Wine press review for Friday, September 4, 2026!

Good morning,

Wine Idea presents the main news from the world of wine

ITALIAN WINERIES

KURTATSCH WINERY CLOSES A RECORD FINANCIAL YEAR: TURNOVER OF €12.34 MILLION

The South Tyrolean cooperative Cantina Kurtatsch , founded in 1900 and comprising 190 member families, closed the 2025/2026 fiscal year with the highest turnover in its history: €12.34 million, an 11.08% increase over the previous year. This growth stems from a strategy focused on product positioning, commercial development, and wine tourism. Over the past five years, the average value per bottle has increased by 23.4% , driven by the increased weight of its most representative and distinctive lines.

LUNGAROTTI, WINE AS UMBRIA'S IDENTITY

The Lungarotti family continues to represent a historic benchmark in Umbrian winemaking. From Torgiano, an area between Perugia and Assisi, the company has built a true winemaking network over time, showcasing the region, culture, and hospitality. Chiara Lungarotti emphasizes the family's deep connection to Torgiano and to an agricultural tradition that has increasingly focused on winemaking over the generations.

AGROS ROMANI: A NEW GENERATION INVESTS IN THE CASTELLI ROMANI

Agros Romani , a young agricultural company founded by Grazia Versace and Michele Colao, is born in Lanuvio. They are replanting vineyards with Malvasia, Bellone, Grechetto, Cesanese di Affile, and Merlot on five hilly hectares. The first harvest has already produced around 8,000 bottles . Another four hectares are home to around 300 olive trees, destined for future oil production.

ORSOGNA REDISCOVERS THE NATIVE MAIELLA VINE VARIETIES

The Bio Cantina Sociale Orsogna presented the results of five years of microvinification dedicated to rare native varieties of the eastern Maiella. The "Pe' nin perde la sumente" project, carried out with the Maiella National Park's Germplasm Bank, aims to preserve biodiversity and territorial identity in response to the growing standardization of wine.

CASTELLO DI MELETO BETWEEN WINE AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

Castello di Meleto will participate in the Italian Chef Charity Night in Florence on September 9th, an initiative dedicated to supporting young refugees. This social commitment complements the estate's existing environmental activities, from protecting biodiversity to maintaining the woods surrounding the vineyards and the Bee Park.

DERBUSCO CIVES: FRANCIACORTA LINKED TO THE TERRITORY OF ERBUSCO

Founded in 2005 by five partners, Derbusco Cives produces Franciacorta exclusively from 12 hectares of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir in the municipality of Erbusco . The production philosophy involves the use of only free-run must and long aging on the lees, for at least 30 months. Among its flagship labels is the Franciacorta DOCG Brut Blanc de Noir Crisalis 2018.

TEDESCHI: AMARONE BETWEEN TRADITION, CRU, AND RESEARCH

The Tedeschi family continues its journey in Valpolicella, focusing on the development of crus and increasingly refined and balanced wines. The company has 48 hectares of vineyards and produces approximately 450,000 bottles annually . Among its most representative labels is the Amarone della Valpolicella Classico DOCG Capitel Monte Olmi Riserva 2018.

LEONARDO DA VINCI CELLARS: TREBBIANO DI ROMAGNA IN THE CAVIRO PROJECT

The Leonardo da Vinci project connects Tuscany and Emilia-Romagna through wines inspired by the territories crossed by the Renaissance genius. Among these is the Romagna Trebbiano DOC 1502 Duomo di Faenza 2025. The project is led by the Caviro Group , a cooperative with 22 members, 11,500 winemakers, and 36,200 hectares of vineyards, which markets approximately 150 million liters of wine.

FRIULI VENEZIA GIULIA: WHITES WIN INTERNATIONAL CRITICS

Friulano, Ribolla Gialla, Malvasia, Pinot Bianco, Sauvignon, and Chardonnay continue to support the quality positioning of Friuli Venezia Giulia. Two 97-point Platinum Medals were awarded at the 2026 Decanter World Wine Awards : for Muzic's 2021 Friulano "Villa de Randis" Collio DOC and Amandum's 2021 Pinot Bianco Friuli Isonzo DOC.

ITALIAN WINE AND OENOLOGY

CELLARS FULL: 45.6 MILLION HECTOLITERS OF WINE AND MUST

The main problem with the 2026 harvest does not appear to be quality, but the balance between production and demand. At the end of July , 45.6 million hectoliters of wine and must were in storage , slightly more than the entire previous harvest. 55.9% of the stored wine is located in the Northern regions, and Prosecco has approximately 3.2 million hectoliters of stock . Average prices for bulk DOP wines are down 7%, and those for common wines are down 19%.

Puglia: Wine Crisis, Urgent Action Called for

With nearly 5 million hectoliters of wine in Apulian cellars , grape prices under pressure, and high production costs, the regional sector is calling for extraordinary measures. Proposals include crisis distillation, storage, increased liquidity for businesses, combating illegal winemaking, and opening new export markets . This topic will also be the focus of the public meeting organized by Confagricoltura Puglia on September 5th in Brindisi.

VALPOLICELLA: GRAPE PRICES ARE TOO LOW

Consorzio Vini Valpolicella president Christian Marchesini reports lower-than-expected grape prices: from the expected 60-80 cents/kg , some transactions have reportedly dropped to 50 and even 40 cents. Pierangelo Tommasi also criticizes this trend, emphasizing the risk of weakening the entire denomination system at a time already characterized by declining consumption and rising costs.

SPARKLING WINES IN LARGE-SCALE RETAIL: -5.4%, NEED FOR NEW POSITIONING

In the first half of 2026, sparkling wines declined by 5.4% in value in large-scale retail trade , compared to -1.2% for wine overall and 2.9% for sparkling wines. The problem appears to be structural: consumption occasions are changing, and sparkling wines are perceived as more contemporary and attractive. For Lambrusco, sparkling whites, and rosés, it is therefore necessary to rethink their role, identity, and consumption occasions.

COOPERATIVES: SELECTIVELY MANAGE PRODUCTION, CONSUMPTION, AND EXPORTS

Cooperatives represent approximately 40% of Italian wine revenue and nearly 60% of its production volume . Confcooperative and Legacoop Agroalimentare maintain that there is no single solution to the current situation: production, surpluses, and markets must be managed with targeted interventions tailored to individual regions and different wine categories.

CLIMATE CHANGE: ADAPT WITHOUT LOSING OUR IDENTITY

The early harvests of 2026 confirm the extent to which climate change is transforming viticulture. The sector must evaluate agronomic techniques, new varieties, and possible shifts in production areas, while striving to preserve the identity of the terroirs. Even in Champagne, some wineries are considering allocating part of the grapes traditionally used for sparkling wines to the production of still wines.

NICOLA BIASI: "THE CLIMATE HAS CHANGED, NOW WE NEED TO CHANGE THE GRAPE VARIETIES"

According to winemaker Nicola Biasi , the 2026 harvest highlights the need to rethink the relationship between grape varieties, terroirs, and appellations. The experience with PIWI resistant grape varieties and the Moselle Project raises questions about the ability of current regulations to adapt to future climate conditions.

OENOLOGY AND THE CONSUMER: "WE DRINK, NOT TASTE"

Winemaker Romeo Taraborrelli proposes simplifying the language of wine, arguing that excessive ritualism in "tasting" can create distance between consumers and the winemaker. The key is to restore freedom and immediacy to the experience: a wine can simply be liked or disliked, without the consumer needing technical expertise to express their opinion.

HARVEST AND ROAD SAFETY: BEWARE OF GRAPES AND MUST ON ASPHALT

As the grape harvest intensifies, the presence of tractors and trailers on the roads increases. Authorities remind drivers of the obligation to ease traffic when traffic jams form and to immediately report any cargo losses. Grapes and must can make the asphalt extremely slippery , posing a serious traffic hazard.

GANZEGA: BETWEEN AGRICULTURAL TRADITION AND THE RISK OF ILLEGAL WORK

"Ganzega," the spontaneous, occasional, and unpaid agricultural assistance provided by family, friends, and neighbors, is back at the center of the debate. Following its recognition in Trentino and a similar precedent in Alto Adige, Veneto is looking at the model. However, the FAI CISL (Italian National Federation of Workers) has raised doubts about the possibility of clearly distinguishing traditional collaboration from irregular work.

FOOD AND WINE AND TOURISM: PROFESSIONALISM INCREASINGLY IN DEMAND

According to data from the Excelsior Information System, tourism, hospitality, and food and wine are among the professional areas where companies are having the greatest difficulty finding qualified personnel. Over the next five years, the Italian labor market is expected to generate 3.7 million new hires , largely related to generational turnover.

INTERNATIONAL

CLIMATE AND WINE: ITALY, FRANCE, AND CHAMPAGNE FACING THE SAME CHALLENGE

Climate change is altering the grape harvest calendar in many European regions. In 2026, several areas of Italy and France recorded some of the earliest harvests ever . The issue concerns not only yields, but the very future of grape varieties, appellations, and production models.

MONDIAL DES VINS EXTRÊMES: 22 COUNTRIES FOR HEROIC VITICULTURE

The 2026 Mondial des Vins Extrêmes , organized by CERVIM, brought together 1,175 wines from 432 wineries from 22 countries . 84 Grand Gold Medals and 295 Gold Medals were awarded. The competition confirms the growing international attention towards mountain viticulture, on steep slopes and in areas considered heroic.

WINE EVENTS

VINÒFORUM RETURNS TO ROME FROM SEPTEMBER 7TH TO 13TH

Piazza di Siena, in Villa Borghese, will host the 23rd edition of Vinòforum , featuring 800 wineries, over 3,200 labels, and more than 50 chefs and master pizza makers . The program includes tastings, dinners, masterclasses, mixology, Champagne, extra virgin olive oil, and numerous meetings with industry professionals.

OPEN CELLARS DURING HARVEST IN ABRUZZO

From September 5th to October 25th, 2026 , "Cantine Aperte in Vendemmia" (Open Cellars in Harvest) returns, promoted by the Movimento Turismo del Vino (Wine Tourism Movement). Eleven Abruzzo wineries will open their vineyards and cellars to the public with tastings, harvest experiences, and direct meetings with producers.

WINE AND TERRITORY: SEPTEMBER FULL OF EVENTS

The Italian calendar offers numerous events: OltreGusto – Oltrepò Terra di Pinot Nero , ViVa – Vini Valtellina , Appuntamento Soave , Vinitaly – The Opera Ouverture, Cinema in the Cellar in Prosecco DOC, Chianti Classico Fest and other events that integrate wine, gastronomy, culture, music and tourism.

VALTÈNESI PROTAGONIST ON THE GARDA RIVIERA

The Valtènesi Consortium opens September with a busy schedule of events on the Garda Riviera as the 2026 harvest continues. The harvest began early, around August 19th, for the grapes destined for rosé wines , while the harvest of the red grapes destined for DOC wines began in earnest on August 25th. Initial quality assessments are positive.

HEROIC VITICULTURE: FROM CIAPEL D'OR TO VIVA VALTELLINA

Valtellina promotes its winemaking heritage through events dedicated to the local Nebbiolo, Chiavennasca , and the unique viticulture developed on its Alpine slopes. The Ciapel d'Or, now in its 41st year, is one of the most symbolic events celebrating this heritage.

ALLEYS IN THE GLASS 2026 IN CHIETI

On September 4th and 5th , Vicoli in Calice , a food and wine and cultural event in the Civitella district of Chieti, returns. This sixth edition features tastings, masterclasses, training for professionals, guided tours, shows, and family-friendly initiatives.

Prosecco Superiore DOCG at the Venice Film Festival

For the third consecutive year, Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG is the Official Sparkling Wine of the Venice International Film Festival. This initiative strengthens the connection between the region, Italian excellence, culture, and the appellation's international positioning.

TREVIGIANA MARCA: FROM ICONIC DESTINATIONS TO EXPERIENCE TOURISM

The Marca Trevigiana aims to present itself as an integrated destination, connecting cities, hills, countryside, wine, and local communities. According to data from the Travel Innovation Observatory of the Milan Polytechnic, for over 80% of travelers, experiences are a key factor in choosing a destination .

The message is increasingly clear: producing wine isn't enough. You need to produce what the market is willing to recognize, choose, and pay for.

Today's wine press review is brought to you by WINEIDEA.IT.

See you tomorrow.