Wine press review for Friday, November 28, 2025!

Italian wineries

Wine becomes art and inclusion: the CaP_art 2025 labels designed by Andrea Antonello. The Ca' da Roman winery (Bassano) is launching a special series of four signature labels designed by Andrea Antonello, a young artist with autism. The numbered bottles become a vehicle for solidarity: part of the project supports "I Bambini delle Fate," the social enterprise founded by his father Franco, which supports families with autism and other disabilities.

Artimino, from the Etruscans to the Medici to the new single-varietal wines. Tenuta Artimino presents its new line of single-varietal wines (Chardonnay and Sauvignon) in Milan within a unique setting: the Medici villa and a territory that, as early as 1716, was the subject of one of the first "provisions" for Carmignano, ante litteram, commissioned by Cosimo III de' Medici. Historic tradition and contemporary positioning go hand in hand.

Cantina Produttori Bolzano: the new vintages of TAL Bianco and Rosso. From the historic Alto Adige cooperative, founded in 1908 through the merger of Gries and St. Magdalena, come the new vintages of TAL Bianco and TAL Rosso. This evolution of the cooperative project continues to highlight the terroir, grape varieties, and the members' work.

Borgo San Daniele, Vermouth and Passion in Cormons. Alessandra and Mauro Mauri's winery, in the heart of the Collio area, embodies an artisanal philosophy: native grape varieties, organic farming, and meticulous attention to detail and aging. From the "investment-grade" Pignolo that ages for six years in the cellar to their interpretations of Malvasia, Friulano, Ribolla Gialla, and Pinot Grigio, the winery embodies a lifestyle as well as a business.

Italian wine and Italian oenology

European agricultural funds: anti-fraud protocol in Friuli Venezia Giulia. A new agreement was signed in Udine between the Opr Fvg and the Guardia di Finanza to tighten controls on European agricultural funds: data exchange, joint analysis, and coordinated actions to ensure that CAP resources actually reach local agricultural businesses.

2025 IMU Balance in the Agricultural Sector . The IMU balance expires on December 16, 2025. A preferential regime for land and buildings owned by direct farmers and IAPs remains in place for the agricultural sector. The definition of "agricultural land" and the tax liability for land farmed purely for personal consumption are reaffirmed.

Italy fourth in the world for rosé wine consumption and new DOC styles. According to the World Rosé Wine Observatory, Italy is fourth in global consumption with 1.1 million hectoliters in 2023, behind France, Germany, and the United States. Rosé represents approximately 10% of global wine consumption and, although slightly declining from its 2019 peak, is proving much more resilient than traditional still wines. Dedicated DOC styles are also growing.

Stilèma Taurasi DOCG Riserva 2018 "Wine of the Year" by Wine Enthusiast. For the first time, a Southern Italian wine has won the title of "Wine of the Year" from the American magazine Wine Enthusiast: Stilèma Taurasi DOCG Riserva 2018, a Mastroberardino project launched in 2015 in memory of Antonio Mastroberardino. This global recognition for Irpinia, Campania, and Southern Italian winemaking.

Italian wine and exports: a "sparkling" moment despite tensions. The Federvini Observatory (Nomisma and TradeLab) reports a solid supply chain that, despite international tensions and the economic slowdown, continues to dominate key markets. Declining sales in mature markets are being offset by new segments, product diversification, and valorization strategies.

Calabria's wine scene in Rome: toward a possible "Magna Grecia" DOC. The region presents itself as a "synthesis of Italy" between the sea, hills, and mountains, revitalizing its historic identity as an Enotrian. The project for a future "Magna Grecia" DOC serves as a catalyst for a narrative that intertwines ancient history, viticulture, and the contemporary positioning of Calabrian wines.

Prosecco and stocks: it is the most stocked wine in Italian cellars. The ICQRF "Cantina Italia" report reports over 73 million hectoliters of wine products in stock as of October 31, with stocks increasing compared to 2024. Prosecco is the most stocked wine, in a slow market context that makes inventory management and pricing policies strategic.

The 2025 harvest in Piedmont: from Barolo to Moscato, high quality but low yields. Piedmontese cooperative wineries report a high-quality vintage, accompanied, however, by low yields and a challenging market environment. The cooperative model once again demonstrates its resilience: support for members, innovation, and commercial development in Italy and abroad.

Sustainability in the winery: the MORE project on Prosecco DOC. The MORE project (Microorganisms for Energy Saving in Oenology), promoted by the Prosecco DOC Consortium, CREA, and scientific partners, tests sparkling winemaking protocols at higher-than-standard temperatures. The result: lower energy consumption, lower costs, and lower environmental impact while maintaining the wine's sensory profile.

Why the screw cap challenges cork. A popular article compares those who don't believe in the screw cap to the automobile skeptics of Henry Ford's time: it dismantles the dogma of the irreplaceability of cork, discussing the topic of micro-oxygenation and the technical performance of the screw cap, with a strong reference to the cultural shift underway in the world of wine.

International (markets, analysis, grape varieties)

Campari rises, Remy Cointreau confident about second half. At the Milan Stock Exchange, Campari gained 1.77% and led the market, boosted by positive comments from Remy Cointreau, which rose 5% in Paris after expressing confidence in a return to growth in the second half of the year. Analysts are also positively evaluating the sale of brands such as Averna, Braulio, and Zedda Piras.

The Fabulous World of Grenache: A focus on the Grenache grape, the seventh most widely planted grape in the world, grown throughout the Mediterranean and in many other countries (South Africa, California, China, Australia, Mexico). Spain and France account for the lion's share, but Italy contributes with plantings in Sardinia, Sicily, Liguria, Calabria, Tuscany, and Veneto. The variety's various synonyms and local identities are an interesting topic.

Luxury wines and spirits in trouble in 2025. The Altagamma 2025 Observatory describes a stable but fragile global luxury sector. Consumption in high-end wines and spirits is becoming more selective, weighed down by the slow reactivity of Chinese consumers, while experiential consumption tied to well-being and longevity is growing; the "aspirational" customer is suffering the most.

"The decline in wine consumption is irreversible": an analysis by economist Simone Loose. The director of the Institute for Wine and Beverage Business (Geisenheim University) warns against illusions about a rapid return to growth cycles in global wine consumption. Lower consumption among young people is seen as a symptom of profound demographic and cultural changes, not a temporary decline. Alcohol-free options are growing, but they're not the industry's magic bullet.

Wine events, fairs, initiatives

Barolo & Barbaresco: Masterclass at the Alba White Truffle Fair During the 95th International Alba White Truffle Fair, the masterclass "Barolo & Barbaresco – Similarities and Differences" (in collaboration with Falstaff Italia) compares the two icons of the Langhe, giving voice to the producers and highlighting differences in style, terroir, and approaches, with one common denominator: respect and research on the territory.

World Bulk Wine Exhibition in Amsterdam: Bulk wine holds up through the crisis. At the WBWE in Amsterdam, the bulk wine sector (bag-in-box, kegs, cans) outperforms packaged wine. Growth is driven by the no- and low-alcohol and ready-to-drink segments. With over 240 exhibitors and trade visitors from 60 countries, the fair represents approximately 80% of the global bulk wine trade.

The 2026 Wine Cities Agenda guides wine tourists through the Grand Gold Medal and Gold Medal winners of the Città del Vino International Wine Competition (Siena, June 2025). Each week is illustrated with drawings by children from the Wine Cities schools and enriched with technical tips for vineyards and wineries.

Food and Wine Awards in Alcamo At the Casa del Vino, in the Castle of the Counts of Modica, the Municipality awards local food and wine companies included in the Gambero Rosso and Slow Wine guides. This acknowledges the quality of their work in the area and the visibility they have gained nationally.

Open Cellars at Christmas 2025 – Movimento Turismo del Vino Throughout the month of December, MTV wineries will open their doors with dedicated events: tastings, "winter" wine landscapes, and educational activities on sustainability, biodiversity, recycling, and waste reduction. The goal is to combine Christmas spirit, environmental awareness, and the valorization of local areas.

Surprising Calabria: a press tour of vineyards and regions. Over 50 wineries are participating in "Surprising Calabria," a press tour organized by Cronache di Gusto. Journalists, buyers, and influencers travel the region to learn about its vineyards, producers, and wines. For the Regional Department of Agriculture, this is a strategic step in strengthening Calabria's image as a land of quality wines and rich cultural heritage.

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See you tomorrow for another tour of the vineyards, numbers, and ideas that keep the world of wine moving.