The wine sector enters spring 2026 amidst new international challenges, evolving consumption, and a flurry of events and initiatives preparing the market for the upcoming Vinitaly . With export strategies, new wineries, commercial alliances, and the promotion of local areas, Italian wine continues to demonstrate resilience and capacity for innovation.
Italian wineries
Frescobaldi: New markets are needed for Italian wine.
During the first Italian Cuisine Forum at Masseria Li Reni (Manduria), Lamberto Frescobaldi, president of the Italian Wine Union, emphasized how the sector is going through a complex phase marked by slowing exports, geopolitical tensions, and logistical challenges. According to Frescobaldi, the future of Italian wine depends on the ability to identify new markets and strengthen the international positioning of Made in Italy agri-food products.
Tenuta Le Forconate: A new voice from Tuscany's borderlands makes its debut.
Tenuta Le Forconate is born, a winemaking project by the Barbanera family in the San Casciano dei Bagni area, between Tuscany and Umbria. The winery has 26.5 hectares of vineyards and aims to promote the Colli dell'Etruria Centrale DOC , an area still little-known but rich in biodiversity and viticultural potential.
Val d'Oca distributes Champagne Encry in Italy
Val d'Oca and the Champagne House Encry have formed a new commercial partnership. The Valdobbiadene-based company becomes the exclusive distributor for the Italian market, strengthening its position in the premium HoReCa segment.
Cielo e Terra presents “The History of Gio” at Vinitaly
At Vinitaly, the Vicenza-based company Cielo e Terra will launch a new line of wines dedicated to its founder Giovanni Cielo . The project celebrates the company's history through three labels that combine family tradition and contemporary style.
Tenuta Olianas expands its hospitality offering with Sa Frorèa.
In Sardinia, Tenuta Olianas inaugurates Sa Frorèa , a new space for weddings and events. The architectural design, integrated with the landscape, reinforces the winery's strategy of wine tourism and experiential hospitality.
Sartori Winery Takes Center Stage at CiokoWine Fest
The historic Veronese company Sartori participated in the fourth edition of the CiokoWine Fest in Alcamo with a gesture of solidarity: all proceeds from the tastings were donated to students at local hotel schools.
Carpenè Malvolti among the excellences of Made in Italy
The historic sparkling wine house from Conegliano took part in the fourth edition of “Italiano Vero – Eccellenze nel Mondo” , an institutional event at the Chamber of Deputies dedicated to the symbolic companies of Made in Italy.
Italian wine and Italian oenology
Amarone 2021: The style of the great Venetian red changes.
According to Gambero Rosso's preview tastings, Amarone is undergoing a profound stylistic evolution. There's a growing trend toward more elegant and less opulent wines, with lower residual sugar and a better balance between structure and freshness.
Monfortino Riserva 2019: an icon of Barolo
Giacomo Conterno's 2019 Barolo Monfortino Riserva confirms its position as an absolute benchmark on the global scene. The wine expresses notes of blackberry, undergrowth, spice, and licorice, with a dynamic structure and a long, complex finish.
Italian wine to the rescue
On the eve of Vinitaly 2026, the sentiment among operators is one of cautious optimism. After record exports of € 8.1 billion in 2024 , 2025 closed with €7.7 billion , a modest decline compared to international competitors. The Italian wine sector currently represents 1.1% of the national GDP , with:
Consumption in large-scale retail trade: lower volumes but rising average prices
In 2025, 737 million liters of wine and sparkling wine were sold in Italian large-scale retail trade, 20 million fewer than in 2024. The average price per liter is rising, a sign of a progressive premiumization of consumption . Among the best-selling wines:
Agricultural bonus of up to 400 euros per hectare
The Lazio Region is introducing an incentive of up to €400 per hectare for hazelnut and table grape cultivation under the SRA01 Integrated Production measure of the 2023-2027 CAP program.
Bolgheri defends its wine-growing landscape
The Bolgheri DOC and Bolgheri Sassicaia DOC Consortium has written to the Minister of the Environment to report potential landscape issues related to the offshore wind farm project in the Ligurian Sea and the infrastructure for connecting it to the electricity grid.
Talking about wine to win over young people
According to several industry professionals, wine promotion will need to change its language. Home consumption is evolving, and traditional conviviality around the table is diminishing: it's therefore essential to share the region and the wine experience to engage the new generations.
International
War in Iran and the fertilizer crisis
Geopolitical tensions in the Strait of Hormuz are putting European farms in difficulty, with blockages affecting approximately a third of the global fertilizer trade . Regenerative farms are less exposed to the crisis due to their reduced dependence on chemical inputs.
Italian wine talents conquer the world
Two Italian sommeliers have received important recognition abroad:
Designer wineries: wine tourism is growing worldwide
In many European regions, from Rioja to Ribera del Duero, iconic wineries are emerging where architecture and wine merge into new tourist destinations. Among these is the new Bodegas Faustino in Rioja Alavesa, designed to offer immersive experiences amidst vineyards and design.
Wine events
Vinitaly 2026: Over 4,000 wineries will be present
Veronafiere President Federico Bricolo confirms impressive numbers for the next edition of Vinitaly:
Calabria takes center stage at Vinitaly
The region will present over 100 wineries in a dedicated pavilion, under the Calabria Straordinaria brand, with a focus on native grape varieties and local biodiversity.
Civiltà del Bere awards the most awarded wineries
The Simply the Best event, a walk-around tasting that brings together 65 Italian wineries awarded by the main wine guides, is taking place in Milan.
Suber Wine Festival in Suvereto
From May 1st to 3rd, the Tuscan village will host the Suber Wine Festival, an event that combines wine, culture, art, and experiential tourism in the Alta Maremma.
Open Vineyards in Friuli
In the Collio and Colli Orientali regions, wine tourism events continue, allowing visitors to discover the wine-growing landscape through tastings and local stories.
Clavesana Wine Festival
The traditional event in the Langhe region, which celebrated the new vintage of local wines with tastings, culture, and food, drew a large turnout.
Tastings and vertical tastings at the Wine Bank
The vertical tasting of the Marenca cru from the Luigi Pira winery, dedicated to Barolo di Serralunga, hosted at the Banca del Vino in Pollenzo, was a great success.
Montemercurio presents itself in Rome
The Montepulciano company made its debut in the capital during the Due Passi in Vigna event, with tastings dedicated to Vino Nobile di Montepulciano.
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