Wine press review for Thursday, May 14, 2026!

Italian wineries

Bellavista hit by hail: 50 hectares of vineyards damaged. The severe weather severely affected some vineyards, including Bellavista's vineyards. Francesca Moretti emphasizes the need to wait for the plants' reaction, intervening with cover treatments and careful agronomic work.

Ventiventi opens summer among the vines. The Razzaboni family's Emilian organic winery offers a calendar of wine tourism experiences, including visits, tastings, and cellar tours, showcasing the Emilian Classic Method and a warm welcome in the vineyard.

Muri-Gries signs the best Pinot Noir in Italy The Abtei Muri Riserva 2023 from the Muri-Gries Convent Winery confirms Alto Adige as the reference territory for Italian Pinot Noir.

Vignaioli del Vulcano Laziale: a new territorial narrative is born. Eleven Lazio producers are launching the "Vignaioli del Vulcano Laziale" project, aiming to showcase the wines of the volcanic regions around Rome through a broader, more contemporary narrative.

Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG looks to the United States. The Consortium welcomed American restaurant and hotel professionals, strengthening the link between Prosecco Superiore, the UNESCO landscape, and international markets.

Illegal distillery seized in the Treviso area. The Guardia di Finanza and the ICQRF discovered a clandestine distillery in Mareno di Piave, seizing wine, grappa, liqueurs, and equipment without proper traceability.

Italian wine and Italian oenology

Wine stocks: 52.5 million hectoliters in Italian cellars. According to the ICQRF-Masaf "Cantina Italia" report, inventories remain high: 5.6% compared to April 2025. Over 80% of the wine held is DOP or IGP, and more than half is located in the Northern regions.

DOP and IGP wines dominate Italian stocks. DOP wines represent over 28 million hectoliters, while IGP wines exceed 13 million. Table wines and musts are also growing, a sign of a still complex market phase.

Vintage on the label: when is it mandatory? In Europe, indicating the vintage is optional, but if it is listed, at least 85% of the grapes must come from the indicated year. In Italy, the vintage is mandatory for DOP wines.

Severe weather brings insurance back to the forefront. Hailstorms in Veneto have damaged vineyards, orchards, and crops, confirming the urgent need for adequate insurance to protect agricultural businesses and production continuity.

Wine Tech Challenge: Eight startups for the future of Italian wine. From artificial intelligence for exports to alcohol-free sales, to price monitoring in large-scale retail trade: Verona Agrifood Innovation Hub selects eight startups to accelerate innovation in the supply chain.

Ready-to-drink, alcohol-free mocktails are growing rapidly. The boom in alcohol-free products is confirmed at Tuttofood, with non-alcoholic gin and tonics, spritzes, and negronis increasingly in demand among young people, bartenders, and beverage operators.

Envisioning2035: Italian wine reflects on competitiveness. The summit on June 4, 2026, in Milan will analyze the sector's strategic priorities: organizational scale, financial strength, data, international markets, and new consumption patterns.

Academy Symposium: Practical training for agri-food, wine, and tourism. In Rodengo Saiano, Franciacorta, the "learning by doing" model connects school and business. 95% of graduates find employment in the sector within a month.

International

Bordeaux and Syrah: the "forbidden" wine that reopens the historical debate. Château Palmer revives the topic of the ancient "Hermitagé" blends, when some great 19th-century Bordeaux wines were enriched with Syrah from the Rhône. A practice unconventional today, but historically documented.

OIV: The wine world seeks balance between production and consumption. The 2025 OIV report highlights global vineyard acreage declining for the sixth consecutive year. Production, consumption, and trade remain under pressure, but the sector demonstrates resilience and adaptability.

John Barker, OIV: Alcohol and health require a scientific approach. The Director General of the OIV calls for a distinction between abuse and moderate consumption, also recalling the cultural value of wine in many countries.

Wine events

San Giorgio di Vino returns for its fifth edition. The event offers tastings, meetings with producers, and the promotion of local areas, bringing wine to the streets of the town.

Wine tourism: the OICCE conference on hospitality in Asti. On May 14th in Asti, the technical, regulatory, organizational, and promotional aspects of wine tourism will be explored.

Teroldego Rotaliano Exhibition 2026 From May 22nd to 24th, the 35th edition dedicated to the prince of Trentino wines returns to Mezzocorona, with Palazzo Martini at the heart of the event.

Open Cellars 2026: On May 30th and 31st, the vineyard becomes an experience. The 34th edition of the Movimento Turismo del Vino event focuses on regenerative tourism, sustainability, immersive experiences, vineyard treks, tastings, and meetings with producers.

Open Cellars in Piedmont's Langhe, Roero, Monferrato, Colline Novaresi, and Canavese wineries are opening their doors for tastings, masterclasses, picnics, e-bike tours, panoramic brunches, and sensory experiences.

The Filò delle Vigne Experience in the Euganean Hills On May 23rd in Baone, a visit to the vineyard and winery with a tasting of the company's wines paired with Fontana cured meats.

Winemaking opportunities and featured assets

Valpolicella – 42-hectare Amarone DOCG vineyard Hillside farm with 20 hectares of vineyards suitable for Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG, a single vineyard, drip irrigation, two wells and a building permit for a rural building of approximately 1,000 m2.

Prosecco DOC – Operational sparkling winery In the heart of the Prosecco DOC area, a ready-to-use opportunity for production, storage, and industrial growth.

Frascati DOC – Organic estate on the outskirts of Rome Historic property of 11.36 hectares, of which 9.56 hectares are DOC/DOCG vineyards, certified organic since 1996, in a volcanic territory with a strong identity.

Castelli Romani – Historic winery since 1909. 33 hectares, modern 750 m2 cellar, over 36,000 hl capacity, 300,000 bottles per year, direct sales points and wine tourism.

Gradisca d'Isonzo – Historic Friulian estate with 35 hectares in a single plot, 31.5 hectares of vineyards, a modern cellar, a brand known on the US market and a production potential of up to 300,000 bottles per year.

Riviera Friulana – Winery and wine tourism company Over 70 hectares in a single body, approximately 50 vineyards, 10,000 hl cellar, farmhouse, restaurant, manor house, photovoltaic and geothermal energy.

“Naturalmente” Organic Farm Brewery. Integrated brewing chain from field to bottle, with direct cultivation of organic barley, hops, and cereals, artisanal malting, and a growing production facility.

Closure

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