the agreement opens up new opportunities for Italian wine exports to young and growing markets, despite some reservations from the producing world.
- With the entry of the Michelin Guide into the wine industry, many things could change. The “red” opens a new chapter: a global reference that could impact the reputation, storytelling, and hierarchies of international wine.
Wine events
- History, art, culture, and wine in the Marano di Valpolicella valley. A tour of vineyards, Renaissance villas, and a final tasting at the winery.
- “Tannini and Taranta: Puglia in 4 glasses” – Villa Guidini, Zero Branco On February 6, 2026, a sensory journey through Salento, guided by expert sommeliers.
- Masterclass: Case Vecie – Time as a Value Historic Vertical Tasting of Amarone di Brigaldara, presented by Cristian Maitan, Best Sommelier of Italy 2023.
- Show cooking and wine pairing at 44°12′ by Casa Spadoni In Ravenna, identity cuisine and Franciacorta Bersi Serlini for an evening of haute cuisine.
- CANTINE D’ITALIA 2026 – Go Wine In Liguria, Lunae Bosoni and Terre Bianche have been confirmed as Go Wine Impronte. Over 900 wineries have been selected for the new edition of the guide.
- Palermo’s Vermuteria is Sicily’s first Bar Revelation of the Year at the Barawards : a strong signal of innovation in Italian hospitality.
Special Winemaking Operations – Asolo, Conegliano Valdobbiadene, Treviso
A dedicated focus on confidential transactions involving Prosecco DOCG and DOC assets : operating wineries, estates with a wine tourism focus, sparkling wine production facilities, and industrial platforms. Not announcements, but structured transactions for integration, growth, and capital consolidation.
Thanks for listening. Today’s wine press review was brought to you by WINEIDEA.IT .
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Wine news and Italian wine cellars.
ITALIAN WINERIES
Prosecco DOC Consortium: 667 million bottles sold by 2025. The Denomination confirms its global leadership with 667 million bottles sold (1.1%), a total value of €3.6 billion, and over 82% of this destined for export. This is a testament to resilience in an unstable global environment, based on the unity of the supply chain.
Settecani Winery in Castelvetro: 2025 revenues up 8.7%. The Modena-based cooperative closed 2025 with a turnover of €6.75 million. Deliveries, bottling, and the domestic market are growing, with grape yields stable at above €50/q.
Ascierto Winery in Sant’Agata dei Goti: third harvest. The winemaking project spearheaded by Professor Paolo Ascierto consolidates its identity between Solopaca and Sant’Agata dei Goti. The 2022 Falanghina marks the start of production.
Cerasuolo d’Abruzzo: value for money according to the Zappacosta family. A story of returning to the land and family continuity: the 2024 Cerasuolo d’Abruzzo has been recognized as the Best Regional Value for Money.
Cantina Moser and Trento DOC From the Cembra Valley, one of the most emblematic stories of the Trentino classic method, combining rural tradition, entrepreneurial vision, and territorial identity.
Vineyards and wines in Cembra: the Gottardi family An example of generational renewal in mountain viticulture, with a focus on Müller Thurgau, sparkling wine bases, and Trento DOC.
Quality Primitivo under €10 near Foggia. The qualitative growth of Apulian wine also comes from accessible labels, with more balanced, fresh, and territorial styles.
ITALIAN WINE AND ITALIAN OENOLOGY
Alcohol-free wine: the new decree changes the rules. The decree of December 29, 2025, introduces clear rules regarding production, excise duties, inspections, and authorizations for dealcoholized and low-alcohol wines. This regulatory breakthrough opens up a new market segment.
Getting Drunk on Words: The Cultural Debate on Alcohol-Free Wine A critical analysis of the linguistic, political, and identity implications of the new legislation on alcohol-free wine and the very concept of “wine.”
The Bastards of the Monks and Red Pecorino: A historical and cultural exploration that restores dignity to a winemaking tradition often simplified as a “rediscovery,” a blend of monastic heritage and territorial identity.
Vivai di Rauscedo presents Piwi Prosecco. Five new Glera varieties resistant to fungal diseases and climate change. See you on January 29, 2026, for technicians and producers.
Wine in Figures 2026 The statistical yearbook of the Italian Wine Union offers the most complete picture of production, areas, consumption, exports, prices and inventories, in Italy and around the world.
The Prospects of Italian Wine According to Derenoncourt: A strategic reflection on contemporary viticulture: soil, vineyard, and oenology interpreted as a single identity system.
Tasting: L’Autentica Basilicata Bianco IGT 2022 A passito made from Moscato and Malvasia, aged in barrique, which combines technique, elegance and territorial identity.
The Marche and its great red wines: A journey through Roman history, the Adriatic hills, and tastings, discovering a still underrated region.
INTERNATIONAL
Liv-Ex Power 100 2025 After two difficult years for collectors, a Bordeaux returns to first place. Italian brands also performed well, with Sassicaia coming in second and Gaja among the top performers.
BWW 2025: Petrus 2020 named best wine in the world . The Best Wine of the World competition crowns the renowned Pomerol. Among the Platinum winners is Masseto 2020, the only Italian wine to receive the award.
EU–Mercosur: New Opportunities for Italian Wine Exports The agreement opens up significant prospects in South America thanks to the progressive elimination of tariffs on still and sparkling wines.
WINE EVENTS
Vinacria 2025 in Syracuse The second edition of the event dedicated to Sicilian wine confirms its format: 89 exhibitors, contemporary language, and strong networking among producers.
AGRICULTURAL POLICIES AND REGULATIONS
CAP: €45 billion more for agriculture from 2028 The European Commission amends the multiannual budget, avoiding cuts and strengthening resources for the agricultural sector.
2026 Budget Law: Occasional Work in Agriculture. The rules for seasonal agricultural work of up to 45 days per worker per year have been stabilized.
ASSETS AND CONFIDENTIAL TRANSACTIONS – PROSECCO & NORTH EAST
Summary of selected opportunities:
- Operating DOC and DOCG wineries (Valdobbiadene, Colli Asolani, Conegliano Valdobbiadene)
- Wine estates with a wine tourism vocation
- Storage and sparkling wine production plants
- Integrated hospitality production projects. Confidential negotiations, ideal assets for industrial integration, family continuity, or service platforms.
Thanks for listening. Today’s wine press review was brought to you by WINEIDEA.IT .
See you tomorrow.
Wine news, Italian wineries and wines.
Italian wineries
Piedmont, a turning point in alcohol-free wine. From heresy to industrial opportunity: Piedmont is also opening up to alcohol-free wines, driven by foreign demand and now supported by a decree clarifying production and tax regulations. A key step: innovate without distorting the identity of Italian wine.
Regional funds for Alessandria winemakers: Over €1.5 million allocated to 108 companies for vineyard renovation. The goal is to increase the quality, profitability, and competitiveness of DOC and DOCG vineyards.
Planeta Chardonnay: 30 Years of Sicilian Revolution. An “anachronistic” wine by choice, it broke the mold in the 1990s and continues to spark discussion. The symbol of a Sicily unafraid to go against the grain.
Ascierto Winery in Sant’Agata dei Goti. This is the third harvest for oncologist Paolo Ascierto’s project: a return to the roots, combining family memories, historic vineyards, and a vision for the future.
Contemporary art and wine on Lake Garda. The Montresor brothers’ winery becomes a productive and cultural space. Wine and art as complementary languages of identity and entrepreneurial vision.
The historic wine shop that inspired Veronelli Da Vino Vino 1921 in Milan is the birthplace of one of the most iconic expressions of Italian wine culture. History, recycled materials, and a pioneering vision.
Italian wine and Italian oenology
Dry January and new consumption patterns: 71% of Europeans are cutting back on alcohol. The no-drinks market is growing (5.1%, €97 billion), especially among Gen Z and Millennials. Alcohol is becoming a choice, not a social obligation.
Sugar in PDO wines: the French decision. France is opening the door to chaptalization in PDO still wines to respond to a consumer crisis and new, softer flavors. This move places Italy at a strategic crossroads.
Regenerative agriculture and carbon credits. Carbon farming will grow in 2025, but credibility remains an issue. Direct agreements between multinationals and producers aim to strengthen the system.
Prosecco DOC, expected to grow again in 2025, with 667 million bottles sold (up 1.1%), valued at €3.6 billion, and exports accounting for 82%. The “locomotive” of Italian wine continues to drive the sector in a complex global context.
Inherited agricultural land: what to know Legal, tax, and management aspects of an asset that can become either an asset or a problem, depending on initial decisions.
International
EU-Mercosur Agreement: Divisions and Protests. First green light for the world’s largest free trade area. France and other countries oppose it. The wine sector is closely monitoring the risks and opportunities.
South Africa’s wine scene: freshness and tourism. New consumption styles, more agile wines, and a strong push for wine tourism. A country rethinking its global positioning.
Wine events, lifestyle and wine culture
Dry January in Naples: Not just dealcoholized wine, but also alternative fermentations, wine mocktails, and botanicals. Drinking evolves towards new sensory experiences.
Wine&Siena 2026: Countdown From January 31st to February 2nd, with “Wine Tasting” previews that anticipate the great Tuscan event.
Valentine’s Day in Sicily: a romantic getaway to a winery. Wine tourism experiences as an emotional gift: time, landscape, and wine become shared values.
Gintoneria Cellar Auction: Iconic bottles and great labels end up at auction: a case that intertwines news, collecting, and the fine wine market.
Special – Asolo, Conegliano Valdobbiadene, and Treviso Wineries
Strategic assets in the heart of Prosecco DOCG and DOC. Not announcements, but structured transactions: wineries, estates, and facilities ready for industrial integration, production growth, wine hospitality, or capital consolidation. From UNESCO-listed hills to complete sparkling wine production facilities, a select selection of highly strategic opportunities.
Thanks for listening. Today’s wine press review was brought to you by WINEIDEA.IT .
See you tomorrow.