Wine press review for Thursday, October 16, 2025!

ITALIAN WINERIES

Guardiense, in the Benevento area, is Italy's best cooperative winery. Cantina Guardiense in Guardia Sanframondi (BN) has been named Best Italian Cooperative Winery of the Year by Gambero Rosso. This recognition is due to the virtuous cooperative model led by Domizio Pigna, which unites over 1,000 winegrower members and produces up to 200,000 quintals of grapes annually. (Source: Gambero Rosso)

Cantina Valle Isarco: Kerner has grown 150% in ten years. The South Tyrolean cooperative has seen a 150% increase in sales of its Kerner wine since 2014. General Manager Armin Gratl emphasizes that, despite a slight 2% decline in turnover (€7.6 million), the numbers remain very solid thanks to the record levels achieved in previous years. (Source: company press release)

Ca' Lustra winery receives a special award for sustainability. The Euganean winery Ca' Lustra received a special recognition in Go Wine's Bere il Territorio competition for its commitment to sustainability and reducing environmental impact, particularly in its use of glass. (Source: Go Wine)

The great cooperative winery of Southern Italy founded by 33 forward-thinking winemakers. A reflection on the role of wine cooperatives in Southern Italy, created to pool resources and overcome the challenges of agricultural fragmentation. A still-relevant model of collective efficiency and territorial development. (Source: industry editorial)

Slow Wine 2026, a Novara-based winery among Italy's best. The 2026 Slow Wine Guide honors Le Piane di Boca with the Slow Food Snail , a recognition awarded to "good, clean, and fair" wineries. Antoniotti (Sostegno) and Nervi (Gattinara) also received awards. (Source: Slow Food Editore)

Art, wine, and landscape: Tuscan wineries take center stage in MetodoContemporaneo . A new narrative of the dialogue between contemporary art and wine begins in Tuscany. MetodoContemporaneo , an observatory promoted by the University of Verona, has mapped over 60 wineries where wine, architecture, and landscape blend together in unique cultural experiences. (Source: BAM! Cultural Strategies)

ITALIAN WINE AND OENOLOGY

Barolo 2025: an exceptional harvest for quality and balance. Producers and experts are calling it a "great vintage" for Nebbiolo in the Langhe. Perfectly balanced grapes and even ripening bode well for a Barolo to remember. (Source: Deditus Association)

Riccardo Cotarella at the FISAR Congress: "Wine is an ambassador of Made in Italy." FISAR opens its 2025 National Congress with a conference in the Chamber of Deputies on the strategic role of Italian wine in the world. Cotarella emphasizes the need for concrete political support for the sector. (Source: FISAR)

Wine, banking, and finance: an increasingly close bond. Intesa Sanpaolo, MPS, and CDP are supporting Piccini 1882's international expansion, while Unicredit is collaborating with Terre Cevico on new technology and export projects. Finance is once again a strategic ally for wineries. (Source: WineNews)

Promotion of CMO Wine 2025/2026: The provisional ranking of national projects for the promotion of Italian wines in third countries has been published. Directorial Decree No. 539380 is available on the MASAF website. (Source: MASAF)

INTERNATIONAL

California, the "heart" of American wine in crisis. The iconic region of American winemaking is facing a deep recession: declining consumption, inflation, trade tensions, and overproduction are putting businesses in difficulty. Changing tastes among young people and competition from soft drinks are exacerbating the situation. (Source: WineNews – USA)

Monstrous: the 2018 Savagnin from Domaine des Murmures. From France comes an extraordinary white wine, the 2018 Savagnin, which embodies the excellence of French winemaking. Rare, precious, and inimitable, it symbolizes a market where quality and rarity meet. (Source: wine review)

Dealcoholized wine: between myth and reality. Swiss Radio and Television analyzes the expansion of dealcoholized wines. The debate continues: between fragmented information and consumer curiosity, the niche is growing, but remains poorly understood by the general public. (Source: RSI – Patti Chiari)

AGRICULTURAL INNOVATION AND SUSTAINABILITY

Carbon farming: where are we now? The European Commission is working on the final steps to operationalize the certification system for agricultural and forestry carbon credits. The goal: to harmonize calculation methods and promote a low-emissions agriculture transition. (Source: EU – Regulation 2024/3012)

Young farmers, the EU doubles support. The new European proposal increases the agricultural budget allocated to generational turnover from 3 to 6%, aiming to double the share of entrepreneurs under 41 by 2040. (Source: EU Commission)

Drones in agriculture: green light for trials in Italy. The Senate approved an amendment authorizing three years of trials for the use of drones in pesticide applications. Greater safety, precision, and new employment opportunities. (Source: Italian Parliament)

WINE EVENTS

MetodoContemporaneo – Itineraries between Art and Wine (October 17-18) Two days to visit 14 Italian wineries, from Trentino to Sicily, where wine and art merge in an immersive experience. (Source: University of Verona)

Le Notti del Vino: a success foretold. With 150 events across Italy, the first edition of the Città del Vino Association initiative confirms its winning format, bringing together local areas and culture. (Source: Città del Vino)

Being a Winemaker – FIVI's "Points of Affection" From October 20th to 26th, 101 wine shops, wine bars, and taverns will host meetings with independent winemakers, including tastings and local stories. (Source: FIVI)

Benvenuto Brunello 2025 – Montalcino, November 20-24. The Brunello Consortium's event previews the new vintages, with over 120 wineries and 100 journalists from around the world in attendance. (Source: Consorzio Brunello di Montalcino)

International Forum on Agriculture and Food – Rome. At the 23rd edition, Coldiretti and The European House-Ambrosetti are highlighting the strategic value of the Italian agri-food sector, currently worth €707 billion. (Source: Coldiretti)

WINE CULTURE AND DESIGN

Teo KayKay: Wine as Art and Artificial Intelligence as an Ally. The custom bottle artist discusses his journey and the future of wine design: "AI won't take our jobs, we just have to learn to ride it." (Source: Interview with Teo KayKay)

Thanks for listening. Today's wine press review is brought to you by WINEIDEA.IT . Stay tuned tomorrow for news from the world of wine and oenology.