Wine press review for Monday, August 24, 2026!

Good morning,

The main news from the world of wine, selected and summarized for quick and comprehensive reading.

ITALIAN WINERIES

Contini Winery: After 50 Years, Paolo Contini Passes the Baton

A significant generational transition for the historic Contini Winery in Cabras , founded in 1895. After more than fifty years at the helm of the company, Paolo Contini is handing over the reins to his grandsons Alessandro, Mauro, and Marcello. This is an example of family continuity, combining tradition, corporate stability, and openness to international markets.

Monviert creates Italy's best white wine

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 recognition reinforces Friuli Venezia Giulia's position among Italy's great white wine regions.

Cantina Bolzano invests in sustainability

Cantina Bolzano – Kellerei Bozen , the first CasaClima Wine certified winery, presents its second Sustainability Report for the period 2022–2025. Energy efficiency, renewable energy, recycling, and innovation are at the heart of the South Tyrolean cooperative's strategy.

Signorvino nears 50 stores

Signorvino continues to expand, with a turnover of approximately €90 million by 2025 and a target of 50 stores in Italy and abroad. The city's eighth location has opened in Milan, within the CityLife Shopping District: 350 square meters and seating for 180. A strategy that focuses on wine as an experience, conviviality, and culture.

Fattoria dei Barbi: the 2020 Brunello Riserva takes center stage.

The historic Fattoria dei Barbi presents its 2020 Brunello di Montalcino DOCG Riserva, the expression of a family tradition rooted in the 17th century. The winery represents a historic example of the evolution of Brunello, integrating wine, agriculture, and hospitality.

Gini and the roots of Soave Classico

The Gini family, active in Monteforte d'Alpone since 1570, continues to represent one of the historic figures of Soave Classico. Centuries-old vineyards, fifteen generations, and a strong connection to the territory testify to the value of family continuity in Italian wine.

Feudo Montoni: From a mountain limit to a competitive advantage

The history of Feudo Montoni , in Sicily, illustrates how high-altitude viticulture has changed over time. Wines once considered less suited to international tastes are now receiving renewed attention: vineyards above 600 meters can represent an important response to rising temperatures and the search for fresher wines.

Lambrusco Francesca Mara awarded at Merano WineHunter

Lambrusco Reggiano DOP “Laurenti” , from the Francesca Mara brand, won the “Rosso Award” at Merano WineHunter 2026. Entrepreneur Francesca Marastoni's project combines entrepreneurial growth and family history.

ITALIAN WINE AND OENOLOGY

2026 Harvest: Puglia Production Up 10%, But Inventories Are a Weight

Initial estimates from Confagricoltura Puglia indicate a growth in wine grape production of approximately 10% by 2025. High temperatures have accelerated ripening, and in several areas, harvesting has already begun.

However, the problem of inventories remains: 73.2% of Apulian wine in stock is DOP or IGP , and the region accounts for almost 30% of Italian must inventories.

Puglia: From managing surpluses to creating value

With approximately 5 million hectoliters of wine in the cellars , the debate shifts from mere inventory management to the need to rethink the production and commercial model. The central question becomes not just how much to produce, but what to produce, at what price, and for which markets .

The Italian vineyard must adapt to the new demand

According to Lorenzo Tersi of LT Wine & Food Advisory, the Italian sector is showing strong resilience, but must address the gap between declining demand and vineyard acreage. Among the issues identified are: rationalization of hectares, product innovation, and a greater ability to adapt to changing consumer trends.

Nighttime harvest: the weather changes vineyard work

From Sicily to Veneto, the use of night harvesting is growing. Harvesting during the coolest hours helps limit the effects of high temperatures and better preserve the aromas, flavors, and quality of the grapes.

Wine tourism: Italians increasingly seek out family-run wineries.

The new report on wine tourism experiences highlights an interesting shift: 27% of respondents cite a visit to a family-run winery as their most popular experience, even ahead of buying bottles at a bargain price.

Italian wine tourists are expected to number approximately 18 million in 2026 , compared to 13.4 million in 2024. Tastings, winery dining, and food pairings are also growing. Visitors increasingly seek out people, stories, and the region, in addition to wine.

Euganean Hills: New typologies under study

The Consorzio Tutela Vini Colli Euganei is discussing a change to the regulations that would introduce the "Serprino sui lieviti" ( fermented on yeasts) label and the Colli Euganei DOC designation for Bordeaux-style red wines. The stated goal is to enhance the value of local wines.

Trentodoc protagonist of the summer

Freshness, acidity, and versatility keep Trentodoc highly sought after, especially in the Brut, Pas Dosé, and Extra Brut versions. The vineyards' altitude and the traditional method contribute to its positioning as a particularly suitable wine for summer consumption.

Aglianico and Falanghina enhance the Sannio area

The Sannio Benevento area is consolidating its identity through two leading producers: Aglianico del Taburno DOCG and Falanghina del Sannio DOP . At the same time, the number of tours and tastings at local wineries is growing.

Innovation and tradition: "Wine is not an exact science"

From the Barolo region emerges a reflection on the relationship between new generations, innovation, and tradition. Contemporary winemaking continues to evolve, maintaining terroir as a central element of wine's identity.

INTERNATIONAL

World wineries are increasingly focusing on steel

The demand for fresher, lighter, and cleaner wines is also changing wineries' investments. In 2025, stainless steel accounted for 42.5% of wine tanks worldwide and, according to reported data, approximately 85% of new tank purchases by wineries. At the same time, interest in oak is declining.

Moldova holds the world record for vineyards per capita.

With just 2.3 million inhabitants, Moldova boasts approximately 375 square meters of vineyards per capita . The country is currently ranked as the world's 19th largest wine producer and exports approximately 85% of its production to 70 countries. A small domestic market with a strong international vocation.

Alcohol consumption: the decline affects several generations

A US analysis based on 25 years of data highlights that the reduction in consumption cannot be attributed exclusively to Gen Z. Younger people drink less frequently and in smaller quantities, while older generations naturally reduce their consumption with age.

For the beverage sector, the challenge therefore becomes to rebuild opportunities for responsible consumption that are consistent with the lifestyles of different generations .

London experiments with vineyard above train station

In Denmark Hill, south London, Château Denmark Hill is born, a small urban winemaking project built on the elevated terraces of the station. This symbolic production is an interesting example of new forms of urban micro-agriculture.

Alcohol and differences between men and women

According to information from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, some effects of alcohol may be felt in women with smaller amounts than in men, partly due to average differences in body composition. However, individual factors such as weight, age, genetics, diet, and drinking habits remain key.

EVENTS, TASTINGS AND WINE CULTURE

OltreGusto 2026 – Voghera, September 7-8

Oltrepò Pavese brings together wine, gastronomy, and the region. The 2026 edition features a collaboration with the Consorzio Tutela Vini Oltrepò Pavese and the addition of "Oltrepò Terra di Pinot Nero," dedicated to DOCG sparkling wines and Pinot Noir.

ViVa, Valtellina Wines – Sondrio from September 11th

Four days dedicated to Alpine Nebbiolo , the wineries, and the Valtellina landscape. The 2026 edition opens with a musical event in Piazza Garibaldi, bringing wine to a younger, more contemporary audience.

“The Cold Bardolino” – August 28-30

Bardolino and Lazise are back together for the third edition of the event dedicated to Bardolino Classico DOC served chilled . Three days of wineries, tastings, food, music, and promotion of the Garda area.

Friuli Venezia Giulia: The tourist grape harvest arrives

Between September and October, several wineries in Friuli Venezia Giulia will open their vineyards and facilities to visitors, allowing them to participate in the grape harvest and learn firsthand about the producers' work. A concrete example of wine tourism's evolution toward participatory experiences.

Sarzana: A new ITS dedicated to wine is born

At the Parentucelli-Arzelà Institute in Sarzana, the ITS Academy Agroalimentare Liguria is launching a free two-year course dedicated to the winemaking industry. The program includes 1,800 hours of training, including 630 hours of internships in companies , covering everything from vineyard management and winemaking to quality, marketing, and wine tourism.

PICTURE OF THE DAY

Today's news shows a wine sector that is increasingly entering a phase of structural transformation .

On the one hand, production, inventory, and vineyard areas must find a new balance with less predictable demand. On the other, very interesting signs are emerging: growing wine tourism, increasingly attractive family wineries, sustainability, fresher wines, high-altitude viticulture, new consumption models, and a greater focus on the experience .

The message coming from the market is quite clear:

It's no longer enough to produce good wine. We need to produce the wine the market wants, at the right time, for the right consumer, and with a distinctive identity.

The winery of the future will therefore have to be simultaneously a farm, a quality producer, a brand, a place of experience and a company capable of quickly interpreting market changes .

In this scenario, the real challenge will not simply be to sell more bottles, but to create more value for each bottle, for each hectare of vineyard and for each person who comes into contact with the territory and the winery .

See you tomorrow.

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