Wine press review for Friday, August 21, 2026!

Good morning,

QUIDQUID presents the main news from the world of wine, selected and organized to offer quick and comprehensive reading for producers, wineries, operators and professionals in the supply chain.

ITALIAN WINERIES

Giorgi Wineries: In the Oltrepò, wine tourism becomes tailor-made.

In Canneto Pavese, Cantine Giorgi focuses on a personalized hospitality model, free from rigid packages. Visits and experiences are tailored to each guest's needs. Fabiano Giorgi is also working on the relaunch of Classese, a historic brand of Metodo Classico made from Pinot Noir from the Oltrepò Pavese region.

Wine clubs: Italian wineries are looking for customers, not just visitors.

More and more producers are introducing wine clubs, a model already well-established in the United States. Older vintages, exclusive tastings, private events, and exclusive benefits serve to transform buyers into members of a community. In a market with weakening domestic consumption, loyalty is becoming an increasingly important marketing lever.

Pietroso: The Family History of Brunello di Montalcino

In Montalcino, Pietroso represents a family winemaking history that began in 1970 with Domenico Berni. Since 1992, the company has been run by Gianni Pignattai and his family, continuing a journey that began with the first bottle of Brunello di Montalcino in 1978.

Monviert wins the award for best white wine in Italy

The 2020 Tricûr Bianco Riserva from Monviert, in the Colli Orientali del Friuli, has been recognized as Italy's best white wine by DoctorWine's 2027 Essential Guide to Italian Wines . This result further strengthens Friuli Venezia Giulia's position in Italy's premium white wine production.

Birgi Wineries: Wine, Territory, and Tourism in the Stagnone Reserve

In Marsala, Cantine Birgi, through its Feudo Stagnone brand, offers experiences that combine vineyards, winery, tastings, local products, the lagoon, and boat tours. This is an example of how wine tourism can transform the local area into an integral part of the winery's offerings.

Ampeleia: Biodynamics and Cabernet Franc in the Maremma

In Roccatederighi, in the Colline Metallifere, Ampeleia has been pursuing a project based on local tradition, biodiversity, and a biodynamic approach since 2002. Its distinctive features include whole-bunch processing for the production of Cabernet Franc.

Cotarella family: wine tourism needs more excitement.

For Enrica Cotarella, image and communications manager for Famiglia Cotarella, today's visitors aren't just looking for technical explanations and tastings: they want to feel part of the winery's history, family, and project. Wine tourism is therefore increasingly shifting from product to relationship.

Bottega expresses solidarity after the attack on its Ukrainian partner.

A Russian bombing raid on the night of August 20th hit a logistics facility of Fozzy Group, a Ukrainian group that, through Silpo, also imports and distributes wines and Prosecco from Veneto-based Bottega. The attack, according to the news report, killed 15 employees. Bottega expressed its sympathy to the victims and to its business partner.

Bottega and the Prosecco Superiore DOCG

Bottega produces a total of approximately 28 million bottles of wine, spirits, and liqueurs, of which just under 14.5 million are dedicated to wine. Alongside its large volumes of sparkling wines, the company also produces more selective wines such as the Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG and the vintage labels dedicated to Stefano Bottega.

ITALIAN WINE AND OENOLOGY

Wine Innovation: Europe and the New World Take Different Paths

A study published in 2026 in the Journal of Wine Economics , based on the analysis of 9,439 patents filed between 1970 and 2023 in 53 countries, highlights two patterns of innovation: Europe tends towards more shared technologies and standards, while the United States, Australia, New Zealand and other New World countries show greater technological diversification.

Low-alcohol: Orvieto looks to low-alcohol wines

The slowdown in traditional consumption is opening up new opportunities for low-alcohol products. Riccardo Cotarella suggests that the Orvieto area offers the potential for developing wines with low alcohol content, down to around 7% ABV, catering to new consumption styles.

Alto Adige: the earliest harvest ever

The exceptionally warm spring and summer of 2026 accelerated the ripening of the grapes. According to the Alto Adige Wine Consortium, this is the earliest harvest in the region's history. The first grapes destined for the sparkling wine bases have already arrived at the cellar.

2026 Harvest: Precision is More Important Than the Calendar

High temperatures, early ripening, and shorter harvest windows make meticulous management of individual parcels increasingly important. Five wineries, from Alto Adige to Albania, via Chianti Classico, share different strategies for protecting the grapes, conserving water, and maintaining the balance between sugars and acidity.

Colli Bolognesi: Early harvest, but positive expectations

Even in Emilia-Romagna, the heat brought the harvest forward. However, in the Colli Bolognesi area, the initial indications are positive: according to Walter Iannini of the Caccianemici agricultural company, the sampling shows favorable prospects for both quantity and quality, with an estimated growth in company production of between 10% and 20%.

Wine tourism: families with children are still under-recognized

Many wineries continue to design their wine tourism offerings primarily for adult couples. Families with children, however, may represent an interesting segment that is still under-researched and underserved. However, sufficient statistical data is lacking to quantify this phenomenon.

Wine and Sustainability: The Debate on Packaging Reuse

Wine has been excluded from the mandatory reuse targets set by the new European Packaging Regulation for other beverage categories. This decision reopens the debate on the wine industry's ability to address the environmental impact of packaging and the changes required by climate change.

Lollobrigida defends the cultural and social role of wine

Agriculture Minister Francesco Lollobrigida reiterated the importance of wine in Italian culture, challenging what he calls the "criminalization" of the beverage. His remarks focused on the value of conviviality and out-of-home consumption as components of the Italian lifestyle.

INTERNATIONAL

Ticino: potentially excellent harvest, but climate concerns

According to Davide Cadenazzi, president of Federviti, 2026 could be one of the best vintages of the last twenty years in terms of quality. However, the situation remains complex due to drought, hail, pests, rising costs, and market difficulties.

Seven new Masters of Wine

The Institute of Masters of Wine announces seven new professionals who have completed the program to earn the prestigious title. These additions bring the number of new Masters of Wine for 2026 to 11, the highest number since 2021. Portugal and Hungary also receive their first resident Master of Wine (MW).

Wine and knowledge: a study links expertise and cognitive abilities.

Research published in Intelligence & Cognitive Abilities finds a correlation between higher IQ and knowledge of wine. This topic reinforces the debate about wine not just as a consumer product, but as a cultural phenomenon tied to territory, history, and knowledge.

Restaurants: Growing space for non-drinkers

The restaurant industry often continues to offer few structured alternatives for non-alcoholics. According to Food & Beverage Consultant Domenico Carella, this very lack could be transformed into a business opportunity for restaurants and hotels capable of developing a quality alcohol-free offering.

EVENTS, WINE TOURISM AND WINE CULTURE

Football meets wine with “The Wines of the Champions”

Former champions such as Amauri, Marek Jankulovsky, Sebastian Frey, and Julio Cesar are participating in the entrepreneurial project "The Wines of The Champions," created by Fabio Cordella. The project, which combines sports, international celebrities, and wine, is also set to become a television series.

Experience becomes the new competitive ground of wine tourism

From Oltrepò Pavese to Sicily, passing through Umbria, Lazio, and Tuscany, a common thread emerges: the traditional visit with tasting is no longer enough. Personalization, local culture, emotions, community, food, and complementary activities are becoming key elements in transforming visitors into customers and ambassadors for the winery.

PICTURE OF THE DAY

The August 21, 2026, review chronicles a winemaking sector that is changing simultaneously on multiple fronts.

The early harvest confirms how the climate is significantly changing production times and techniques. At the same time, technological innovation, low alcohol content, and sustainability are reshaping the product.

On the commercial front, however, an even more interesting indication emerges: wineries are seeking new forms of direct relationship with consumers.

Wine clubs, personalized wine tourism, family-focused experiences, local businesses, hospitality, and community initiatives demonstrate that value no longer stems solely from the bottle.

The winery of the future will therefore have to be simultaneously a producer, a brand, a place to live, and a community of customers.

And as the traditional market becomes more selective, this very ability to build relationships can become one of the most important levers for protecting the margins, reputation, and value of a winery.

The main Italian and international news dedicated to wine, cellars, viticulture, oenology, the market, investments, harvests and wine tourism .