Italian wine news, cellars and wines.
ITALIAN WINERIES
Barolo Monfortino Dominates International Auctions Giacomo Conterno’s 1978 Barolo Monfortino leads the ranking of the most highly valued bottles, exceeding €4,200 (up 9% year-over-year). It is followed by Sassicaia 1985 and Brunello di Montalcino Soldera 1990, confirming the solidity of fine Italian wine as a collectible asset.
Borgo Conventi: A New Phase in the Gorizia Collio Region The Moretti Polegato family is launching the first step in a targeted territorial expansion strategy in the Collio region, acquiring small, top-notch wineries outside the historic Valdobbiadene area.
Teresa Mincione: Five Harvests Between Identity and Vision From the legal profession to the vineyard: in Caiazzo, a young winery interprets Casavecchia and Pallagrello with a personal approach and winemaking expertise.
Tenuta San Filippo opens a 50/50 partnership with Maire Investments to support international growth without increasing production. Capital strengthening is the strategic lever, not volume expansion.
Avignonesi presents the Nobile Late Release 2015 Time as a productive ally: a choice that expresses the agricultural philosophy and identity of the historic Montepulciano winery.
Velenosi launches “Montagna”, a high-altitude Pecorino. A project that enhances the Marche grape variety through altitude, strengthening the link between terroir and varietal identity.
Terre del Barolo: record results and centrality of work in the vineyard. Turnover close to €22 million (8%) and growing net profit. A symbolic sculpture celebrates agricultural labor as the foundation of value.
ITALIAN WINE AND ITALIAN OENOLOGY
Etna Surprise: Whites Outnumber Reds. For the first time, Etna Bianco bottlings outnumber Etna Rosso. This is a structural, not a cyclical, sign, linked to demand and positioning.
L’Enologica awarded for one of Italy’s best Novello wines. Special mention at the national competition for student-produced wines, the only school to be a finalist among over 60 labels.
Organic Asprinio di Aversa 2023 – Tenuta Fontana Focus on an identifying denomination, with Aversana-style tree-trained viticulture and organic interpretation.
DOC Vineyards: Wine Increases the Value of Lands According to Scenari Immobiliari, property prices in DOC areas are expected to grow by up to 200% in ten years, thanks to production quality, wine tourism, and sustainability.
Food and wine pairing becomes a free and creative experience. Classic dogmas have been overcome: interest in unconventional pairings, guided by sensory experience and conscious consumption, is growing.
Large-scale retail trade: wine is headed for its fifth consecutive negative year. In 2025, sales totaled 552 million liters (-3%) for a value of €2.05 billion (-0.4%). Average prices are rising, volumes are declining: the market is driven by value, not quantity.
INTERNATIONAL
Italian sparkling wines are the leaders in the United States. Production has surpassed the 1.03 billion bottle mark. Over 70% is exported, with solid performances in foreign markets and a key role during the holiday season.
Once upon a time, there was wine: Europe is responding to the crisis by uprooting vineyards. European consumption has fallen 35% since 2000, with production still concentrated but no longer competitive. The EU plan is seen as defensive, not progressive.
EU Wine Package: The Compromise Explained from the Inside. An interview with Esther Herranz García clarifies the key points of the legislative package: crisis management, labeling of dealcoholized wines, grubbing-up, and political balance.
WINE EVENTS AND TERRITORY
“Bollicine” in Bresseo di Teolo: a confirmed success. The Boxing Day event is increasingly well attended, with a large audience and a strong focus on Italian sparkling wines.
Cortina and the 2026 Olympics: what to drink in the Queen of the Dolomites. With high-spending tourism, new openings, and iconic venues, wine is becoming an integral part of the lifestyle experience ahead of the Games.
Appia UNESCO World Heritage Site and wine tourism. This recognition opens up new prospects for territorial development, where wine can become a cultural and economic lever for areas undergoing transformation.
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