Wine press review for Thursday, October 1, 2026!

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ITALIAN WINERIES

Bibenda 2027: Ten great wines represent Italian excellence.

The 2027 Bibenda Top 10, a guide from the Italian Sommelier Foundation, explores Italy's wine scene with ten key labels: Arnaldo Rivera's 2022 Barolo Villero – Terre del Barolo; Elena Walch's 2023 Alto Adige Bianco Grande Cuvée Beyond The Clouds; Pieropan's 2025 Collio Sauvignon Ronco delle Mele; Pieropan's 2024 Soave Classico La Rocca; Petrolo's 2023 Il Pollenza; San Giovenale's 2024 Habemus Etichetta Bianca; Antonio Caggiano's 2022 Taurasi; Coppi's 2023 Gioia del Colle Primitivo Senatore; and Benanti's 2021 Etna Bianco Superiore Pietra Marina.

Soave protagonist: seven Tre Bicchieri from Gambero Rosso

The 2027 Vini d'Italia Guide awards Tre Bicchieri (Three Glasses) to seven Soaves: Le Battistelle, Pieropan, I Campi, Suavia, Graziano Prà, Dal Cero–Tenuta Corte Giacobbe, and Agostino Vicentini. This result reinforces Soave's position among Italy's leading white wine appellations.

Molise: Di Majo Norante returns to the Tre Bicchieri Awards

Di Majo Norante's 2021 Contado Riserva, made from Aglianico, has once again won the Gambero Rosso Tre Bicchieri award. This is an important recognition for Molise and for a region that, alongside Tintilia, continues to promote other historic varietals.

Alto Adige: Chardonnay Riserva Doran 2023 by Cantina Andriano

The 2023 Doran Chardonnay Riserva expresses the character of the limestone and dolomitic soils of the Andriano area. Fermentation and aging in barrels create a wine characterized by freshness, elegance, and aromatic complexity.

Franciacorta: the generational transition of San Cristoforo

Celeste Dotti, born in 1992, represents the new generation of the San Cristoforo family winery in Erbusco. After the generational transition in 2019, the challenge is to innovate while maintaining the local identity and the ability to communicate wine in a more accessible way.

Majolini: Contemporary Art in the Cellar

In Franciacorta, Cantina Majolini combines wine and culture with an artistic journey through its production facilities. Sculptures and contemporary works, including pieces by Aligi Sassu and Giuseppe Bergomi, accompany visitors among barrels, vats, and bottles.

Masseria Borgo dei Trulli invests €2.5 million in hospitality

The Apulian winery Masseria Borgo dei Trulli, founded by Alessandro Michelon, is planning approximately €2.5 million in investments to expand production and hospitality. The company produces approximately 400,000-500,000 bottles a year, 90% of which is exported, while winery visits are experiencing strong growth.

Rocca di Montemassi: positive harvest despite heat and drought

In Maremma, Rocca di Montemassi closed the 2026 harvest with a satisfactory production balance. High temperatures and lack of rainfall were the main challenges, mitigated by the availability of water for the vineyards.

O'SFIZZ: the sparkling wine focuses on informal consumption and comes in a 500ml format.

Mezanotte's O'SFIZZ project offers dry sparkling wines with an alcohol content between 10 and 10.5% ABV, in 500 ml bottles. Three versions—Bianco, Rosé, and Rosso—focus on Falanghina, Piedirosso, and Aglianico, and are designed for a youthful, simple, and convivial drinking experience.

Cantina 38: Making wine accessible to everyone

In Brusaporto, Cantina 38 was born from the passion of the Pezzotta-Lorenzi family. The project favors small and medium-sized producers and aims to create an informal relationship with wine, allowing even the less experienced consumer to choose and discover new labels.

Camigliano supports the territory and tradition of Montalcino

The historic Camigliano winery, producer of Brunello di Montalcino, supports the Sagra del Galletto on October 3rd and 4th, an initiative dedicated to the gastronomic culture and history of the ancient village.

Champagne distributed by Italian wineries

Italian wineries are showing growing interest in Champagne distribution. Among the cases cited is Marilisa Allegrini's Champagne Odyssée. This strategy has also been used by other major Italian producers to expand their offerings, especially in premium and hospitality channels.

ITALIAN WINE AND ITALIAN OENOLOGY

DoctorWine: Value for money takes center stage in the 2027 Guide

DoctorWine's 2027 Essential Guide to Italian Wines highlights 910 wines priced under €18 for their excellent value. Among the top ten wines, priced above €90/€100 and under €8.50, Umbria stands out. Highlights include Bigi's 2025 Orvieto Classico, Tenuta Le Velette's 2025 Orvieto Berganorio, and Vitalonga's 2024 Rosso Elcione.

Slow Wine 2027: 7,809 wines reviewed

The seventeenth edition of Slow Wine reviews 7,809 wines, selected after examining over 10,000 labels. The number of wineries awarded the Snail (Chiocciola) has risen to 247, five more than the previous edition, with 13 new entries.

2026 Harvest Moved Early: Data Is Growing Important

In many Italian regions, harvest began a week or two earlier, arriving locally up to 20 days early. Heat and drought accelerated ripening, resulting in higher sugar levels and lower acidity. According to Vinventions, the winemaker's experience must increasingly be complemented by measuring the parameters of grapes, musts, and wines.

Berici Hills: Pergolas Return to Protect Against the Heat

The Colli Berici DOC has updated its regulations to include pergola training for new and replanted vineyards in hilly areas. The goal is to better protect the grapes from direct sunlight and preserve the grapes' acidity in particularly hot years.

Trentino wine: a debate on identity and territory begins.

The debate over Trentino wine's ranking in the major guides has reopened discussions on the positioning of Trentino DOC, the Additional Geographical Units, and the relationship between consortia and winemakers. Central to this discussion is the need to better showcase the differences between regions and production.

Wine and Gen Z: the problem could be language

The relationship between young people and wine continues to fuel debate. One emerging theory is that the challenge isn't just the product itself, but also the way wine is presented, communicated, and sold. Simplicity, consumption opportunities, and new languages thus become central themes.

Rising costs and prices under pressure

The Italian wine sector faces a complex divide: energy, gas, glass, logistics, wine products, and packaging are rising, while consumer wine prices are showing downward pressure. Unione Italiana Vini draws attention to the growing difficulty for companies in passing on cost increases to final prices.

Puglia: The sector faces a structural change

According to Flai Cgil Brindisi, the market slowdown, inventory levels, and reduced remuneration could also impact employment. In Puglia, there were over 4.2 million hectoliters of wine in cellars as of July 31, 2026. The union urges us to consider this phenomenon as a structural transformation, not just a temporary one.

Piacenza: 2026 grape prices under pressure

According to the local Coldiretti, the Piacenza harvest is negative. After the whites, Gutturnio and Barbera also recorded peak prices about €5 per quintal lower than the previous year; Bonarda remained more stable.

Illegal work in the vineyards: checks in the Treviso area

Carabinieri from the Labor Inspectorate Unit conducted inspections in the agricultural sector. In Refrontolo and Sarmede, businesses employing a total of six workers without regular contracts were suspended during the grape harvest.

Prosecco DOC and Grana Padano together on European markets

The two Consortia are launching the three-year project "Here's to EU – Perfect Moment," aimed specifically at Germany, Poland, and Denmark. Prosecco DOC will begin with a base of 667 million bottles sold in 2025, an estimated consumer value of over €3.6 billion, and an export share of over 82%.

INTERNATIONAL

Burgundy: Still wines decline, Crémant grows

In the 12 months ending in July 2026, bottled sales of still Burgundy wines decreased by 1.3%. Crémant de Bourgogne, on the other hand, grew by 6.5%, helping to keep the region's overall volumes essentially stable.

Slovenia: Brda grows in quality and international attention

The Slovenian Collio – Brda region is consolidating its reputation thanks to Ribolla Gialla, orange wines, and artisanal, strongly territorial productions. The combination of Alpine and Mediterranean influences, terraced vineyards, and small wineries fosters wines with a strong identity.

Patagonia: Chacra and Pinot Noir in the Argentine Desert

The Chacra project, founded by Piero Incisa della Rocchetta, recounts the rebirth of old Pinot Noir vineyards in Patagonia. Temperature variations, wind, and unique climate conditions contributed to the creation of an Argentine project now internationally renowned.

Romania: Wine, Investment, and Wine Tourism on the Rise

Romania is revitalizing its winemaking heritage by focusing on indigenous grape varieties, appellations, quality, and wine tourism. In 2025, domestic wine consumption is projected to reach 3.5 million hectoliters, an 11% increase over 2024, according to the OIV, bucking the trend of many international markets.

WINE EVENTS

Modigliana: 11 wineries tell the story of the region

The Modigliana wine festival returns on October 4th and 5th, now in its tenth year. Eleven wineries will meet the public and industry professionals through tastings and events dedicated to the cuisine and identity of the Romagna Apennines.

Rome celebrates Romanian wine and cuisine

On October 1st, Rome hosts an event promoted by the Romanian Ambassador to the Holy See and the Sovereign Order of Malta, George Gabriel Bologan. The meeting will focus on wine and gastronomy as tools for cultural dialogue between Romania and Italy.

Bibenda 2027: Awards Ceremony on November 28th in Rome

The presentation of the wines awarded the Bibenda 2027 Cinque Grappoli will culminate in the ceremony on November 28th in Rome, with the participation of the producers selected by the Italian Sommelier Foundation.

THE DAY'S LETTERING THREAD

The news of October 1, 2026, highlights a wine sector undergoing significant transformation.

On the one hand, quality, territories, appellations, and major Italian wineries remain central; on the other, new issues are forcefully emerging: climate change, early harvests, declining consumption, price pressures, rising costs, new communication models, wine tourism, and the search for simpler and more contemporary consumption opportunities.

One particularly interesting fact is that while several red wine categories are struggling, whites, sparkling wines, and more straightforward wines are showing greater dynamism. At the same time, wineries are increasingly investing in hospitality, promoting the region, and creating wine-related experiences.

The market isn't simply slowing down: it's changing its structure, language, and consumption patterns. For producers, wineries, and supply chain operators, quickly understanding this transformation is becoming increasingly important.

QUIDQUID – Wine News | October 1, 2026

A showcase of Italian wine, wineries, viticulture, oenology, grape harvesting, international markets, Prosecco, sparkling wines, wine tourism, and wine events.

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

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