Wine press review for September 27, 2025

Italian wineries

• Masi Agricola: €40 million financing – Syndicate led by UniCredit (with Banco BPM, Cdp, Crédit Agricole Italia, Banco di Desio, and Valpolicella Benaco Bcc) to reduce debt and support development. Ten-year repayment with a large final installment (≈€10 million). Signal: strengthening of financial structure and continuity in Amarone.
• La Montina (Franciacorta): Raoul Bontempi joins – New capital via holding company Finan Service; company name change to agricultural company effective March 2025. Signal: alliance between wine and Brescia-based manufacturing for growth and projects.
• Terre d'Oltrepò: Compulsory liquidation – MiMIT Decree (September 26) following the failure of crisis procedures. Signal: Structural criticalities in large cooperatives and the need for robust governance.
• Nino Franco (Valdobbiadene): history and vision – Interview with Primo Franco: since 1919, a focus on protecting Prosecco and striving for excellence. Highlight: heritage as a competitive lever.

Operations & Opportunities (asset & real estate)

• Prosecco DOC, Treviso province: sparkling wine production/storage cellar with high-capacity bottling and remote management.
• Valdobbiadene – Prosecco DOCG: equipped cellar (250k bottles/year), EBITDA 18%, scalable.
• Colli Orientali del Friuli: 80-hectare estate (18 ha organic/biodiversity), fully equipped winery, and established accommodation facility.
• Riviera Friulana (wine & hospitality): 74 hectares (52 hectares under vine), winery, restaurant, retail space, and 30 beds. Revenue ~€4 million, profit ~€0.8 million.
• Extra supply chain: “Naturalmente Birrificio” integrated agricultural brewery (12 ha of organic barley/hops, in-house malting, gluten-free lines).

Italian wine and Italian oenology

• Economic climate (ISTAT): consumer confidence 96.8 (↑), business confidence 93.7 (≈). Impact: support for domestic demand, but caution on margins.
• CAP 2028–2034: Risk of funding cuts (–€8.7 billion for Italy) – Agriculture's share of the EU budget stands at ~14%. Impact: Pressure on investments in vineyards and the green transition; crucial sectoral lobbying.
• Large-scale retail in Italy: third week of decline (–0.20%) – South suffers (–1.21%), Central Italy (–0.44%), Northeast (–0.11%). Impact: pricing and promotions to be adjusted; still/sparkling wine assortments monitored.
• "Classese" is born (Oltrepò Pavese): a new classic method to relaunch the local Pinot Noir. Impact: direct competition with Franciacorta/TrentoDoc/Alta Langa; positioning to be pursued.
• Tre Bicchieri 2026 – Veneto/Verona highlights: 47 Venetian wines, 34 Veronese wines awarded; Amarone DOCG on the rise (13 labels). Impact: driving premium red wines and Valpolicella wine tourism.
• Product Focus – Sardinia: Maìa Vermentino di Gallura DOCG (Siddùra) wins Tre Bicchieri 2026. Impact: strengthens Vermentino superiore’s leadership.
• Product Focus – Tuscany: Morellino di Scansano Roggiano Bio 2023 (Vignaioli di Scansano); cooperative named "best wine cooperative in Italy" by Weinwirtschaft . Impact: cooperative model of quality and sustainability.
• Product Focus – Sicily: Catarratto Midor 2024 (Gorghi Tondi); 115 hectares organic in the WWF reserve. Impact: Green & Mediterranean value proposition for native white wines.
• Wine prices in restaurants: Partesa (Heineken Group) acknowledges price increases; calls for a joint effort between the supply chain and the Horeca sector. Impact: price list transparency, serving sizes, and smart cards.
• Beauty & Harvest: Wine/must-based skincare (polyphenols, resveratrol). Impact: Brand extensions and wine-wellness for wineries with hospitality.
• The future of Italian wine: 30,000 processing companies, exports of €8.1 billion in 2024; production estimated at 47.4 million hl in 2025 (8%). Impact: harvest planning, inventory management, focus on value vs. volume.

International

• UN – Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs): Draft Declaration distinguishes moderate versus excessive alcohol consumption; vote postponed by a few weeks. Positive reactions from the UIV; Senator Centinaio's position: "Epochal turning point." Impact: more balanced global narrative; implications for labeling (Ireland case).
• UK Champagne: "Double bubble" promotions already active – Sainsbury's and others offering steep discounts (including on rosé). Impact: Competitive pressure on Italian sparkling wines in Q4; opportunity for targeted trade-up.
• Protecting denominations: international fraud involving "Zibibbo di Pantelleria" uncovered by the Carabinieri, involving a German company operating online. Impact: Enforcement of recognized DOs/GIs; e-commerce oversight.
• Sustainability – PestiRiv Study (France): Increased pesticide exposure for residents within 500 m of vineyards (biomarkers, indoor air, dust). Impact: agronomic practices, buffer zones, risk-based communication.
• Charity: Wine Lister launches a raffle of fine wines and a Michelin-starred dinner to benefit War Child UK (tickets £5). Impact: CSR and international brand equity.

Wine events

• Trentodoc Festival – “Wine & Artificial Intelligence” – Drones, sensors, data-driven vineyard management, and multilingual marketing; a caveat on the risks of info-disinformation. Takeaway: tech as a complement, not a substitute; wine remains “slow.”
• Ischia – “Andar per Cantine” (September 18–October 5) – Tastings, itineraries through vineyards and rural traditions. Target: experiential wine tourism.
• Orte (VT) – Cantina Le Lase, October 3 – Presentation of the novel Gli invisibili di San Zeno (Mondadori) with tasting. Format: glass culture.
• Scopa (VC) – Bacher Winery, September 27 – Open day with workshops, cheese and wine pairings, and a talk with a wine expert. Local community engagement.

Editorial note for those who govern the business

• Capital & Governance: Between financing (Masi) and the arrival of new shareholders (La Montina), it is confirmed that financial strength and industrial alliances are key to scaling up.
• Two-faced domestic market: consumer confidence slightly recovering but large-scale retail trade contracting: focus on higher-value channels (selective HoReCa, DTC, wine tourism).
• Policy & Protection: Monitor UN trends on NCDs and be proactive about labeling; ensure continued anti-fraud controls.
• Sparkling wine positioning: beware of the "UK discount" effect on sentiment; differentiate Italian classic method wines (e.g., Classese) based on territorial identity, not price.
• M&A/Asset Pipeline: Attractive opportunities in the Northeast and Friuli for those seeking vertical integration and premium hospitality.

Review curated by QUIDQUID – Saturday 27 September 2025. Today's review is brought to you by WINEIDEA.IT .