Wine press review for Friday, June 19, 2026!

The main news from the world of wine, oenology and Italian wineries .

ITALIAN WINE: MARKET, CONSUMPTION, AND SCENARIOS

They consume less wine and bottling is decreasing

Valoritalia's 2025 Report confirms a slowdown in the supply chain:

• Bottling 2025: -2.1%
• January-May 2026: -5.4%
• Italian wine exports 2025: -3.7% in value

Positive signs:

• DOC and DOCG: 1%
• Sparkling wines: 1.7%
• Rosé: 5.7%
• Still whites: 6.3%

In great difficulty:

• IGT wines: -11%
• Red wines: -13%

Strategic indication

The larger denominations and more structured Consortia show greater resilience than the micro-denominations.

Italian cellars still very full of wine

According to ICQRF data updated to May 31, 2026:

• 49 million hectoliters of wine in stock
• 5.4% compared to 2025
• 4.2 million hectolitres of must (37.4%)

Distribution:

1. Veneto: 12.3 million hl
2. Tuscany
3. Puglia
4. Emilia-Romagna
5. Piedmont

Strategic indication

Production management for 2026 will be crucial to avoid further pressure on prices.

Italian wine risks reaching the point of no return

At the international workshop "Geopolitics and Wine" in Rome, academics and businesses highlighted:

• decline in global consumption
• geopolitical instability
• inflation
• growing international competition

Key message

A national control room is needed to guide the sector's transformation.

Wine-restaurant pact to boost consumption

A concrete proposal emerges from the National Convention of Women in Wine:

• more territorial wine lists
• more balanced markups
• tax incentives for those who promote local PDOs

Objective

Bringing consumers closer to wine through the Horeca channel.

ITALIAN WINE AND INNOVATION

The No-Lo and dealcoholized phenomenon is growing

Valdo enters the European stadiums

The new VALDO PURØ Alcohol Free Blanc de Blancs debuts in the hospitality area of the Cegeka Arena in Genk (Belgium).

Emerging trend:

• moderate consumption
• new audiences
• Northern European markets

Garda DOC focuses on low alcohol wine

The Garda DOC Consortium is accelerating its No-Lo segment.

Focus:

• foreign markets
• young consumers
• Northern Europe

Challenge

Develop new products without compromising the identity of the name.

Delle Venezie: label dedicated to wines with a low natural alcohol content

The DOC Delle Venezie Consortium requests:

• specific recognition on the label
• greater transparency for the consumer

The following experiments also continue:

• Pinot Grigio with a low natural alcohol content
• resistant vines

The Schioppettino looks to the future

The Prepotto area continues to invest in promoting its iconic grape variety through experiential events and promotional activities.

The sparkling wine that matures in a salt mine

The Sicilian Tenuta San Giaime presents "Sotto Sale":

• Classic Method
• 36 months of refinement
• Active salt mine in the Madonie Mountains

An example of strong territorial characterization.

Bortolomiol: 60 Years Since the Prosecco Brut Revolution

We remember the innovative path of Giuliano Bortolomiol, who introduced the first Prosecco Brut di Valdobbiadene in the 1960s.

A historic transition that changed the Italian sparkling wine market.

Wine tells the story of climate change

According to the analysis by Wired, Coldiretti and ISPRA:

By 2050:

• increasingly earlier harvests
• vineyards at higher altitudes
• increased pressure on water resources
• increase in ESG obligations

Scenario

Less quantity and higher quality.

Young people and wine: the problem is communication

Generation Z confirms its interest in wine but highlights:

• too traditional language
• distant communication
• need for greater presence on social media

ITALIAN WINERIES AND STRATEGIC OPERATIONS

Compagnia del Gusto Acquires Cantine Romagnoli

New consolidation operation in the sector.

Objective:

• build a premium national platform
• enhance historic brands
• strengthen territorial identities

Moncaro returns to auction

The second attempt to sell the assets of Terre Cortesi Moncaro has begun.

For sale:

• cellars
• vineyards
• accommodation facilities
• farmhouses
• machinery

Prices reduced by 20%.

Russiz Superiore: 150 Years of Collio History

The Felluga family continues to represent one of the symbols of quality Friulian viticulture.

Modigliana: The new Maurizio Costa winery is born

From a family project to a structured entrepreneurial reality.

An example of new entrepreneurship in Italian wine.

Tenuta di Castellaro: A Model of Advanced Wine Tourism

The Aeolian winery enters the top 10% of Tripadvisor experiences worldwide for 2026.

Strengths:

• heroic viticulture
• biological
• resort
• catering
• local culture

INTERNATIONAL SCENARIO

France: Organic wine crisis

According to Agence Bio:

• organic vineyard areas are decreasing
• organic farms are decreasing
• sales are slowing down

Causes:

• drop in consumption
• lower profitability
• uprooting of vineyards

Swiss success at the Mondial du Merlot

The Mendrisio Social Winery conquers:

• 4 gold medals

Best result among Ticino wineries.

European Wine Summit 2026

On June 25, Taranto will host the European debate on the future of wine.

Main topics:

• new CAP
• competitiveness
• innovation
• sustainability
• investments

AGRICULTURAL POLICY AND SUPPLY CHAIN

The ColtivaItalia Decree has been approved

Over 1 billion euros for the period 2027-2029.

Main resources:

• 900 million for food sovereignty
• 150 million for generational turnover
• 14.5 million for research and innovation

CMO Wine 2026/2027

The evaluation phase for projects promoting Italian wine in third countries has begun.

WINE EVENTS

Emilia-Romagna

• Divine Sunset – Fiscaglia (June 20)

Friuli Venezia Giulia

• Corno di Rosazzo Wine Fair (June 19-23)
• Prepotto's Schioppettino in Villa (June 27)

Piedmont

• Roero Wine Fest – Turin (June 24)

Liguria

• Solstice DiVino – Vineyards on the Riviera

Veneto

• Sunsets in Ongaresca (July)
• Aperitifs at the Tenute Tomasella Winery (June 23 – July 28)

Lazio

• Rocca in Cantina – Tolfa (June 26-27)

Campania

• Casavecchia & Pallagrello Wine Festival (July 3-5)

STRATEGIC CONCLUSION

This week confirms a now clear message: the problem with Italian wine isn't quality, but the balance between production and demand.

The guidelines that emerge most strongly are:

1. Production and inventory control.
2. Growth of the premium DOC and DOCG segment.
3. Development of low- and no-alcohol wines.
4. Strengthening wine tourism as a source of profitability.
5. Consolidation of companies through acquisitions and mergers.
6. More modern communication towards the new generations.
7. Adapting to climate change and new sustainability requirements.

Italian wine is entering a new phase: less volume-oriented and increasingly focused on creating value, territorial identity, and consumer experience.

Press review provided by Wine Idea.