Wine press review for Saturday, March 7, 2026!

Italian Wineries

Caiarossa among Forbes' "100 Iconic Wineries" for the second consecutive year

For the second consecutive year, the Tuscan winery Caiarossa has been included in Forbes Italia's "100 Iconic Wineries," a recognition that recognizes companies that are iconic in Italian winemaking for their quality, sustainability, and international reputation. The award was presented in Milan at the Hotel Principe di Savoia to Technical Director Francesco Villa, who emphasized the importance of vineyard work and the winery's biodynamic philosophy.

Cantina Campana: Four brothers revive the Cirò tradition

In Cirò Marina, a family story of a new winemaking entrepreneurship is taking shape. Four brothers—two engineers and two lawyers—are continuing the family project founded by their father Ferdinando, developing a winery dedicated to the area's iconic grape, Gaglioppo , with a total of nine hectares of estate-owned vineyards and local suppliers.

Fontanavecchia and the Falanghina Experiment

The Rillo family, in Torrecuso nel Sannio, continues its experimentation with Falanghina, using late-harvest grapes from three distinct areas of Taburno. The winemaking project, led by winemaker Emiliano Falsini, aims to enhance the unique characteristics of the area and explore new expressions of the grape variety.

Fontanafredda and the Barolo of “Tenacity”

Fontanafredda, founded in 1858 in Serralunga d'Alba and now a leading Barolo producer with over 120 hectares of vineyards, continues its journey of sustainable innovation. The presentation of the 2022 vintage reaffirmed the company's strategy, based on organic viticulture, the promotion of crus, and a strong territorial identity.

Andreola and the enhancement of the Valdobbiadene "Rive"

The Andreola winery promotes the culture of Valdobbiadene DOCG through a tasting dedicated to the "Rive," the crus of the UNESCO World Heritage hills of Conegliano-Valdobbiadene. The goal is to strengthen the quality positioning of the appellation, distinguishing it from the more generic concept of Prosecco.

Italian Wine and Oenology

Drought and agriculture in Trentino: over 60% of farms affected

According to ISTAT data, more than half of Trentino's farms have suffered damage related to the climate crisis. Despite the challenges, the region is among the most advanced in Italy in adopting smart irrigation systems, developed in part thanks to collaboration with research institutes such as the Mach Foundation.

Monferrato: Wine as an Economic Infrastructure

The Vini d'Acqui, Barbera d'Asti, and Asti Spumante consortia have presented a three-year plan to revitalize the Monferrato winemaking ecosystem. The goal is to overcome the fragmentation of appellations and develop an integrated territorial strategy to strengthen wine's role as an economic and cultural driver.

Roero DOCG: stable sales in an uncertain global context

Massimo Damonte, president of the Roero Consortium, emphasizes that 2026 opens with substantially stable sales despite international economic tensions. This stable data represents a positive sign in a global market characterized by caution and volatility.

Wine and female credibility in the sector

The testimonies of Viviana Malafarina (Basilisco) and Giulia Monteleone (Etna) bring the issue of equality in the wine world back to the forefront. Both highlight how women are still often forced to demonstrate greater competence and authority than their male colleagues.

The wine crisis according to Farinetti

Oscar Farinetti identifies three factors underlying the consumer crisis: excessive prices, difficulty in opening new markets, and loss of contact with consumers. His proposed solution is pragmatic: more accessible prices and strong exploration of new international markets.

La Guardiense: The Future of Wine Relies on New Models

The La Guardiense cooperative analyzes the transformations in the wine market: declining consumption, increased consumer selectivity, and the need for simpler and more inclusive communication. The future lies in market diversification, direct consumer relationships, and the integration of wine, hospitality, and restaurants.

Collio and Eastern Hills: Strategic Pact for UNESCO Candidacy

The alliance between the Collio Consortium and the Friuli Colli Orientali and Ramandolo Consortium aims to relaunch the UNESCO candidacy of the Collio/Brda/Cuei cross-border area by strengthening promotion and joint strategies.

Wine Communication: Consortia Change Strategy

From South Tyrol to Sicily, Italian consortia are rethinking communications and marketing. New targets, digital channels, international events, and local storytelling are becoming key tools for competing in global markets.

Wine fraud: 2.5 million liters of counterfeit wine seized

The “Vinum Mentitum” operation by the Guardia di Finanza and the ICQRF led to the seizure of 2.5 million litres of wine falsely labelled as DOP and IGP , confirming the importance of controls in protecting the Italian wine supply chain.

Scientific research: the DNA of the Pinot Noir grape

Studies on biomimicry and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) show how plants develop sophisticated strategies to adapt to environmental stress. Research on the Pinot Noir berry offers new insights into improving grape resistance and quality.

Circular economy: how to reuse leftover wine

In the context of domestic and culinary sustainability, various solutions for reusing leftover wine are emerging: from cooking to preservation, to creative applications related to the circular economy.

International

The United Kingdom remains a key market for Italian wine

Despite the decline in imports in 2025 (-4.2% in value and -2.4% in volume), the United Kingdom remains the third most important foreign market for Italian wine , with approximately 770 million euros in purchases in the first eleven months of the year.

Wine Events

“Wines Experience” debuts in London

On April 26 and 27, over 200 Italian wineries will be present at ExCeL London for the first edition of "Wines Experience," organized by Fiere Italiane Sea with BolognaFiere. The format will continue in 2026 with stops in Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam) and Mexico City , confirming the initiative's international scope.

Etna Districts 2026

The major event dedicated to Etna wines will return to Randazzo on April 19 and 20, 2026 , with over 70 wineries already registered. The event represents one of the main opportunities for producers, operators, and the international press to meet and discuss the volcano's winemaking phenomenon.

Wine Paestum Fest Business: Wine Tourism as a Strategic Lever

During the Wine Paestum Fest Business, the growing role of wine tourism as a competitive factor for wine regions clearly emerged. It's not enough to produce quality wine: it's necessary to transform a winery visit into a complete cultural and regional experience.

Opportunities and Innovation in the Sector

Winery with industrial cellar – Calabria

In the heart of Calabria's wine-growing region, between the Lamezia DOC and Calabria IGT appellations, a 60-hectare agricultural estate is available, with 25 hectares of vineyards and an industrial cellar of over 6,500 square meters with a capacity of up to 2 million bottles annually . The property is already present on several international markets.

Organic Winery – Colli Orientali del Friuli

Prestigious 80-hectare organic and biodynamic estate, with 18 hectares of terraced vineyards , a 1,200-hl winery, and accommodations with strong wine tourism potential. Situated on Eocene Ponca soils, among the most suitable in Europe for high-quality white wines.

Advanced vending machine for wine and drinks

The REVOLUTION 20 2.0 Special system introduces a new 24-hour direct sales model: a technological container with an automatic warehouse that allows for flow control, stock management and digital collections for wineries, mineral water sources and tourist hubs.

FORBUS – Business Generator for Wineries

FORBUS is the network of professionals created by QUIDQUID Srls to support wineries in strategic transactions: acquisitions, divestments, joint ventures, industrial investments, and market repositioning. The goal is not to offer theoretical advice but to guide the company through to operational results.

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