Wine press review for Saturday, March 21, 2026!

The world of wine continues to grapple with territorial identities, market tensions, agronomic innovation, and new opportunities for commercial development. From the sustainability of appellations to the consumption crisis in large-scale retail trade, through winery histories, regional relaunches, exports, and major international events, the sector confirms a profound transformation.

Italian wineries

“Grande Franciacorta,” a growth project to protect the landscape

A strategic discussion begins on the future of Franciacorta and the possibility of expanding the area's boundaries to the Oltrepò Pavese. The central theme is the sustainability of the appellations, not only agronomically but also territorially and politically: the PDO boundaries thus become a tool for managing the landscape and ensuring controlled development.

From grandfather's vineyard to one of the best Pecorino del Piceno: the history of Tenuta Santori

In the heart of the Piceno region, between Ripatransone and Cossignano, Tenuta Santori tells a story of family continuity, local roots, and the promotion of Pecorino. A story that begins with the grandfather's vineyards and culminates in modern production, while maintaining a connection to the Marche agricultural landscape.

After 35 years in the barrel, it is still vital: the Vernaccia di Oristano that defies time.

Attilio Contini's Vernaccia di Oristano Antico Gregori confirms its extraordinary expression of longevity, territorial identity, and craftsmanship. A wine born of patience, the tradition of oxidation, and a slow dialogue between wood, yeasts, and living matter.

Winery weddings are increasingly popular in Umbria and Tuscany.

Tenute del Cerro is strengthening its integrated hospitality model, combining wine, hospitality, and events. There's growing interest in winery weddings and advanced wine tourism formats that complement production with tastings, tours, conventions, and charming hospitality.

Cantina di Venosa wins the Stella del Sud award, among the top 200 wines of the Sole 24 Ore.

The Lucanian cooperative is among the 200 fastest-growing companies in Southern Italy, according to the "Stelle del Sud" survey conducted by Il Sole 24 Ore with Statista. This recognition recognizes growth in revenue, employment, investment, and business development over the three-year period 2021-2024.

Villa Matilde in Cellole: A Year of Celebrations

A historic protagonist in the revival of Falerno, Villa Matilde celebrates the centenary of its founding lawyer Francesco Paolo Avallone and thirty years of collaboration with Riccardo Cotarella. An opportunity to revisit one of the most important stories of the Campania winemaking renaissance.

Wine, the recovery fails: Cantine Leonardo da Vinci, part of the Caviro group, goes bankrupt.

A long-running affair involving one of Tuscany's historic wine cooperatives has ended with compulsory administrative liquidation. The crisis highlights the economic and financial fragilities that can affect even structured entities within the cooperative system.

Baracchi Winery, the face of Cortona that tells a different story of Tuscany

The Baracchi winery represents an integrated model of wine, hospitality, and gastronomy. Located on the hills of Cortona, wine production is part of a broader project that unites charming relais, restaurants, and local development.

Casa Setaro reveals the secrets of Vesuvius and relaunches the Caprettone

On Vesuvius, Massimo Setaro continues to work with native grape varieties and historic ungrafted vineyards, focusing on the terroir's profound identity. Caprettone and Piedirosso become tangible tools for differentiation and authenticity.

Italian wine and Italian oenology

Wine and Large-Scale Retail: 2026 Starts Better Than 2025

The Wine Forum offers a cautiously positive outlook for the start of 2026 in large-scale retail. According to Esselunga, the first 80 days of the year are better than 2025, despite a still challenging environment marked by pressure on consumption and the search for a balance between quality and price.

The 4 best wines of Friuli-Venezia Giulia

A journey through the main winemaking expressions of a region renowned for its white wines, but also capable of producing characterful reds and sweet wines with great personality. Among the designations highlighted are Lison DOCG and Collio.

They were pioneers of cider in Italy. Now they're reviving the elderberry wine of South Tyrolean farmers.

Franz Egger, already a leading figure in the Italian cider world, is relaunching a historic peasant beverage from Alto Adige. A project that combines biodiversity, agricultural innovation, and the revival of rural traditions.

“Only by placing the vines where their DNA is fully expressed will they produce great wines”

Attilio Scienza relaunches the concept of "new indigenous grape varieties," linking quality not only to the grape variety but also to the terroir's vocation. Zoning, environment, and location become essential elements for creating great wines and truly coherent viticulture.

Grapevine Downy Mildew: A Solution for Organic Farming from Grape Seeds

Agrimix enters the biocontrol market with OPSeed75, a natural biosolution based on grape seed extract. The product is intended as a tool compatible with organic farming for the protection of downy mildew and scab.

Canavese Barbera Barrique Vine Selections 2022 Cellar 366

A focus on the Canavese area and a lesser-known part of Piedmont, but one experiencing growth in quality and identity. The wine becomes the expression of an area seeking greater visibility beyond the already established centrality of Erbaluce di Caluso.

Wine towards a new Renaissance

The Wine Forum offers a powerful cultural reflection: the sector needs a new Renaissance that puts wine back at the center of social interaction, identity, moderation, and culture, avoiding simplification and demonization.

Is Italian wine under attack? Cotarella: "Enough with the industry's masochism."

Riccardo Cotarella calls for greater unity within the industry, against penalizing narratives and distorted interpretations of wine. The message is clear: the sector must stop weakening itself and regain its cultural, economic, and identity-building potential.

“It's not consumers who are moving away from wine, it's wine that is losing them.”

A critical reflection on the structural decline in consumption invites the sector to rethink language, relationships with young people, positive communication, and the relationship between wine, health, and conviviality.

International

UK wine imports to slow down in 2025

The United Kingdom reduced wine imports by 4.6% in value and 6% in volume. Italy remains the leading exporter by volume, but has seen a decline, with sparkling wines still generating more value than still wines on the British market.

The Chianti Wine Consortium at Vinitaly China

Chianti is looking to China with a structured presence in Chengdu, including tastings, masterclasses, and institutional promotion. The goal is to strengthen the denomination's positioning in a strategic market for Italian wine.

Artificial Intelligence and Wine: The Debate at Vinelink

In Épernay, the focus is on artificial intelligence applied to viticulture, including regional big data, machine learning, and tools to support agronomic management and strategic decisions. Digital innovation is increasingly playing a key role in the sector's competitiveness.

Wine events

Vigna & Olivo 2026: Defense, Nutrition, and Digital Technologies in Olive Growing

The second Vigna & Olivo meeting, a technical event dedicated to protection, nutrition, and innovation in olive growing, will be held online on March 25th. This refresher course is aimed at technicians and agricultural businesses.

Agronomists, a key role in the country's sustainability

The assembly of presidents of the Orders of Doctors of Agronomy and Forestry, currently underway in Milan, focuses on the value of specialized skills in addressing sustainability, food security, soil conservation, and climate change.

In Bolzano Vicentino there is an association that transforms wine into water

A solidarity initiative links the sale of fine wines to the implementation of water projects in Ethiopia and Tanzania. An example of how wine can also become a tool for international cooperation and social responsibility.

Pharaoh, wine pairs with cheeses and books for two Saturdays of taste and culture.

In Abruzzo, the Faraone winery offers a wine tourism and cultural experience that combines tastings, cheese pairings, and the promotion of historic vintages, confirming the experiential evolution of the wine world.

Wine in large-scale retail in 2025: volumes plummet, only sparkling wines hold up.

Circana data for Vinitaly show a challenging market in large-scale retail trade: volumes and values are declining, with only sparkling wines holding steady. This topic will be the focus of the 22nd roundtable discussion, "Wine in Large-Scale Retail Trade," at Vinitaly 2026.

Wine in Abruzzo, Montepulciano and Trebbiano among the best-selling in large-scale retail trade

Distribution figures confirm the commercial strength of Abruzzo wines, with Montepulciano and Trebbiano at the top of the list in national retail sales, alongside the growth of Cerasuolo.

An appeal to Regional Councillor Sammartino regarding the Sicilian wine crisis.

Cia Sicilia is calling for urgent action to address unsold stocks and the regional red wine crisis. Among the measures requested is crisis distillation as a way to relieve wineries of their burdens ahead of the new harvest.

Final summary

The day highlights an Italian wine sector experiencing two parallel dynamics. On the one hand, stories of value, identity, terroir, hospitality, and innovation emerge; on the other, signs of difficulty in consumption, inventory, and distribution are consolidating. Sparkling wines continue to demonstrate superior resilience, while still wines are struggling more in commercial channels and international markets. In the background, the strategic importance of sustainability, technology, communication, and regional positioning is growing.

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