Wine press review for Monday, February 2, 2026!

ITALIAN WINERIES

Amarone Opera Prima 2021: Assessments, Tastings, and Strategic Vision The 22nd edition of Amarone Opera Prima in Verona concluded with solid results (67 wineries, 400 operators, 1,500 enthusiasts) and a clear picture of the 2021 vintage: balanced, elegant, and promising, despite a challenging climate. The event intertwined wine, Italian Cuisine (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), and the 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympics, reinforcing Amarone's role as a cultural and economic icon of Made in Italy. Ample space was also given to blind tastings and a technical analysis of the vintage.

Montecucco DOC: signs of bucking the trend. The appellation closed 2025 with an 11.1% bottling rate (approximately 800,000 bottles), despite the decline in production during the last harvest. This figure reflects the wineries' confidence and ability to dominate the market, bucking the overall Tuscan trend.

Cantina Vignaioli Morellino di Scansano: Large-scale retail trade growing. Positive 2024–25 results: 7.3% share in large-scale retail trade and total revenue of €15.7 million. Maintaining market share and the success of the bag-in-box product are key. Exports remain stable in a challenging international environment.

Sémida di Perda Rubia: the pure Semidano of Ogliastra. The promotion of historic Sardinian grape varieties continues with Sémida, a pure Semidano white. An identity project that combines varietal recovery, granite soils, and a contemporary interpretation of the terroir.

LEFFREY: Stefano Minetti's Aosta Valley project . A tale of micro-territories between Adret and Envers della Dora Baltea. Vineyards managed at high altitude, with extreme exposures and an artisanal approach, yielding crisp, fresh, and profoundly territorial wines.

Wine Notes: Flora Mondello and Gaglio Vignaioli. The story of a Sicilian family since 1910, encompassing agricultural heritage, investments, and a female vision. An example of generational continuity that looks to the future without losing its identity.

ITALIAN WINE AND ITALIAN OENOLOGY

Organic wine: production growth, market weakness. Organic products represent over 20% of Italian agricultural production and 21% of viticulture. However, the issue of shelf recognition remains: higher costs, production risks, and poor recognition in large-scale retail trade are putting pressure on the most virtuous companies.

Wine as a cultural food. From Siena, a reflection that intertwines history, science, and health. Wine is distinct from alcohol in the strict sense: an agricultural product, traceable, associated with conviviality, and to be consumed with awareness and moderation.

Wine stocks at an all-time high. 2025 closes with 59.5 million hectoliters in stock (4.4%). Producers are calling for more effective tools for promotion on foreign markets, while the issue of supply management is once again a central theme.

Viticulture and Biodiversity: The Wine of the Future Research into resistant grape varieties, reduction of pesticide use, and response to consumer demands: sustainability comes from varietal innovation and a new balance between the environment, quality, and the market.

Training: ONAV and the "humanism of the senses" A new approach to tasting: the centrality of human experience, an advanced sensorial method, and nationwide training.

Interview with Sergio Germano: Consumption and Territories From Grandi Langhe, a clear-eyed analysis of the current situation: no shortcuts, just small adjustments, territorial openness, and the ability to reach a wider audience without distorting our identity.

Politics and the sector: the Terre d'Oltrepò case. Parliamentary question on the cooperative's management by a commissioner. The focus is on transparency of procedures, evaluation of expressions of interest, and protection of territoriality.

INTERNATIONAL

Elton John Zero Blanc de Blancs 0%: Elton John's alcohol-free sparkling wine makes its UK debut. This product aims to replicate the rituals and style of wine, appealing to the non-alcohol audience with a pop and inclusive style.

Moldova at BIT Milan 2026 The Republic of Moldova presents itself as an emerging wine tourism destination, with wines, typical products and tourism operators on display in Milan.

WINE EVENTS

Vinitaly 2026: NoLo, spirits, and wine tourism. A new area dedicated to zero- and low-alcohol wines, a spirits pavilion, and a focus on experience. A direct response to Wine Paris and ProWein, it captures the evolution of the market.

Turin Wine Fair From February 28th to March 2nd, over 500 wineries and 50 events at the OGR and in the city. A cultural format showcasing wine as an expression of community and territory, with a strong international buyer presence.

Wine&Siena: a confirmed success. Great participation in masterclasses and tastings, particularly on Pievi del Nobile. Growing attention is focused on low-/no-alcohol wines and new consumer segments.

Derthona on Tour – Milan Timorasso arrives in the Lombardy capital with 20 wineries. A grape variety that symbolizes the rebirth of the region and the longevity of Italian white wines.

diVino Roma 2026 On February 7th and 8th, over 100 wineries and 300 labels will be at Villa Piccolomini. Tastings, masterclasses, and direct discussions with producers.

OST – Temporary Starred Restaurant (Casentino) Five four-handed dinners between February and June: Michelin-starred chefs and local tradition to showcase the region through a gastronomic experience.

Verona: Olympics, wine, and culture. In preparation for Milan Cortina 2026, the city showcases itself as a crossroads of sport, history, and food and wine, with a view that extends all the way to Valpolicella.

Prince Albert II of Monaco and local delicacies. An official visit and symbolic tasting of anchovies, truffles, and local wines: taste diplomacy in action.

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