Wine press review for Monday, May 11, 2026!

Italian wineries

Sciacchetrà, the impossible wine saved by young people. In the Cinque Terre, Sciacchetrà remains one of the rarest symbols of heroic Italian viticulture. In 2024, production stalled at just 44 hectoliters, a mere 2.3% of the denomination's total. A Mediterranean passito, briny and distinctive, today preserved by a handful of producers and a new generation determined to preserve it.

Cielo e Terra strengthens its Italian sales network. Andrea Passilongo is the new Director of Italian Sales for Cielo e Terra. His role will focus on strengthening domestic sales and repositioning Maia's premium lines, with a network of 20 agents and a more targeted strategy for high-value channels.

Castello Vicchiomaggio and the 2022 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione The 2022 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Greve Le Bolle confirms Castello Vicchiomaggio's modern, precise, and territorial style. The winery, with 24 hectares of vineyards in Greve in Chianti, continues to be a solid presence in the Gallo Nero denomination.

Maurizio Costa Winery presents its new vintages. In Modigliana, the Maurizio Costa winery continues its growth with the new vintages of its historic reds and its first white wine from Albana. This Romagna-based winery works to maintain a strong connection with the terroir, showcasing Sangiovese, international varietals, and native varieties.

Radikon, the border wine that changed the Collio region . In Oslavia, in the Collio area of Gorizia, Radikon remains one of the most iconic wineries for artisanal, macerated, and long-term winemaking. The family continues the path pioneered by Stanko Radikon, with its ponca, minimal intervention, and wines deeply rooted in the terroir.

Tre Terre Winery Wins European Awards: The 2024 Shiraz from Tre Terre Winery in Sabaudia earned a score of 92/100 at the Women's International Trophy in Mainz. This is an important recognition for the Lazio wine region, especially in relation to the German market and European women.

Cantine Lucà and the Greco di Bianco Passito. Cantine Lucà's 2021 Greco di Bianco Passito brings attention to one of Calabria's oldest and most unique appellations. A historic DOC, established in 1980, it is linked to a passito wine made from Greco Bianco grapes in the Locride area.

Falanghina in the Phlegraean Fields In the Phlegraean Fields, a still-active volcanic area, the Loffredo family cultivates a viticulture rooted in local history. Phlegraean Falanghina grows on extreme soils, among terraces, volcanic sands, and a unique agricultural landscape.

Italian wine and Italian oenology

A map of Italian wines, region by region. Italian wine confirms its extraordinary territorial richness: over 500 native grape varieties, 20 producing regions, and hundreds of DOC and DOCG designations. From Barolo to Sagrantino, from Blanc de Morgex to Sicilian wines, each terroir expresses its unique identity.

Italian food and beverage exports to reach €70.9 billion in 2025. In 2025, Italian agri-food exports grew 5%, reaching €70.9 billion. Spain, Poland, France, and Germany performed well, while the United States saw a 4.5% decline due to tariffs. The sector is now looking to diversify its markets.

U.S. tariffs, growing uncertainty for Italian wine. Lamberto Frescobaldi, president of the UIV, draws attention to the negative effects of U.S. tariffs. The uncertainty weighs not only on exports, but also on the distribution and trade supply chain in the United States.

Wine resorts and relais: wine tourism becomes a system. Wine hospitality in Italy is evolving toward integrated models: rooms nestled among the vineyards, dining, a spa, tastings, and experiential services. Tommasi Family Estates, with Villa Quaranta in Valpolicella, represents one of the most structured examples of this approach.

The best wine is the one tied to memory. The story of wine is increasingly moving from rankings to personal experience. Stefano Quaglierini's project, "My Secret Cellar," showcases 15 Italian wines through stories, encounters, and territories.

Music and tasting: wine is more enjoyable with the right context. A study by the University of Pisa and the CNR, as part of the Cantina 5.0 project, confirms that live music enhances the tasting experience. Approximately 70% of participants perceived wine as better with background music.

The return of orange wines Orange wines confirm the return of an ancient practice: macerating white grapes on their skins. In Puglia, this trend finds new interpretations through spontaneous fermentations, indigenous yeasts, and natural approaches.

International

Barolo and Barbaresco take center stage in Canada. Over 170 Barolo and Barbaresco producers are attending the Barolo and Barbaresco World Opening in Toronto. The event, organized by the Consortium, represents a strategic showcase for the international future of Piedmont's great reds.

Foreign markets: opportunities and tensions. Italian wine continues to seek new international markets in a complex environment marked by tariffs, trade wars, geopolitical instability, and declining consumption. Market diversification is becoming increasingly crucial.

Wine events

At Spazio Villalta, the AIS Friuli Venezia Giulia winery is organizing a tasting dedicated to Loredan Gasparini's Capo di Stato, a historic Bordeaux blend from Montello. The evening features six vintages, guided by producer Lorenzo Palla.

Collio en primeur in Cormòns On May 14, 2026, the Enoteca di Cormòns, in collaboration with AIS, will host a tasting dedicated to Collio DOC, reserved for members. Around 150 labels will be available, including native whites, blends, and local reds.

TUTTOFOOD highlights Italian agri-food. At TUTTOFOOD, Oleificio Zucchi presented a tasting of 100% Italian sustainable extra virgin olive oils paired with dishes by chef Paolo Gori. It was an opportunity to reflect on the evolution of the Made in Italy agri-food sector.

Nepentes 2026 celebrates Cannonau di Oliena. On June 6th, Oliena hosts Nepentes 2026, an event dedicated to Cannonau Nepente. Tastings, traditional singing, shows, and historic wineries will enliven the center of this Barbagia village.

Alba celebrates Piedmont's native grape varieties. On Sunday, May 24, 2026, the historic center of Alba will host the Go Wine Wine Festival. Over 90 wineries and more than 40 native grape varieties will showcase Piedmont's winemaking biodiversity.

Applications are now open for "Il Vino Per Tutti 2026" The "Il Vino Per Tutti" guide is now accepting applications for the 2026 edition. The project combines wine, signature recipes, national visibility, and e-commerce tools to bring producers, readers, and buyers together.

Highlighted wine and agri-food opportunities

Organic estate in the Frascati DOC. Just outside Rome, a historic 11.36-hectare organic winery is available, with 9.56 hectares of vineyards, a fully equipped cellar, a tasting room, apartments, and a Roman-era spring. An ideal asset for production, hospitality, and local development.

Historic winery in the Castelli Romani. Since 1909, a business with 33 hectares of land, 32 vineyards, a modern cellar, 300,000 bottles annually, three direct sales outlets, and agritourism potential. A solid opportunity for those looking to invest in a historic wine region in Lazio.

Winery in Gradisca d'Isonzo. In Friuli Venezia Giulia, a historic 35-hectare estate is offered, with 31.5 hectares of vineyards in a single parcel, a modern winery, a consolidated US market, and international recognition. A compact, efficient, and export-oriented asset.

Naturalmente Farm Brewery. An integrated brewing model, with 12 hectares of organic land, direct cultivation of barley, hops, and grains, artisanal malting, and controlled production from raw materials to bottle. Up to 60% or the entire company is available for purchase.

Winery along the Strada Triestina FVG. Over 70 hectares in a single parcel, approximately 50 vineyards, a 10,000-hl winery, agritourism, restaurant, photovoltaic system, manor house, and strong export presence. A rare winemaking and wine tourism hub due to its size and location.

Estate in the Colli Orientali del Friuli. Approximately 80 hectares, 18 vineyards, organic and biodynamic, B&B, fully equipped cellar, 50,000 bottles annually, and strong potential for tourism development. An ideal asset for local wines, hospitality, and sustainable growth.

Historic Estate in Vulture – Aglianico DOCG In the heart of Basilicata, a property with 9 hectares of Aglianico DOC/DOCG, olive groves, historic caves, an 18th-century farmhouse, and a wine resort project. An opportunity for wine groups, hospitality investors, and agri-food funds.

Sustainable farm and winery in Ariccia, in the Castelli Romani area. This organic farm covers 19.6 hectares, has a 1,300-hl winery, a farmhouse villa, a B&B, photovoltaic panels, and the option of rent-to-buy or shareholding. An exciting project for wine, hospitality, and sustainability.

Closure

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