Wine Press Review for Friday, August 1, 2025

A sip of current events every morning, among vineyards, cellars, and global markets.

Italian Wineries

Cantina Valtidone: Resilience and Innovation Despite the challenges of the pandemic, Cantina Valtidone closed 2020 with a stable turnover of €18.3 million. Now, it returns to celebrate its new wine with Picchio Rosso and a big party in Borgonovo on November 4-5.

Eredi dei Papi honored at Monte Compatri. Chiara and Lorenzo Iacoponi have elevated the Eredi dei Papi winery by winning the 23rd "Città del Vino" wine competition. These awards celebrate the commitment and passion of young Lazio entrepreneurs.

In Valdera, a winery that embraces inclusion . In Terricciola (PI), the Arcenni winery is reborn with a renovated Etruscan cellar and a community garden dedicated to inclusion. Wine also becomes a tool for solidarity.

Bertinga, the young Tuscany that tells the story of the territory. The company, founded in 2015, looks to the future with a new vision of Chianti Classico, combining tradition and independent design.

Italian Wine and National Enology

2025 Harvest: Early Start, 45 Million Hectoliters Expected. Harvest has begun in Sicily, aided by the high temperatures. Coldiretti and Confagricoltura estimate good-excellent quality, despite the challenging weather. The uncertainty surrounding cellar stocks remains.

Sommelier courses are booming in Sicily . More and more enthusiasts are embracing wine through sommelier training. Between tasting sessions, etiquette, and storytelling, wine is increasingly a key part of the Italian lifestyle.

Lombardy's Wine and Food Routes: New Image and Rules The network of 13 Lombardy itineraries is being revamped in preparation for the 2026 Olympics with a new logo and an integrated tourism promotion strategy.

Goodbye capsules? Yes, it can be done. The debate over sustainable packaging is back: are capsules and shellac really necessary? Interest in more eco-friendly choices in wine packaging is growing.

International Wine and Export

US Tariffs: Italian Wine Under Siege. Barring any surprises, 15% tariffs will go into effect on European wine exports to the United States starting August 1st. This will be a severe blow to the industry, especially for Brunello and Prosecco.

Brunello in the trenches: 3 million bottles at risk. The president of the Montalcino Consortium, Bartolommei, raises the alarm: "It will be impossible to quickly relocate the bottles not sold in the US. New agreements are needed, including with Mercosur."

Prosecco DOC: sales soar, but first signs of a slowdown in the US. Exports are growing strongly (31% in the first quarter), but the threat of tariffs is becoming more concrete. 131 million bottles are at risk.

Mercosur: still a weak option for Italy. The South American market represents only 0.57% of Italian wine exports. However, the agreement's rapid ratification is expected to diversify destinations.

Economy and Strategic Alliances

Veraison Group and Vallebelbo: Alliance for Piedmontese Wine. A letter of intent has been signed between Veraison and the Vallebelbo cooperative (Moscato d'Asti). The goal is to create a platform for promoting Piedmontese wines on international markets.

Veraison Group: 8% and over 23 million bottles expected. Strong growth figures in the first half of 2025 for the group led by Edoardo Freddi, which is also entering the spirits segment.

Wine Events

Vini in Vigna at Castello Gamba (Aosta) returns on Saturday, August 9th, the sensory event that unites wine, art, and landscape in the heart of the Aosta Valley. Over 30 wineries will be featured, offering tastings and culture.

Verucchio Calici 2025: Romagna's toast. Friday, August 1st and Saturday, August 2nd, between the Rocca Malatestiana and the squares of the historic center, space will be given to 26 wineries and four themed areas dedicated to wine, music, and food.

Flash News and International Curiosities

Provençal Rosés at the Italian supermarket: Château Gigery, Fleurs de Prairie, and Le Cengle: three French rosés are conquering Italian shelves. Elegant and affordable, they're perfect for summer 2025.

Brussels amid uncertainty and tariff delays. On the eve of the US tariffs' entry into force, the EU Commission is still unsure about wine exemptions. The "zero-for-zero" list could be postponed.

Trump threatens sanctions on the pharmaceutical industry as well . It's not just wine: the US president also attacks big pharma for excessive prices. An increasingly unstable political and economic context.

Thanks for listening! This review is brought to you by QUIDQUID . See you tomorrow for another journey through the world's vineyards.