Wine press review for Saturday, February 14, 2026!

Italian wineries

Temporary Wine by Andrea Moser (Alto Adige) A project outside the box born in Mazzon (Caldaro) that rewrites the story of Alto Adige Pinot Bianco. "Fly," a 100% Pinot Bianco produced in just 1,280 bottles, has been named one of the 50 Rare Wines in the 2026 Italian Wines Guide with a score of 96/100. This result confirms the career trajectory of a winemaker who has already been a key player at Cantina di Caldaro and at Franz Haas.

Colline Novaresi: Davide Carlone's dream. A mosaic of vineyards amidst woods, dry stone walls, and natural parks, with Monte Rosa in the background. A project that unites landscape, heroic viticulture, and territorial identity, transforming the hillside into a cultural as well as agricultural attraction.

Brunello "A Diletta" – Col di Lamo Wine and music meet in the story of Gianna Neri and her daughter. A Brunello that symbolizes resilience and female continuity, with the 2019 vintage expressing elegance, complexity, and technical precision.

Umbria del Vino: 20 wineries win. The fifth edition of the national wine competition promoted by the Umbria Chamber of Commerce has concluded. Twenty wineries were recognized for their quality and identity, confirming the region's increasingly structured winemaking scene.

Emilia-Romagna awarded in Brussels Fifteen regional wineries were recognized at the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles 2025. This result strengthens the region's international standing, capable of expressing diverse styles and territories under a common qualitative denominator.

Italian wine and Italian oenology

2025 Harvest: Less Wine, More Problems. Production stable at 44.3 million hectoliters, but inventories rising to 61 million (68 million including must). The paradox of a system no longer able to absorb even ordinary production. The UIV's warning points to a structural, not a cyclical, crisis.

Falling prices and rising stocks . Despite the reduction in yields, quotas aren't enough. Surpluses of common wines and IGT white wines are growing, while PDO wines are holding up better. Financial pressure on wineries will become the real issue for 2026.

Tuscany: Less Volume, More Value. A clear strategy emerged at the PrimaAnteprima in Florence: focus on quality and identity. Ninety-seven percent of the vineyards are PDO. Exports are slightly up in volume but declining in value, interpreted as a readjustment after record years. On the domestic market, the region is holding its position better than the national average.

EVO oil, like wine, is changing the narrative of Made in Italy: extra virgin olive oil follows the path already blazed by wine, from commodity to cultural product. Territory, supply chain, research, and storytelling become levers of value.

Water Management in the Winery Water as a Critical Process Factor: Timely Measurement, Sensors, Optimization of Washing Cycles, and Wastewater Management are at the Center of New Strategies for Operational Efficiency and Sustainability.

Young people and alcohol consumption: Ferrara's alarm bells ring. University students are already drinking Spritz in the morning: data on youth addiction is growing. This issue is raising questions about responsibility, communication, and new consumption patterns.

International

Mercosur, the post-2027 CAP, and wine. In Strasbourg, the European Parliament unanimously voted on the new support framework for the wine sector (625 votes in favor). This is a strong political signal, but the system remains fragile amid trade liberalization, transition, and generational change.

Zorah Winery, Armenia A new chapter in Armenian viticulture with ancient roots and an Italian soul. Zorik Gharibian's project combines historical memory and contemporary vision, putting Armenia back on the map of quality wine.

Italy and France: the art of living through wine. The cultural dialogue between two superpowers of taste is strengthened at Wine Paris, between territory, aesthetics, and UNESCO heritage. Wine as a common language of identity and cultural industry.

Wine events

Zero-alcohol cocktails in Cortina d'Ampezzo. Bartenders at top hotels are once again experimenting with zero-alcohol mixology using Castagner products. A clear signal: the out-of-home experience is evolving and embracing sports, wellness, and new consumption styles.

Irresistible PIWI – Lazise, April 26–27, 2026. The third edition of the event dedicated to resistant varieties. Not just a tasting, but a discussion on sustainability, research, and the future of viticulture.

The best bottles for Valentine's Day From reds to whites to sparkling wines: a selection of iconic labels to celebrate the occasion, with a focus on Alto Adige and Pinot Bianco.

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