Italian wineries, Italian wine producers, and current wine news.
Good morning,
Wine Idea presents the main news from the world of Italian and international wine.
ITALIAN WINERIES
Compagnia del Gusto acquires Winelivery. The Cosulich family’s holding company is strengthening its presence in the wine sector with the acquisition of the Winelivery platform, which generated approximately €4.5 million in revenue in 2025. The acquisition brings the group not only a new direct-to-consumer channel, but also data, technology, and digital expertise. Winelivery will become part of the sub-holding company Compagnia delle Vigne, which has already made significant acquisitions in the sector.
The Crops: From 8 hectares to 40 hectares and approximately 800,000 bottles The history of the Santo Stefano di Valdobbiadene winery recounts the evolution of a family business that began in 1983 with eight hectares and wine sold in demijohns. Today, it owns 40 hectares of land between Rive di Valdobbiadene, Cartizze, and Montello, with production almost entirely dedicated to sparkling wines. Gianni Tessari focuses on the identity of the Lessini Mountains . The project dedicated to Durella and the Classic Method aims to strengthen the bond between wine and territory, connecting the winery, landscape, gastronomy, refuges, hiking, and hospitality. The goal is to transform the Lessini Mountains from a simple geographical indication to a true wine tourism destination. Torre Santo Stefano: a new winemaking project in Salento. In Otranto, in the Baia dei Turchi area, Michela Negro and Marco Pellegrino are developing a project that integrates viticulture, agricultural tradition, research, and hospitality. A company rooted in the agricultural business started by the Negro family in 1947. Sicily: four wineries to showcase the new wine regions. From the Corleone area to Etna and the Val di Noto, a new generation of wineries is growing, showcasing grape varieties, terroirs, and local identities. Sicily thus continues to strengthen its position as a wine tourism destination.
ITALIAN WINE AND ITALIAN OENOLOGY
Italian wine exports: -6.9% in the first five months of 2026. Exports fell to €2.98 billion , while turnover in May fell 7.1%. Bottled wines were particularly hard hit. Sparkling wines, on the other hand, held essentially stable in overall value at €876 million, but Prosecco DOP declined by 2.2%. Asti (35%), other DOP sparkling wines, varietals, and common wines, grew.
Sparkling Wines: Continental Europe’s Importance Grows. In the first quarter of 2026, Italian sparkling wine exports lost 12.5% in value , with average prices falling to €2.61/liter. While the United States and Germany remain key markets, Austria, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia are increasing in importance. Brunello di Montalcino: Early Harvest, High Quality Expected. The 2026 harvest will begin for most wineries on September 7 , at least a week earlier than in 2025. The Consortium reports vineyards in good phytosanitary condition and expected volumes in line with or slightly lower than the previous year. Prosecco Hills: Water and Hydrogeological Instability Become Strategic. President Marina Montedoro calls for a structured program that simultaneously addresses water availability, storage capacity, and slope stability. Climate change and land management are therefore becoming increasingly central issues for the future of viticulture in Conegliano Valdobbiadene. Valtellina: Wine Tourism Enters the Age of Artificial Intelligence. For wineries, being listed on search engines is no longer enough: more and more tourists are using artificial intelligence systems to choose regions, companies, and activities to visit. Being correctly indexed and recognizable by AI is therefore becoming a new competitive lever for wine tourism. Sardinia 2027: Average Wine Quality Rises . Vinodabere’s new Sardinian Wine Guide has tasted over 600 wines , awarding 118 Standing Ovations and seven 100/100 scores. Despite a slight decline in the number of wines, an overall improvement in the quality of regional production is evident.
INTERNATIONAL
EU agri-food exports reach €117.2 billion, wine declines. In the first six months of 2026, European Union agri-food exports reached €117.2 billion , a decrease of 2%. Wine fell to approximately €7.8 billion, a decrease of 4% . The United Kingdom remains the main non-EU market, while the United States recorded an 11% decline.
Fortified Wines: Global Market Approaching $22.46 Billion Port, Madeira, Sherry, Marsala, and Vermouth are experiencing a new phase, thanks in part to mixology. The global market, valued at $15.78 billion in 2025 , is expected to grow to $22.46 billion in 2035. Europe represents 53% of global revenue. Napa Valley: $1.1 Billion Green Plan California is considering an ambitious program aiming for carbon neutrality by 2045. The project includes progressively more stringent sustainability requirements for wineries, but is facing resistance from the industry. A final decision is expected on November 3. Canada: Historic Barrier to Direct Wine Sales Removed Nine provinces have reached an agreement to facilitate the direct sale of wine, beer, and spirits across provincial borders. This opens up the opportunity for producers to more easily reach Canadian consumers, overcoming some of the market’s historic regulatory fragmentation.
WINE EVENTS
DiVin October – Trentino The 21st edition will accompany all five weekends of October with tastings, local products, autumn products and experiences dedicated to wine tourism.
AIS Introduction to Wine Course – Trieste From September 17th , four lectures and a winery tour dedicated to sensory analysis, viticulture, oenology, Italian and international wines, and food and wine pairing. Harvest Social-e – Treviso On September 6th and 12th , the charity initiative returns to the vineyards of the Antonio Facchin and Tenuta Amadio wineries. Proceeds will be donated to LILT Treviso. Sprigno di Ruoti – Basilicata On September 4th, a panel test will be dedicated to the 2025 vintage of Sprigno di Ruoti, a native grape variety recovered through a historical and scientific research project. Douja d’Or – Asti From September 11th to 20th , the event returns to the historic center of Asti, with a model spread across squares and buildings and the involvement of the main wine consortia of the area. Dolo-Vini-Miti – Val di Fiemme and Valle di Cembra The festival celebrates the “vertical wines” of the Cembra Valley, areas characterized by vineyards with slopes up to 40%, 700 kilometers of dry stone walls, and predominantly porphyry soils. Franciacorta in Cantina Festival Starting September 18th , wineries and the surrounding area will take center stage with tastings, tours, and experiences dedicated to Franciacorta. Among the initiatives, I Barisèi offers Wine & Sunset and production tours with the disgorging line in operation. Monfrà Jazz Fest – Monferrato UNESCO From September 11th to 13th , four free concerts and tastings among the vineyards, wineries, and distilleries of Monferrato, combining music, wine, spirits, and the surrounding area. Truffle and Tintilia – Castropignano The Molise event dedicated to the encounter between Tintilia, truffles, gastronomy, and the cultural heritage of the area kicks off on September 5th.
PICTURE OF THE DAY
The September 2nd review highlights three particularly important signs for Italian wine : exports continue to show weakness, with a 6.9% contraction in the first five months; the importance of digitalization and artificial intelligence is growing in wine tourism as well ; at the same time, the process of aggregation and consolidation of companies continues, as demonstrated by the acquisition of Winelivery by Compagnia del Gusto.
On the production front, climate, water availability, and land conservation are now becoming structural variables. Brunello harvests early, while in the Prosecco Hills, a long-term strategy for water and slope stability is required.
In short: there’s less certainty about volumes and exports, but new opportunities are emerging from technology, tourism, mergers, direct sales, and the ability to transform wine and terroir into a single experience.
Today’s wine press review is brought to you by WINEIDEA.IT.
See you tomorrow.