Wine press review for Monday, October 26, 2026!

1. ITALIAN WINERIES

Tommasi Family Estates is Gambero Rosso's 2027 Winery of the Year.

The Tommasi family has been named Winery of the Year in Gambero Rosso's 2027 Vini d'Italia Guide. With 125 years of history and four generations at the helm, the group stands out for its promotion of Valpolicella and investments in seven Italian regions. The 2018 Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Riserva Ca' Florian has earned the Tre Bicchieri award.

Cascina delle Rose: growing without increasing production

Riccardo and Davide Sobrino, owners of Cascina delle Rose in Barbaresco, have received the Gambero Rosso Winemakers of the Year 2027 award. The winery produces approximately 30,000 bottles annually on 5.5 hectares and chooses to maintain a modest size, focusing on quality, local identity, and sustainable work.

Damilano recounts the terroir through three 2022 Barolos.

The historic Damilano winery presents a comparison of Barolo Castellero, Cerequio, and Cannubi, all from the same vintage. The tasting highlights the expressive differences of the three vineyards, demonstrating how soil, exposure, and microclimate influence the character of Nebbiolo, even in a hot and dry vintage like 2022.

Pighin: Double recognition for the 2020 Picolit Collio DOC

Pighin's Picolit Collio DOC 2020 received the Tre Bicchieri award and the special Meditation Wine of the Year prize in Gambero Rosso's 2027 Italian Wines Guide. Produced from late-harvested grapes that are naturally dried for about a month, the wine showcases one of Friuli-Venezia Giulia's rarest and most iconic grape varieties.

Monte Vibiano Winery Among Italy's 50 Rare Wines

Fonte del Bosco 2024, a single-vineyard, pure Trebbiano Spoletino, has been included in Gambero Rosso's selection of 50 Rare Wines of Italy. It is the only Umbrian wine included in the 2027 selection. The Marsciano winery, in the Perugian Hills, thus continues its commitment to promoting traditional grape varieties and the terroir.

Cantina Rauscedo invests in quality, sustainability, and wine tourism

The Friulian cooperative Cantina Rauscedo, with nearly 300 members and approximately 2,000 hectares of vineyards, is developing new production and hospitality projects. The acquisition of the Roncadin family's RR winery in Fiume Veneto opens up new prospects for wine tourism. The company exports over two million bottles to 25 countries and has published its first Sustainability Report.

Reggio Emilia wineries: interest in wine is growing, but wine tourism remains underdeveloped.

According to a survey conducted in September 2026 by Protur Media of 38 Calabrian wineries, the six analyzed in the province of Reggio Calabria allow booking tours and tastings online, but not directly from their websites. The report highlights the need for improved digital promotion and the ability to transform the local winemaking heritage into purchasable tourism experiences.

Centanni Winery: High diesel prices weigh on company costs.

The Centanni organic farm, with approximately 50 hectares of vineyards between the provinces of Ascoli Piceno and Fermo, is reporting rising costs for field operations and shipping. Diesel, which has risen from approximately €1.20 to €1.60 per liter in a year, could lead to additional annual expenses of €20,000-25,000.

Gin.Ghiale al Mare tells the story of Maremma through wild botanicals.

Marco Tomberli and Matteo Guarnieri launch Gin.Ghiale al Mare, the new expression of the project launched in 2025 to showcase wild Maremma botanicals. The spirit is made with the support of Distilleria Nannoni in Paganico. The brand's first product, Gin.Ghiale Spirit of Tirli, won a silver medal at the 2026 World Gin Awards.

2. ITALIAN WINE AND ITALIAN OENOLOGY

Gambero Rosso 2027: 540 Three Glasses Awards Awarded

Gambero Rosso's 2027 Italian Wines Guide honors 540 wines, 32 more than the previous edition. Piedmont and Tuscany confirm their leadership, while Veneto, Lombardy, Sicily, Campania, Marche, and Abruzzo contribute to the promotion of Italian wine quality. The guide includes 2,614 wineries and over 23,000 wines reviewed.

Forty Years of Italian Wine: Producers, Consumers, and Styles Change

On the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the Vini d'Italia guide, Gambero Rosso traces the evolution of the sector. Wine has gone from an everyday staple to a cultural and, in some cases, luxury product. Attention to local produce and the pursuit of lightness are growing, while price risks limiting access to quality wine. The guide highlights 50 award-winning labels available in wine shops for under €15, five of which are under €10.

The ten wineries that changed Italian wine

To celebrate the fortieth anniversary of the Vini d'Italia guide, Gambero Rosso pays tribute to ten wineries that have shaped the history of Italian winemaking through production innovation, quality, generational transitions, and the ability to showcase their territories. This recognition offers an opportunity to reflect on future challenges, from climate change to new consumption patterns.

Tuscany's wine industry: revenues stable, but margins under pressure.

According to an analysis by the Management DiVino Study Center of Studio Impresa of 130 Tuscan wine companies, the sample's total turnover in 2025 was €1.43 billion, a slight decrease of 0.2% from 2024 but an increase of 2.2% from 2023. Sixty-three percent of the companies analyzed reported a reduction in operating margin. Smaller companies are more exposed to market difficulties, especially the crisis in red wines.

Lombardy: 37 wineries awarded Tre Bicchieri

The 2027 Italian Wine Guide awards Tre Bicchieri (Three Glasses) to 37 Lombardy wineries, three more than the previous year. Brescia contributes 21 DOC and DOCG labels, including 13 excellent Franciacorta wines. Among the new entries is Antica Fratta, which achieves the highest recognition for the first time.

White Wine: Lunae's 2024 Labianca Is a Best Buy

In Altroconsumo's comparative test of 36 white wines, Lunae's Liguria di Levante IGT Bianco Labianca 2024 ranked first and was awarded Best Buy, with a suggested price of €11. Among the organic white wines, Tenuta Santa Lucia's Albana di Romagna DOCG Secco Albarara 2025 stands out.

Slow Wine 2027: 231 wines awarded as Best Buy

The Slow Wine 2027 guide awards the Best Buy recognition to 231 wines that combine high quality and competitive pricing for their denomination or typology. All the selected wines are already among the Top Wines, including Slow Wines. The initiative highlights value for money without applying a single price threshold to different products and regions.

Liseriet: An Ancient Grape Variety from the Bormida Valley Rediscovered

Liseriet, a historic grape variety remembered by winemakers in the Bormida Valley between Piedmont and Liguria, survived for a long time on very limited plots, often destined for family consumption. Following interest from the Alba School of Winemaking, the variety was included in the National Register of Vine Varieties in 2018, contributing to the protection of Italy's ampelographic biodiversity.

Grappoli Urbani reclaims abandoned vineyards in Tuscany

In 2024, winemakers Michele Bevacqua and Daniele Macchia founded Grappoli Urbani, a project dedicated to the revitalization of abandoned vineyards between Scandicci and Mugello. The initiative aims to bring neglected lands back into production, preserve agricultural heritage, and restore prospects to vineyards that older owners are no longer able to cultivate.

Massimo Cacciari: Wine is part of Europe's cultural identity

Speaking at the Coldiretti Forum in Rome, philosopher Massimo Cacciari criticizes the tendency to demonize wine and frame it as part of widespread prohibitions. According to Cacciari, wine represents a historical and cultural component of Italian and European identity. Its protection, he argues, must be reconciled with precise rules, information, and the freedom of informed choice.

3. INTERNATIONAL WINE AND MARKETS

Moët Hennessy Develops Artificial Intelligence to Prevent Wine Defects

Moët Hennessy, LVMH's Wine & Spirits division, is collaborating with Analog Devices and the University of California, Davis, to develop technologies based on the analysis of the chemical fingerprints of grapes, musts, and wines. The goal is to more quickly identify quality risks and prevent winemaking defects, including Fresh Mushroom Aroma, characterized by hints of fresh mushrooms and particularly relevant in Champagne production.

Italian wine exports: signs of recovery in the United States

According to provisional data from the Italian Wine Union, in the third quarter of 2026, Italian exports to non-EU countries increased by approximately 8%, with growth approaching 17% in the United States. The January-September balance remains negative: -3% in non-EU markets and -6% in the US, but this is an improvement compared to the decline recorded in June. It remains to be seen whether the recovery reflects a recovery in consumption or a restocking of inventories.

Wine stocks on the rise: 16 million hectoliters as of July 31

Italian wine inventories reached 16 million hectoliters as of July 31, 2026, compared to 13.6 million in the same period in 2025. The 2.4 million hectoliter increase confirms the pressure on the market, despite signs of a recovery in exports. A less abundant harvest in Italy, France, and Spain could help gradually rebalance availability.

Piedmont: Prestigious vineyards become international investment assets.

In the Langhe, between Barolo, Barbaresco, and Monferrato, the most prestigious vineyards attract private wealth, family offices, and financial investors. For some historic parcels, such as Cannubi in the Barolo region, prices can reach €2-3 million per hectare. Rising values strengthen the role of wine as an investment tied to the prestige of the region, but raise questions about the accessibility of agricultural land.

Tokaj, Hungary: Sauska Winery combines architecture and wine tourism

Completed in 2024 and designed by BORD Architectural Studio, the Sauska Tokaj Winery is located near Rátka, in Hungary's UNESCO-listed winegrowing landscape. The 5,830-square-meter building features curved structures emerging from the hillside, while much of the cellar is located underground. The project, begun in 2014, integrates wine production, catering, and hospitality to enhance Tokaj's tourist appeal.

4. WINE EVENTS, TASTINGS AND OPPORTUNITIES

Merano WineFestival 2026: A Space for Rare Italian Grape Varieties

From November 6 to 10, 2026, the Merano WineFestival celebrates its 35th edition at the Kurhaus in Merano. The program opens on November 6 with TasteTerroir – bio&dynamica, dedicated to organic and biodynamic wines and conscious viticulture. Among the participants are 11 wineries that preserve rare grape varieties, brought together by GRASPO, with native varieties from various Italian regions.

Vinitaly.USA 2026: 22 Sardinian wineries in New York

On October 26 and 27, 2026, 22 Sardinian wineries will participate in Vinitaly.USA at Pier 36 in New York. The group, coordinated by the Laore Agency, will promote the island's native grape varieties and winemaking identity to buyers, importers, and professionals. On October 26, the masterclass "Sardinia: An Island Apart. Native Grapes, Terroir & Island Identity," led by Stephanie Johnson, DipWSET, will take place.

Albana Dèi 2026: Free tasting at the Rocca di Dozza

Today, October 26, from 11:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., the Emilia-Romagna Regional Wine Shop, located in the basement of the Rocca di Dozza, will host a free tasting of the seven finalist wines from the Albana Dèi 2026 selection. The public can sample the dry interpretations of Romagna Albana DOCG and contribute their favorites to the awarding of the dedicated prizes.

Gambero Rosso 2027: The Three Glasses Tasting in Rome

On October 25, the Rome Convention Center La Nuvola will host the presentation of the 2027 Italian Wine Guide and a grand tasting of the award-winning wines. This edition celebrates the guide's 40th anniversary and the 540 wines awarded Tre Bicchieri, Gambero Rosso's highest recognition.

Langhe in autumn: itineraries among vineyards, villages, and wineries

Between late October and early November, the hills of Barolo and Barbaresco offer one of the most evocative times for wine tourism. Itineraries include La Morra, Barolo with the WiMu – Wine Museum, Castiglione Falletto, Grinzane Cavour with the Langhe Museum and the Enoteca Regionale Piemontese Cavour, and the medieval tower of Barbaresco.

Wine Investments: Three Opportunities in Italy

QUIDQUID – FORBUS highlights three opportunities reserved for investors and industry operators:

• Oltrepò Pavese, Montù Beccaria: approximately 18 hectares of estate in the Versa Valley, with vineyards, land requiring restoration, a cellar of over 800 m², and recoverable rural buildings. The project is geared toward reviving production, Pinot Noir, and developing wine tourism. Price not available.
• Montepulciano, Tuscany: winery with 11.5 hectares of land, 3.8 hectares of DOCG and IGT vineyards, a working cellar, producing approximately 18,000 bottles annually, and historic buildings with potential for hospitality. Foreign markets in North America, Northern Europe, and Asia are already active. Pricing available upon request.
• Collio Friulano, Friuli-Venezia Giulia: a €6 million operation that combines approximately 12 hectares of vineyards, a fully equipped winery, a farmhouse with a bar and restaurant, living spaces, and opportunities for direct sales and wine tourism. The proposal is aimed at winemaking groups, entrepreneurs, and qualified investors.

The three deals are presented by QUIDQUID – FORBUS, a strategic business advisory firm. Documentation and terms are available upon request, according to the terms established for each opportunity.

The QUIDQUID wine press review is brought to you by WINEIDEA.IT.

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