Wine press review for Saturday, October 11, 2025!

Wine events

• Rome – Gambero Rosso's "Tre Bicchieri" Grand Tasting (October 12, 4–8 pm, La Nuvola) 508 award-winning wines, special awards, and Rare Wines open the guide's 2026 tour. Focus on 2019–2021 vintages in Tuscany and Piedmont and technological investments in the winery.
• Milan Wine Week – “Best Sommelier Under 30” Award to Lorenzo Chinosi (29), sommelier at the Zù restaurant in Riva di Solto: technical skills and storytelling of the glass take center stage.
• Morbegno in Cantina 2025 – Last weekend nears a sell-out. Record advance tickets and out-of-province attendance; the atmosphere and music drive the experience in Valtellina's grottos.
• Sansepolcro (AR) – BEVI Borgo Eccellenze Vinicole Italiane (25–26/10) The city is preparing for two days dedicated to wine as the language of territories, histories and identities.
• Vigliano Biellese – “In Vigna Veritas” (19/10) Eighth edition at Villa Era: focus on artisanal wines and environmentally friendly agricultural practices.
• Monselice – “Libri Divini” in the Library Three evenings, three wines, and three songs to explore the dialogue between taste and storytelling.
• Castelli Romani – Grape Festival Extraordinary checks: fines issued, licenses revoked, and fights prevented during rush hour on the way home.
• Rome – Noir presentation “Ogni nostro castigo” (13/10) The capital is the cynical and pleasure-loving protagonist between wine, sin and secret services.

Italian wineries

• Cantina San Michele Appiano – Selected for OperaWine 2026 Debut at the Wine Spectator/Vinitaly event on April 11, 2026 in Verona.
• Pitigliano Winery – 2025 Harvest: High-quality white wines (Bianco di Pitigliano DOC stands out), but quantities are declining due to rain and a slow harvest.
• Tenuta del Travale (Calabria) – “Is Sila the new Etna?” Blind tastings are surprising: Nerello Calabrese mistaken for Barolo/Pinot Noir. Identity narrative on the rise.
• Montepulciano – AI enters the cellar. Implementation of artificial intelligence tools in production and control processes.
• Safety and Compliance – Castelcucco (TV) : Fatal accident during cleaning of a press; investigation underway. – Montebello Vicentino (VI) : Fire on the roof of the Menti Winery; firefighters on call for hours. – Province of Frosinone : Winery closed by the NAS due to serious hygiene and sanitation deficiencies (mold, cobwebs, waste).

Italian Wine & Oenology (Markets, Supply Chain, Science)

• Inventories as of September 30, 2025: 36 million hl of wine in the cellar ( –9.6% vs. July; 1.3% vs. September 2024), 8.5 million hl of musts, and 4.6 million hl of VNAIF. The 2025 harvest is expected to be abundant: estimates between 44 and 47.4 million hl . Impact on pricing and commercial planning.
• Large-scale retail and hospitality: Value up slightly ( 0.6% ) to €3.1 billion ; volumes down 1.8% . Southern Italy is dynamic ( 5.3% in value). Italians expect to go out less but better in 2026 (seeking higher-value experiences).
• Supply Chain Vision – Piero Mastroberardino (Federvini / IGM) "No to supply constraints: we need demand-stimulating policies and a national communications campaign." Active supply chain leadership in structural changes.
• Pricing & Neuroscience Evidence from behavioral economics (price/product presentation order; scarcity; emotional decisions) applied to wine pricing, with citations from fMRI studies.
• Research & Packaging University of Salerno: biodegradable/"augmented" coatings, 100% recyclable monomaterials, PPWR (new EU Packaging Regulation) pushes toward compliance by 2030.
• Nutrition – Grapes as a superfood . Over 1,600 bioactive compounds (antioxidants, polyphenols, flavonoids, resveratrol, catechins). Evidence on heart, brain, and muscles: opportunities for responsible health communication.

International

• Who drinks the most wine in the world (by volume)? Annual data overturns national-centric perceptions: Italy does not lead the way. Useful trends for exports and positioning, with particular attention to the top import markets for Italian wines.

Editorial note for operators (strategic focus)

• Demand vs. supply: high inventories, abundant harvest ⇒ managing demand: targeted communication, trade marketing and building perceived value (diversified large-scale retail/Horeca channels).
• Pricing: Adopt experience-based pricing and value-first order of presentation for premium/luxury wines.
• Innovation: Winery AI and PPWR-compliant packaging as concrete competitive levers for export and sustainability.
• Emerging territories: “new Etna” narratives (Sila) and white identities (Pitigliano) to expand the map of desire.
• Events: Media and audience coverage at Tre Bicchieri, MWW, Morbegno, BEVI, and Villa Era: excellent lead generation and PR platforms.

Thanks for listening: today's roundup is brought to you by WINEIDEA.IT. We'll be back tomorrow with new, selected updates on wineries, winemaking, and mineral waters.