Wine press review for Sunday, September 27, 2026!

Good morning,

Wine Idea presents the main news from the world of wine, wineries, oenology, and wine tourism in Italy and abroad.

ITALIAN WINERIES

Cantine 4 Valli acquires 80% of Piacenza-based winery

Robert Addis, an American from Philadelphia, and Francesca Carini, originally from Piacenza, have acquired 80% of Cantine 4 Valli , one of the largest wineries in the province of Piacenza.

The company produces over 10 million bottles a year and exports to more than 30 countries . The founding families, Ferrari and Perini, will remain shareholders and maintain operational roles. Stefano Perini will remain CEO, ensuring management continuity.

The 120 largest Italian wine companies are worth over 9 billion

The 120 main Italian wineries represent 64.3% of the sector's national turnover, 66.8% of exports, and 61.2% of the domestic market.

In 2025, they achieved a total revenue of over 9 billion euros , down 1.4%, with exports of 5.2 billion (-1.9%) and sales on the Italian market of 3.8 billion (-0.6%).

The sample includes 80 private companies and 40 cooperatives . Among the new entrants is Perlino, with a turnover of €56.7 million. Vite Colte recorded €22.9 million, Cantina di Ruvo di Puglia €11 million, and Domini Castellare di Castellina €10.3 million.

Among the transactions of the year, the acquisition of Arnaldo Caprai by Angelini Wines & Estates is also noteworthy.

Le Monde: 120 hectares and a sustainable viticulture

In Prata di Pordenone, the Le Monde winery has approximately 120 hectares of vineyards , divided into six plots, with 14 varieties grown.

Since 2015, the company has adhered to the SQNPI certification and focuses on integrated viticulture and wines capable of enhancing the Friuli region.

La Falchetta: From a Management Career to Wine Production

Tanno Vos and Paola Daniele left their respective managerial careers to develop a winemaking project in Mombercelli, in the Monferrato area of Asti .

Their experience reveals an interesting trend: managerial and entrepreneurial skills from other sectors are entering the world of wine with new development and positioning models.

Ronco dei Tassi relaunches a historic Cividale shop

The historic Antica Drogheria Scubla , now Scubla 1921 – Dispensa Friulana, reopens in Cividale del Friuli.

The project is promoted by Enrico Coser, owner with his family of the Ronco dei Tassi winery in Cormòns, and aims to combine memory, local products, and contemporary gastronomy.

ITALIAN WINE AND OENOLOGY

PiemonteIs: a unique brand for regional excellence

Piedmont strengthens the link between territory, wine and agri-food with PiemonteIs , designated as the first Italian regional brand designed to jointly identify DOP, IGP and other Piedmontese excellences.

The goal is to increase recognition of Piedmontese origins and transform wine and food into ambassadors of the region.

Alto Adige: growing specialization between grape variety and terroir

Alto Adige viticulture continues to move toward greater territorial specialization. The 86 subzones identify the areas considered most suited to specific varieties.

Producers and cooperatives are increasingly focusing their attention on vineyards and wines capable of expressing a distinct territorial identity, with longer aging periods for the most ambitious labels.

Romagna: Heat and drought reduce harvests in the hills

According to Confcooperative Romagna-Estense, the heat and drought of the summer of 2026 have caused losses of up to 20% of the grapes in some hilly areas.

High temperatures, alternating drought and heavy rainfall, and early ripening are changing harvest times and methods. Investment, innovation, and collaboration are becoming increasingly important for the sector.

Trentodoc: 74 producers and 12.2 million bottles

Trentodoc currently has 74 associated producers , seven more than in 2025.

Production reaches approximately 12.2 million bottles per year , with an estimated turnover of approximately 180 million euros . The area also aims to strengthen its position as a national wine tourism destination.

Wine: the story becomes part of the value

An increasingly central theme emerges from the Trentodoc Festival: wine is no longer evaluated solely through technical parameters or scores.

Territory, producer, history, experience in the cellar, and communication skills are becoming increasingly important components in building the perceived value of a label.

Macerated white wines and amphorae: a return to ancient techniques

In Giulianova, Assosommelier Abruzzo dedicated a tasting to macerated white wines and vinification in amphora .

Ancient techniques, reminiscent of the Georgian tradition of kvevri, are returning to the center of contemporary winemaking interest for their structure, complexity, and expressiveness.

Before the bubble cage there was string

Before the introduction of modern wire cages, the corks of sparkling wine bottles were secured with string .

In Champagne there was even a specialized figure, the ficeleur , responsible for manually tying the corks to counteract the internal pressure of the bottle.

INTERNATIONAL

United Kingdom: Climate change boosts wine growth

Rising temperatures are changing the geography of European viticulture.

While several traditional areas are facing heat, drought and early harvests, the UK is developing more favourable conditions for wine production, particularly for sparkling wines.

The phenomenon shows how climate change can progressively modify production areas, cultivated varieties, and the international competitiveness of wine.

WINE TOURISM AND WINE TERRITORIES

Valtènesi: 24 wineries featured in Profumi di Mosto

Profumi di Mosto returns on October 4th , an event dedicated to the Valtènesi and the Brescian Riviera of Garda.

24 wineries will be involved, with tastings, visits and nine thematic itineraries dedicated to the relationship between wine, landscape and producers.

Valpolicella: 27 wineries combining wine, art, and territory

Val Polis Cellae returns on October 11th , organised by the Strada del Vino Valpolicella.

The 27 participating wineries will be included in six itineraries including tastings, visits, art, crafts, and local gastronomy.

Sicily: Autumn Returns to the Cellar

From 3 to 25 October 2026, Autunno in Cantina returns, an initiative promoted by IRVO to promote Sicilian wine tourism after the harvest.

Seven wineries will accompany visitors on a journey through different parts of the island, from southeastern Sicily to Mount Etna, from the Nebrodi to the Madonie mountains, all the way to western Sicily.

Salento: wine, territory, and hospitality

Masseria Borgo dei Trulli, in the Maruggio area between Manduria and the Ionian coast, represents an example of integration between wine, landscape and tourist experience .

The company works organically and has 55 hectares of vineyards , 16 of which are trained as bush vines, combining production with visits and tastings.

Wine villages strengthen Italy's tourism offering

From Barolo to Montalcino and Brisighella, the small towns linked to the major Italian denominations confirm the growing interest in a tourism that combines wine, landscape, history, gastronomy and visits to the cellars .

WINE EVENTS

Morbegno in the Cellar 2026

The Valtellina event continues for three weekends: 25-27 September, 2-4 October and 9-11 October .

The wines of Valtellina, from Sforzato to Valtellina Superiore, will take center stage, along with tastings and tours of the historic center.

Glasses in the Villa 2026 in Zero Branco

On October 10th and 11th , Villa Guidini in Zero Branco will host the sixth edition of Calici in Villa .

The program includes Metodo Martinotti and Metodo Classico sparkling wines, wines, spirits, and food, with over 150 wines offered on Sunday.

Between Villages and Cellars: Nine Events in Siena

Tra Borghi e Cantine returns for autumn 2026, with nine dinners in the villages of the province of Siena.

Wineries, restaurateurs, and DOC and DOCG denominations will be the protagonists of a journey that will accompany the public towards Wine&Siena 2027.

Trentodoc Festival: bubbles and wine tourism

Three days of tastings, masterclasses, and winery events brought attention to the role of Trentodoc as a symbolic product of the region and a driving force for the development of Trentino wine tourism.

Alpine cheeses and Trentodoc

At Palazzo Roccabruna, a tasting compared five mountain cheeses of varying ages with different expressions of Trentodoc, exploring balance, acidity, flavor, persistence, and structure in the pairings.

THE PICTURE OF THE WEEK

Today's news highlights four important transformations in Italian wine .

The sector continues to focus: acquisitions and corporate transactions show a growing interest in structured companies, brands and wine estates.

At the same time, climate and harvest are becoming strategic variables : the decline in yields in some Italian areas and the growth of viticulture in more northern countries indicate that the European production geography is changing.

The third element is the territory . Appellation, landscape, history, and local identity are increasingly important in the positioning of wine.

Finally, the importance of wine tourism is growing: wineries, tastings, villages, gastronomy, hospitality and events are increasingly integrated into a single experience.

Wine is no longer just what's in the bottle. Its value increasingly stems from the combination of product, territory, story, experience, and the company's ability to position itself on the market.

Today's wine press review is brought to you by WINEIDEA.IT.

See you tomorrow.