Wine press review for Monday, October 19, 2026!

1. Italian wineries: companies, producers and news

Santa Tresa debuts on Etna with an organic Bianco DOC. The Sicilian winery, led by Stefano and Marina Girelli, presents the first Etna Bianco DOC made from organic Carricante grapes grown on the volcano's southeast slope. Expected production is 8,000 bottles, with a retail price of €15.50.

Tommasi celebrates Amarone with the Family Library. Tommasi Family Estates presents 100 exclusive gift boxes featuring the 2012, 2017, and 2022 vintages of Amarone della Valpolicella Classico DOCG. A 2017 Special Edition of 1,000 bottles is also available.

Follador presents Ca' Dei Noni, seven appellations from the Veneto region. The Col San Martino winery expands its offering with a line of still wines showcasing terroirs such as Montello, Valpolicella, Lake Garda, and the Asolo hills.

Velenosi showcases Pecorino delle Marche. The Ascoli-based winery presents three interpretations of the native grape rediscovered in the 1980s by Guido Cocci Grifoni, now the protagonist of the Offida DOCG appellation.

Pietraluce Franciacorta focuses on sustainability and young people. Founded in 2018 in Calino, Brescia, Marika Bertoli Savoldi's winery promotes Chardonnay and Pinot Noir through efficient technologies, environmental awareness, and a more accessible winemaking style.

Morellino di Scansano, Roggiano goes charitable. The Morellino di Scansano winery presents the fifth edition of the Roggiano DOCG charitable label, supporting the Il Sogno di Nidia association and its projects for the independence of young people with disabilities in 2026.

Cusumano wins at Milan Wine Week 2026. The Sicilian winery wins the Wine Hospitality Award in the Best Art & Culture Wine Hospitality category, dedicated to the best hospitality experiences combining wine, art, and culture.

Nikolas Juretic is the 2027 Slow Wine Young Winemaker. The producer from Cormons, in the Collio Friulano area, received recognition for his terroir-conscious viticulture and his contribution to the Senza Meja collective project. His Mont 2024 also received recognition.

Nima Wine Shop celebrates its first anniversary in Melfi. After opening in Milan, the retail project celebrates the first anniversary of its Lucanian store, aiming to combine local identity with an international vision.

Carlo "Tète" Torboli and Vino Santo: a story from Trentino. The story recalls the entrepreneur from Riva del Garda who opened his winery in 1961, involving, according to tradition, Mike Bongiorno.

2. Italian wine and oenology: market, production and trends

Italian wine stocks increased by 14.2%. According to the ICQRF's Cantina Italia, as of September 30, 2026, Italian wineries held 41.04 million hectoliters of wine, over 5 million more than in 2025. Added to this are 12.8 million hectoliters of must and 8.9 million hectoliters of new wine still in fermentation.

Tuscany is Italy's second largest region in terms of stocks. Veneto leads the way with over 10.2 million hectoliters, followed by Tuscany with approximately 5.1 million. Siena has 2 million hectoliters, and Florence 1.45 million. High inventories are placing a strain on warehouse management and winery profitability.

The 2026 Italian harvest is estimated at 41.1 million hectoliters. The European Commission's forecasts indicate a decline of approximately 7% compared to 2025. Italy would still maintain its leading European production, ahead of Spain and France.

Romagna, Sangiovese DOC subzones are growing. Although Romagna Sangiovese DOC production has dropped from 9 to 8 million bottles in 2025, the subzones have increased from 518,933 to 647,733 bottles. The Consortium is focused on enhancing the different territorial identities.

Abruzzo's Trabocco project promotes indigenous sparkling wines. The collective brand, launched in 2022, promotes Metodo Martinotti sparkling wines made from regional grape varieties, including Pecorino, Passerina, Cococciola, Montonico, Trebbiano, and Montepulciano d'Abruzzo, bottled in the region.

Brunello Fuligni is the star of James Suckling's list. The selection of the top 100 Italian wines and winemakers highlights a growing focus on freshness, territorial authenticity, balance, and wines less affected by over-ripening.

Maremma, the agricultural labor problem is growing. The difficulty in finding local workers for grape and olive harvests is increasing the reliance on foreign workers. The issues concern costs, worker availability, and generational turnover.

Agriculture and young people: a call from Vesuvius. Salvatore Acampora, producer of Pomodorino del Piennolo DOP in Ercolano, urges young people to invest in southern Italian agriculture, denouncing bureaucratic difficulties, costs, and land abandonment.

FIVI wine tourism: revenues growing for over half of winemakers. A Nomisma Wine Monitor and FIVI study reports that over 50% of independent winemakers are experiencing growth in wine tourism activities. Approximately 85% of members' vineyards are located in hilly and mountainous areas.

Tuscany is Europe's top destination for wine lovers. A study cited by Wine & Travel Magazine gives the region a score of 8.43 out of 10. European wine tourism is increasingly showcasing its landscapes, culture, tastings, and rural heritage.

Contemporary wine: consumption, communication, and identity. The book "On Contemporary Wine," with a contribution by Fabio Rizzari, analyzes the evolution of Italian winemaking since the 1990s, the weight of ratings, and the current challenges in consumer relations.

Riadi Piacentini proposes a new language for wine. The Turin-based lawyer encourages us to move beyond formalism, repetitive tastings, and overly technical communication, offering events and experiences that engage diverse audiences.

Autumn wine tourism: new experiences at Italian wineries. Franciacorta and other regions offer tours, contemporary art, gastronomy, hospitality, and cultural experiences. Among the wineries mentioned are Villa Biondelli, Guido Berlucchi, and Ricci Curbastro.

Amaro del Ciclista expands its Le Frecce collection. Six packages celebrate legendary cycling climbs, including Stelvio, Sestriere, and Alpe d'Huez, through collectible bottles and dedicated gift boxes.

3. International: production, climate and vines

The 2026 European harvest is forecast at 137.4 million hectoliters. The European Commission estimates a 1.2% decrease. Italy remains in first place with 41.1 million hectoliters, followed by Spain with 37.6 million and France with 33.9 million. Spain is expected to see a 13.4% increase.

England, extreme heat and early harvest. The high temperatures of 2026 accelerated grape ripening by up to a month in some areas. WineGB requested the possibility of acidifying the wines to preserve balance, especially in the sparkling base wines.

Burgundy, Aligoté rediscovered. The French white grape is returning to the spotlight for its freshness and ability to evolve. Its recognition as an AOC Bouzeron in 1997 was crucial to its development.

Veuve Clicquot presents La Grande Dame Rosé 2018. The House celebrates the tradition of blended rosé Champagne introduced by Madame Clicquot in 1818. The new cuvée showcases Pinot Noir and represents the twenty-fifth edition of the La Grande Dame line.

4. Wine events, auctions, awards and tastings

Barolo en Primeur 2026, international charity auction. On Friday, October 23rd, 14 barrels of Barolo Vigna Gustava 2025 will be auctioned at Grinzane Cavour Castle, with links to London and New York. The 2025 auction raised €1,130,300; over €4.5 million in the first five editions. A fifteenth barrel will be offered on November 8th.

Milano Wine Week 2026, October 17-25. Over 100 events, including tastings, meetings, masterclasses, and hospitality experiences. The Wine Hospitality Awards recognize 50 Italian wineries in ten categories.

FIVI and Nomisma present their research on wine tourism. On October 21st in Rome, the "Wine & Future" conference will explore direct sales, hospitality, catering, and the prospects of independent winemakers.

Orta Wine & Beer Festival, tastings on Lake Orta. The event brings together 25 partners, including wineries, breweries, and distilleries, with approximately 100 labels and events dedicated to food and wine culture.

Gustatus 2026 in Orbetello, with Ansonica as the star. From October 29th to November 1st, the event will showcase 160 Maremma wines. Shades of Ansonica is scheduled for October 29th; a B2B meeting for HORECA professionals is scheduled for November 2nd.

Vini ad Arte 2026 brings Romagna to Milan. On October 12 and 13, the Consorzio Vini di Romagna presented its Sangiovese wines and subzones to restaurateurs, distributors, wine merchants, and journalists.

Vino e Arte che Passione celebrates its tenth edition. At the Casino dell'Aurora Pallavicini in Rome, the event brought together producers and enthusiasts through tastings, culture, and meetings.

Insolito Marsala 2026, wine and international tourism. The event, held from September 30th to October 4th, offered tastings of great historic wines, including Barolo from 1937 to 1967 and a Marsala Florio from 1840.

Slow Wine 2027 honors the new generations. The guide was presented in Milan on October 17, with awards dedicated to quality, sustainability, territory, and new interpretations of viticulture.

The sector picture as of October 19, 2026

Four main themes emerge from today's news: increasing inventories, the expected contraction in Italian production, the growth of wine tourism, and the valorization of local identities.

For Italian wineries, the challenge isn't just about producing quality wines, but also about improving sales, controlling inventory, protecting margins, and developing new direct sales and hospitality opportunities.

The forecasts for the 2026 harvest and the data on stocks confirm the importance of increasingly careful economic and commercial management.

This review has been compiled and summarized from content provided as of October 19, 2026. Data and statements taken from the original news reports, without independent external verification.

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Press review of October 19, 2026, brought to you by WINEIDEA.IT.

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