Wine press review for Friday, August 14, 2026!

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ITALIAN WINE AND OENOLOGY

2026 Harvest: Heat and Drought Bring Forward the Harvest

The climate is one of the main protagonists of the 2026 harvest . In several Italian areas, the harvest began much earlier than usual.

In Veneto , especially in the eastern part, the harvest of Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio, and Pinot Noir has already begun. Heat and water shortages have accelerated ripening, simultaneously increasing the need for irrigation and thus farm costs. Initial indications, however, point to normal production and good quality.

The situation is even more significant in Friuli-Venezia Giulia . In Dolegna del Collio, the harvest began on August 10th, exceptionally early compared to the past. The grapes are healthy thanks to the dry climate, but irrigation has been crucial, especially for the young vineyards. The situation is more challenging in the Colli Orientali, where reduced irrigation availability is causing the vines to suffer and potentially reducing yields.

In the Bergamo area, Cantina Val San Martino also brought forward the Chardonnay harvest by about 15 days, starting work as early as 5:00 a.m. to avoid the highest temperatures. Initial assessments indicate very good quality of the grapes destined for Blanc de Blancs.

Harvest and worker safety

As temperatures rise, protecting those who work in the vineyards also becomes crucial.

The ASL CN2 Alba-Bra has reminded agricultural companies to comply with the measures established by the Piedmont Region to protect workers from heat and solar radiation: scheduling, breaks, water availability, and special attention to the most vulnerable. The regional measures remain in effect until August 31, 2026.

Roero: early harvest, but positive quality prospects

The new president of the Consorzio Tutela Roero, Alessandro Costa , foresees an early harvest but with good quality prospects.

The challenge, however, goes beyond the vineyard: changing consumption patterns, international tensions, tariffs, and the need to diversify markets require greater collaboration among producers. The Consortium currently has 265 members and over 1,300 hectares of vineyards .

Lazio: Chestnut barrels are back

The Lazio Region has approved a project to once again experiment with local chestnut trees in the production of barrels and barriques .

The project will involve the University of Tuscia, Arsial, forestry companies, coopers, and ten pilot wineries.

The goal is to reconstruct a forest-barrel-wine supply chain, valorizing the territory, craftsmanship, sustainability and traceability of the wood and simultaneously developing new technologies to analyze tannins and polyphenols during the refinement process.

Primitivo di Manduria: even great reds can be served chilled.

Masseria Cuturi's Monte Diavoli 2021 was recognized as the best Primitivo di Manduria DOP as part of the celebrations for the 60th anniversary of the Carosino Wine Festival.

Produced in just 2,200 bottles , this Primitivo is characterized by freshness, flavor, fruitiness, and aromatic complexity. This recognition also draws attention to the issue of serving temperatures for full-bodied red wines, which don't necessarily need to be enjoyed at high temperatures.

Valtènesi: Rosé Becoming More and More Identifiable

Valtènesi , on the Brescia shores of Lake Garda, continues to establish itself as one of the Italian areas most identified with rosé wine.

The qualitative growth of the denomination demonstrates how rosé can become more than just a seasonal wine, but a product strongly tied to the territory, also capable of positively evolving with aging in the bottle.

San Martino della Battaglia: Quality and Value in Lesser-Known Appellations

The San Martino della Battaglia Ottocento 2024 from Pratello , produced from pure Tai grapes, some of which come from old ungrafted vines, has been included in the BereBene 2026 guide.

With an indicated price of around 16 euros , it represents an example of how lesser-known Italian denominations can offer wines with a strong identity and an interesting quality-price ratio.

ITALIAN WINERIES

Planeta: 17 generations tell the story of Sicily through wine.

The Planeta family interprets Sicily through profoundly different territories: Menfi, Vittoria, Noto, Etna and Capo Milazzo.

The company's philosophy focuses on the land, landscape, research, and territorial identity, using wine as a tool to convey the island's agricultural and cultural complexity.

Etna: quality remains the main defense against the consumer crisis.

According to producer Ciro Biondi , Etna is going through a phase of adjustment after years of strong growth.

The general contraction in consumption is accompanied by an increase in production. However, for those companies with a strong focus on quality, demand remains strong.

Biondi manages approximately 7 hectares of vineyards at 600 metres above sea level , with a production of around 25,000 bottles , and underlines how the market is becoming more selective: the name “Etna” alone is no longer sufficient to automatically guarantee commercial success.

Sicily: Five producers tell the story of the island's evolution.

Sicily continues to be one of the most interesting laboratories of Italian wine.

From the history of Marsala to the growth of Nero d'Avola to the international success of Etna DOC, the island's viticulture is increasingly focused on enhancing its territorial and varietal identities.

Tenuta Casali among the best wines of Romagna

Tenuta Casali's Vigna Quartosole Romagna DOC Sangiovese Mercato Saraceno Riserva has once again been included among the "Best 50" of the Emilia Romagna da Bere guide by the Italian Sommelier Association.

The recognition comes after the gold medal obtained at the international Città del Vino competition and confirms the ability of some local reds to maintain strong interest despite the market favoring mainly whites and sparkling wines.

La Nobra Winery: Montefiascone DOC, a blend of freshness and affordability

The 3 est Est! Est!! Est!!! di Montefiascone DOC 2025 from Cantina La Nobra is produced in just 2,000 bottles and is offered at the winery for around 10 euros.

A white wine characterized by freshness, fragrance, and personality that enhances a historic Lazio denomination.

ITALIAN WINE MARKET

Italian wine: high inventories, consumption and exports under pressure

The sector continues to face a structural problem: a lot of wine available and slowing demand .

According to the data reported in the review, Italy has approximately 42 million hectolitres of wine and must in its cellars , while wine purchases in large-scale Italian distribution between January and May 2026 have seen a 2% drop.

In the first quarter, exports would have marked -4% in volume and -8.3% in value .

The problem, therefore, does not seem to concern exclusively production, but the progressive change in demand and the ability of the entire system to adapt supply, positioning, and commercial strategies.

European PDO exports are struggling, but sparkling wines are holding up.

In the first four months of 2026, exports of the main European PDO wines recorded a contraction in value.

Italy recorded -6.2% , France -3.4%, Germany -5.5% and Spain -8.5%.

However, the situation varies greatly among the denominations. French Crémants grew by 19.4% in volume , Champagne by 3%, while Prosecco limited the decline to -0.8%. Asti returned slightly to positive territory (1%), while Spanish Cava lost more than 9%.

The market therefore seems to reward whites and sparkling wines more, while many red wines continue to suffer.

Brazil: Wine imports on the rise

Brazil confirms itself as one of the most interesting emerging markets for the sector.

In the first half of 2026, imports reached 79.4 million litres (9.1%) , for a value reported in the body of the news of 234.3 million euros (5.9%) , with an average price of 2.95 euros/litre.

Bottled wine represents approximately 96% of the volume and 92% of the value of Brazilian imports.

For Italian wine, it is a market that deserves particular attention as part of geographical diversification strategies for exports.

INTERNATIONAL WINE

Champagne: Exceptionally early 2026 harvest

Champagne is also facing an increasingly earlier harvest.

The Comité Champagne has set harvest opening dates for 2026 between August 8 and 22 , varying by municipality and grape variety, with some producers starting even earlier thanks to specific exemptions.

This advance confirms how rising temperatures are profoundly altering European viticulture calendars.

San Marino: Drought and sharp decline in grape production

In San Marino, heat and lack of rainfall are causing problems for vineyards and olive groves.

Initial estimates indicated in the review speak of a possible reduction in grape production of 40% compared to 2025 , despite qualitative prospects considered positive.

Added to the drought are the rising costs of agricultural production and fuel.

Albania: Kallmet as a symbol of winemaking rebirth

In northern Albania, producer Altin Prenga , founder of Mrizi i Zanave, is working to promote Kallmet , one of the country's most representative native red grape varieties.

Historically widespread between Lezhë and Shkodër, Kallmet produces wines characterized by fruit, freshness, tannic texture and evolutionary capacity.

The revival of the grape variety also represents a cultural strategy: using native varieties to build a recognizable identity for the new Albanian viticulture on international markets.

WINE TOURISM

18 million Italians interested in wine tourism experiences

Wine tourism is becoming an increasingly important component of Italian vacations.

According to the report Italians and wine tourism experiences , cited in the review, food and wine tourism today involves around 18 million Italians, 4.5 million more than in 2024 .

Among the most popular destinations are Cinque Terre and Salento (20%) , Chianti (19%), Amalfi Coast and Etna (18%), followed by Montepulciano (16%), Montalcino (15%), Langhe-Barolo and Gallura (14%).

A particularly interesting fact is the presence of four coastal territories in the top five positions: wine, landscape, sea, gastronomy and hospitality are becoming parts of the same tourist experience .

WINE EVENTS

Bancarel'Vino 2026: Over 40 Producers in Mulazzo

The 43rd edition of the Bancarel'Vino Award , organized from 7 to 9 August in Mulazzo, has concluded.

Over 40 producer stands and 98 finalist wines enlivened the event, dedicated primarily to the products of Lunigiana and Tuscany.

Award-winning wines include Cantina Le Canne, Tenuta Ca' Bianca, Terenzuola, Donna di Denari, Candia Bio, and L'Altra Donna.

The event confirms the role of local events as tools for promoting not only wine, but the entire local economy and identity.

Vinitaly and the City in Calabria: a debate on economic returns for wineries

According to reported data, the Calabrian stages of Vinitaly and the City recorded approximately 50-60,000 visitors in Reggio Calabria and 30,000 in Sibari .

At the same time, a debate has emerged about the actual commercial return for producers, especially due to the lack, according to the source cited in the review, of structured B2B matching activities with buyers and distributors.

The topic raises a broader question for the sector: how can we measure the real economic return on wineries' participation in wine events and festivals?

AGRICULTURE AND INVESTMENTS

Umbria: Over €50 million for agriculture, youth, and supply chains

The Umbria Region is making over 50 million euros available through six calls for proposals under the 2023-2027 Rural Development Complement.

The measures include €9 million for the establishment of young farmers and €8 million for road infrastructure in rural areas.

The interventions aim to support investments, generational turnover, business competitiveness, agri-food supply chains, biodiversity, and forestry heritage.

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