Wine press review for Monday, September 7, 2026!

Good morning,

Wine Idea presents the main news from the world of wine, wineries, oenology, and wine events.

ITALIAN WINERIES

Mack & Schühle invests in dealcoholized wine and focuses on Puglia . The Italian market for no- and low-alcohol wines is accelerating. Mack & Schühle Italia sees dealcoholization as a new opportunity for growth and internationalization. The company operates through a supply chain involving approximately 5,000 winemakers and a network of 3 million hectoliters, with production hubs in Puglia and Friuli-Venezia Giulia.

Terre d'Aenòr: Early Harvest in Franciacorta. The 2026 harvest confirms the effects of climate change on viticulture. Terre d'Aenòr brought approximately 3,500 quintals of grapes to the cellar. Initial evaluations indicate structured, aromatically rich, and elegant wines.

Five major Italian wine companies facing potential ownership changes. The sector is entering a significant phase of corporate and financial transformation. According to the review, at least five leading companies could change their ownership structure or management over the next 6-12 months. Approximately €1.45 billion in revenue is expected to be affected by potential ownership or management changes.

Alto Adige: The Protagonists of the Wine Renaissance A documentary chronicles the producers and winemakers who, since the 1970s and 1980s, have contributed to the qualitative and international transformation of Alto Adige wine, including Elena Walch, Alois Lageder, Louis Raifer, Hans Terzer, and Willi Stürz.

Le Manzane: 78 quintals collected in the Solidarity Harvest The 15th edition of the Solidarity Harvest brought together hundreds of participants in San Pietro di Feletto, in the Prosecco Hills, collecting 78 quintals of grapes to support the Il Filo di Simo ODV association.

Val d'Oca presents a contemporary Cartizze Extra Brut Heritage Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore Cartizze Extra Brut DOCG 2025 offers a particularly dry interpretation of Cartizze, with a residual sugar content of less than 2 g/l, focusing on freshness, minerality and territorial identity.

ITALIAN WINE AND OENOLOGY

Sardinia, quality grows: seven wines achieve 100/100. Vinodabere's ninth Sardinian Wine Guide evaluated 331 wines, awarding 118 "Standing Ovations," equal to 35.6% of the wines tasted. Vermentino and Cannonau stood out, and more generally, the entire regional sector has seen a qualitative improvement.

2026 Harvest Ever Earlier: Climate Changes Italian Vineyards. Heat and drought are profoundly altering harvest calendars. In the Langhe, some Nebbiolos were harvested as early as the end of August; the same phenomenon is evident in Franciacorta, Conegliano, Montalcino, and the Colli Tortonesi. Agronomic adaptability is becoming increasingly crucial.

Conegliano, Montalcino, and Tortona: good quality, but focus on market balance. Initial indications suggest grapes are generally in good condition and quality prospects are positive. Alongside quality, however, an economic issue emerges: protecting the value of the denominations and maintaining a balance between production growth, vineyards, and demand.

US exports struggle, but Prosecco holds firm. In the first months of 2026, Italian wine exports to the United States, according to the source, dropped by approximately 15%. Eastern Veneto is showing greater resilience, with exports exceeding €20 million, with Prosecco as the main driver. In 2025, DOC Prosecco had exceeded 660 million certified bottles, over 80% of which were exported.

Markets 2026: Complex, but with some positive signs. Renzo Cotarella, Michele Bernetti, Francesco Giovannini, and Alessio Planeta highlight a challenging market in Italy and abroad. Identity, adaptability, financial management, and strategic clarity become crucial elements for navigating this new phase.

Wine isn't just losing space: the way it's consumed is changing. The transformation isn't just about volumes, but how, where, and why consumers choose wine . Restaurants, wine bars, wineries, first-hand experiences, and new consumption styles are changing the relationship between product, brand, and consumer.

Wine tourism: Umbria calls for rules more suited to small wineries. The region is calling for a review of the regional regulations, maintaining quality standards but adapting them to the characteristics of Umbrian companies, which are often small and family-run.

Ascheri: Fewer vineyards to protect the environment and value. The production sector also reflects on supply: limiting the expansion of vineyards could help reduce environmental impact and, at the same time, support the economic value of wine.

INTERNATIONAL AND MARKETS

Alcohol-Free Drinks: Global Market Nearing $3.3 Billion The no- and low-alcohol segment is now one of the areas of greatest strategic interest. According to reported data, the global business is worth approximately $2.4 billion and could reach $3.3 billion by 2028. The Italian industry is also accelerating after regulatory delays compared to other markets.

Mondial des Vins Extrêmes: 1,175 wines from 22 countries. The international competition dedicated to heroic viticulture registered 1,175 wines from 432 wineries in 22 countries. 84 Grand Gold Medals and 295 Gold Medals were awarded. Sardinia won one Grand Gold Medal and two Gold Medals.

Training: Italian Wine and Global Markets The twelfth edition of the Master's program organized by the Scuola Sant'Anna, the University of Pisa, the University for Foreigners of Siena, and the University of Siena with AIS aims to develop integrated skills in production, marketing, communication, wine tourism, and international markets.

WINE EVENTS AND WINE TOURISM

Friuli Doc 2026 – Udine, September 10-13. The 32nd edition will span over 33,000 square meters of the city, featuring more than 100 stands, 70 traditional dishes, over 40 musical events, and approximately 150 artists. The overall economic impact is estimated at €10 million.

Gustus 2026 – Vicenza, September 19-20. Over 100 labels and more than 20 wineries will be featured at the event dedicated to the Colli Berici, Vicenza, and Gambellara DOC wines. Two WineLabs will explore climate change, changing consumer tastes, and the role of aging.

Open Cellars during Harvest – Abruzzo and Umbria The initiative of the Wine Tourism Movement involves 11 companies in Abruzzo and 12 in Umbria , with harvests open to the public, tastings, visits, workshops and experiences for families between September and October.

Monferrato: September among Ruchè, vineyards, and infernot. Castagnole Monferrato and Viarigi focus on the Ruchè grape harvest and slow tourism, transforming vineyards, landscape, and food and wine into an integrated regional experience.

Historic trains in the Langhe, Roero, and Monferrato. Between October and November, new historic train routes will connect Milan and Turin with Alba and Canelli, showcasing wine, truffles, UNESCO landscapes, and autumn tourism. The Milan-Alba route will depart on Sundays, October 11, 18, and 25.

Terra Madre: Eight great wineries recount 40 years of Italian wine. From September 24th to 27th in Turin, eight masterclasses will retrace forty years of Italian wine evolution through iconic companies such as Allegrini, Biondi-Santi, and De Bartoli, with vertical tastings reserved for only 20 participants per session.

Degu-Stazioni: Wine Comes to the Milan Metro On September 27, three stations on the M5 line will host a multi-tasting event with over 50 sommeliers: a format that brings wine out of traditional venues and directly into the city's flow.

THE SIGNAL OF THE DAY

Today's review tells the story of a sector that is entering a phase of selection and transformation .

The weather brings forward the harvests and requires new agronomic choices. Traditional markets are slowing, while dealcoholized wines and new consumption patterns are growing. Prosecco is demonstrating greater international resilience. Wine tourism is increasingly becoming an integral part of the value of wineries.

But perhaps the most important signal comes from the corporate front: several Italian wineries could change ownership, governance, or financial structure in the coming months .

This means that the future of Italian wine will not depend solely on the quality of the bottle. It will increasingly depend on the ability of companies to adapt, merge, invest, raise new capital, protect value, and build a scale commensurate with international markets .

Today's wine press review is brought to you by WINEIDEA.IT.

See you tomorrow.