Wine press review for Friday, July 18, 2025.

ITALIAN WINERIES

Cantina Meraviglia: €20 million for the future of the Bolgheri Coast. Abfv Italia inaugurates Cantina Meraviglia , a work of architectural and technological excellence in the former Cariola quarry. A €20 million investment to unite Tenuta Meraviglia and Le Colonne under the banner of winemaking and landscape innovation.

Terre d'Aenòr: Franciacorta embraces the Bianchi family's green dream. The young winery led by Eleonora Bianchi champions a modern and sustainable Franciacorta, with deep family roots and an uncompromising vision.

Casa di Nonno: hospitality by Argiolas. The historic Sardinian winery opens its first hotel in Serdiana, with five rooms and a gourmet restaurant. A €2 million project that celebrates the region and its tradition.

ITALIAN WINE AND NATIONAL OENOLOGY

The 2025 harvest begins in Sicily with Cantine Ermes. A symbolic start for the 2025 harvest: the first bunches of Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay, and Viognier have been cut by Cantine Ermes in southwest Sicily.

Record inventories: 43.6 million hectoliters of wine in June. The "Cantina Italia" report reports stocks equivalent to the entire harvest. High inventories are a cause for concern, a combination of a stagnant market and uncertainty surrounding US tariffs.

Councilor Bongioanni: "Asti wine is not in crisis." Despite data on unsold wine and declining bottling volumes, the councilor defends the sector's stability, contradicting Councilor Isnardi's doom-mongering view.

Reducing VAT on wine in restaurants: a proposal from a Venetian restaurateur. Roberto Astuni launches a manifesto to reduce VAT (currently 10%) and encourage responsible consumption in restaurants, as already done in France.

World Wine Pro: Ethica Wines is looking for new talent. The program that trains future wine professionals is back: sales, marketing, logistics, and innovation, open to motivated but not necessarily experienced young people.

Re-innovating wine communication A call to make wine narration more inclusive, emotional, yet rigorous, to avoid speaking only to the "initiated" and to relaunch the story between technique and territory.

INTERNATIONAL OENOLOGY

More tariffs, less Chianti: the nightmare of US protectionism returns. Trump reintroduces tariffs of up to 30%: the most exported appellations, such as Chianti and Montepulciano d'Abruzzo, are at risk. Consortia and operators are raising alarm.

USA: Mandatory “Alcohol Facts” on labels coming soon Starting in 2025, the indication of calories, alcohol and nutritional values on bottles of wine could become mandatory in the United States.

Sparkling wine exports: general decline but Prosecco holds firm In the first four months of 2025, Prosecco DOP grew (1.5% value, 3.4% volume), unlike other Italian sparkling wines (-1.1%).

Forbes crowns Cirò: a new destination for food and wine tourism. The renowned magazine praises Cirò and its winemaking potential, calling it a "new star of the Mediterranean" for its authenticity, quality, and the beauty of the Calabrian region.

Treasury Wine Estates invests in No-Lo wines. The Australian giant is opening a $15 million facility in the Barossa Valley for low- and zero-alcohol wines, a growing segment among young people.

WINE EVENTS

Terre Sicane Wine Fest: Wine, Tourism, and Sustainability From July 25th to 27th in Contessa Entellina (PA), the festival celebrating the wines of the Palermo-Agrigento area returns, with masterclasses, shows, and a twinning with the Soave DOC.

"Chianina in Cantina": San Luciano (AR) on July 23rd. The event celebrating Chianina beef and Tuscan wines returns to Monte San Savino. A starlit dining experience in one of the Arezzo area's iconic wineries.

Calici di Stelle: Wine Meets Pizza From July 25th to August 24th, the wineries of the Movimento Turismo del Vino will host master pizza chefs for a month of events dedicated to pairing wine with Neapolitan pizza.

Masaf at Vinitaly and the City in Sibari The Ministry of Agriculture promotes food and wine culture and innovation from July 18 to 20 with talks, tastings, and a focus on Italian cuisine nominated for UNESCO recognition.

Cantina Malvasia pays homage to De André at "Luglio al Borgo" A tribute concert on Sunday, July 20th in Belluno by the Cantina Malvasia group, as part of the 72nd season of the Circolo Culturale Bellunese.

Thanks for listening and reading! Today's wine press review was brought to you by QUIDQUID . See you tomorrow!