Market, wineries, harvest, European policies, wine tourism, innovation, sustainability, and events: a summary of the most significant news for producers, wineries, operators, and professionals in the sector.
ITALIAN WINERIES
ARPEPE invests in Sassella: 7 hectares leased for 30 years
In Valtellina, ARPEPE has signed an agreement with the Fojanini Foundation to lease approximately 7 hectares of vineyards in the heart of the historic Sassella subzone for the next 30 years .
The operation is particularly significant in an area characterized by severe land fragmentation. The project involves a major vineyard reclamation project, involving approximately 35,000 new vines and operations made particularly complex by the terrain's conformation, even requiring the use of helicopters.
The area also has an important agricultural and scientific history: it was Piero Fojanini who united numerous small plots to form a complex of almost 10 hectares on the outskirts of Sondrio.
Feudo Antico, the artisanal project of Cantina Tollo
Cantina Tollo continues its diversification path through Feudo Antico , a project dedicated to artisanal production and the valorization of native vines.
The initiative focuses in particular on the DOCG Tullum , one of the smallest denominations in Italy, with approximately 18 hectares cultivated entirely in the Municipality of Tollo , in the province of Chieti.
Feudo Antico is being developed as a laboratory for experimentation and oenological archaeology, combining the recovery of local varieties, environmental protection, and community development.
Contini 1898 Winery Takes Center Stage at the Bottarga Festival
The fifth edition of the Bottarga Festival concluded in Cabras, with around 20,000 attendees over three days .
Cantina Contini 1898 wines have accompanied various gastronomic events, from contemporary Sardinian cuisine to influences with Japanese cuisine.
Among the featured labels are Karmis , which is celebrating its thirtieth anniversary, and Elibaria Vermentino di Gallura DOCG , proposed to pair with seafood cuisine.
Cantina Settecani grows in bottles and looks to Japan
Cantina Settecani , in the Lambrusco Grasparossa di Castelvetro area, closed the financial year ending June 30 with double-digit growth in bottle sales , according to Vice President Daniela Vaschieri.
The cooperative focuses on enhancing the quality of Lambrusco and exporting. Among the most interesting markets is Japan , where the winery is developing its presence through a major local importer.
The experience also highlights an evolution in Asian consumption: from an initial interest in sweet Lambrusco to a greater awareness of dry versions.
Masciarelli: from the company's founding to exports to approximately 60 countries
Gianni Masciarelli 's story represents one of the most significant entrepreneurial journeys in Abruzzo wine.
The project was born in 1981 in San Martino sulla Marrucina and has grown through investment, research, and a strong focus on major international wine regions, particularly Burgundy and Champagne.
Today the Masciarelli brand is exported to around 60 countries , while Miriam Lee Masciarelli represents one of the new generation figures committed to the international development of the company.
ITALIAN WINE AND OENOLOGY
Wine tourism: new national decree signed
Agriculture Minister Francesco Lollobrigida announced the signing of the decree promoting wine tourism in Italy.
The measure implements the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy's wine intervention at a national level and aims to better connect wine, territories, tourism, culture and hospitality .
Protection consortia, producer organizations, and inter-professional organizations will be able to benefit from the intervention through events, meetings, visits, and other promotion activities.
Applications may be submitted by October 30 of each year according to the procedures established by Agea with the Regions. For the 2026/2027 financial year, the deadline is December 15, 2026 .
Crisis distillation, green harvesting, and grubbing-up: new EU rules
The new EU Delegated Regulation 2026/2093 on emergency measures applicable to the wine sector has been in force since 16 September 2026 .
The measure regulates the conditions for resorting to wine distillation, green harvesting, and uprooting vineyards in times of crisis.
For distillation and green harvesting, Member States will be able to request the activation of measures, using national funds, under certain conditions, including:
The conditions are also evaluated in relation to the performance of previous campaigns.
2026 Harvest: Initial Positive Indications of Quality
The 2026 Italian harvest is well underway, and the main wine-growing areas are providing varied but generally interesting assessments of the quality.
Conditions vary depending on the territories, grape varieties and ripening periods, making a definitive assessment still premature.
In the Monferrato and Asti areas , the first indications reported by the Barbera d'Asti and Vini del Monferrato Consortium highlight positive prospects in terms of both quantity and quality.
Regenerative viticulture: cover crops and microorganisms to improve soils
A study conducted in Spain analyzed the combined use of cover crops and microbial biostimulants in vineyard management.
The goal is to counteract the progressive impoverishment of soils due to frequent tillage and the intensive use of chemical inputs, improving the soil's capacity to retain water and nutrients.
The experiment, carried out on Syrah in Andalusia , therefore explores new regenerative agriculture strategies applicable to viticulture.
Malvasia delle Lipari: Seven Additional Geographic Units Arrive
The assembly of the Malvasia delle Lipari Protection Consortium unanimously approved a proposed amendment to the specifications.
Among the main innovations are the formal introduction of the Dry White typology and the introduction of seven UGA – Additional Geographical Units , corresponding to the seven Aeolian Islands.
The change will allow the names of the individual islands to be indicated on the label, strengthening the territorial identity of the denomination.
Pecorino: the new challenge is to move from volumes to value
In just over forty years, Pecorino has gone from being a nearly extinct grape variety to one of the most popular white wines in central Italy.
However, the growth of vineyards and volumes has not always been matched by a proportional growth in value.
The new challenge therefore consists in transforming awareness and diffusion into reputation, territorial recognition and a greater ability to sustain the price .
In Abruzzo, Pecorino has reached a much larger production scale, while in the Piceno area, denominations such as Falerio Pecorino and Offida Pecorino DOCG are more oriented towards quality, margins, and positioning.
More resilient bubbles in the wine market
In a complex phase for the wine market, sparkling wines continue to demonstrate greater resilience than other categories.
This phenomenon has led many Italian regions to invest in sparkling wine production. Franciacorta remains a benchmark for Italian Metodo Classico, with producers and operators committed to defending the denomination's identity, quality, and positioning.
Young people and wine: consumption opportunities are changing
According to Martina Centa , AGIVI vice president and brand manager of the Roeno winery, the new generations are not simply abandoning wine, but are changing the ways and occasions in which it is consumed.
People are drinking less out of habit and are paying more attention to health, lifestyle, language, and product identity.
It is therefore important for the sector to communicate wine in more contemporary, understandable ways, and in touch with new consumers.
Wine and reputation: more accessible communication is needed
Health, sustainability, and new lifestyles are changing the public perception of wine.
One of the main challenges is to make communication more understandable without trivializing the product .
Consumers can seek quality, history, and expertise without necessarily knowing the technical language of tasting. Bridging this gap can therefore become a strategic factor for the future of the supply chain.
Wine Storytelling: Telling People and Identities
Wine communication is progressively moving from simple technical description towards the story of people, places and identities .
The story of the producer, the vineyard, and the territory can create a more immediate connection with the consumer than communication built exclusively on numbers, scores, and technical characteristics.
For wineries, storytelling thus becomes a positioning tool, provided it is authentic, recognizable, and consistent with the product.
Veneto enters the "Best in Travel 2027" list
Veneto is listed as the only Italian region among the destinations in Lonely Planet's Best in Travel 2027 selection.
Among the elements recalled are the variety of landscapes, the Dolomites, Lake Garda, Verona, Padua, the Prosecco hills , the Po Delta and the food and wine heritage.
This recognition can further strengthen the relationship between tourism, wine, the region, and food and wine experiences.
Terreni.io is born to connect agricultural companies and workers.
A new Italian platform aims to facilitate meetings between agricultural companies and specialized workers .
Terreni.io allows companies to post jobs for tractor drivers, pruners, grape harvesters, and other agricultural professionals, while workers can submit their skills and experience.
The platform doesn't handle contracts or payments, but it facilitates direct contact and integrates a referral system. Sections for events and land for sale or rent are also included.
WINE EVENTS
Trentodoc Festival: 160 events from September 25th to 27th
The Trentodoc Festival returns from 25 to 27 September 2026 , with around 160 events in Trento and the production areas.
The program includes tastings, wine talks, food events, sensory workshops, visits, and initiatives dedicated to the Classic Method.
The Trentodoc in Cantina program is particularly varied, with 125 appointments in the sparkling wine houses , including tastings, visits to the production spaces, old vintages, disgorging, trekking, e-bikes and picnics in the vineyards.
Reboro. Territory & Passion: October 16th and 17th in the Valle dei Laghi
The ninth edition of “Reboro. Territory & Passion” is scheduled for October 16 and 17, 2026 in Valle dei Laghi, Trentino .
The protagonist is Reboro, a wine obtained from grapes left to dry until late November and then aged for three years in oak barrels.
The 2026 edition will see the meeting between Reboro and Nizza DOCG , creating a comparison between two territories and different interpretations of Italian red wine.
Morbegno in Cantina: Three weekends dedicated to Valtellina
Morbegno in Cantina returns, an event dedicated to the relationship between wine, culture, and territory.
The 2026 edition will take place over three weekends: September 25-27, October 2-4 and October 9-11 .
The goal is to strengthen the link between winemaking excellence, tourism, and local promotion through tastings and initiatives held throughout the center of the Valtellina town.
Wine Sicily: Over 100 Wineries in Palermo
From 9 to 11 October 2026 Palermo will host the eighth edition of Wine Sicily .
After the over 12,000 attendees recorded in the previous edition, the event will go from two to three days and will involve more than 100 wineries .
Villa Trabia will host tastings and masterclasses dedicated to the diverse identities of Sicilian wine, with in-depth studies also on the wines of Etna and the Monreale DOC.
Degu-Stazioni brings wine to the Milan subway
On September 27 , the “Degu-Stazioni” project will take wine out of traditional places of consumption.
The initiative involves the participation of 30 wineries with tastings along the stops of the M5 line of the Milan metro .
The goal is to use more accessible language and bring wine directly to places frequented by the public, also bringing new consumers closer.
Terra Madre Salone del Gusto: Wine, Territory, and Inclusion
Terra Madre Salone del Gusto will feature the workshop "The Right Wine – Stories of Solidarity in a Glass," dedicated to the relationship between wine quality, social sustainability, and the local area.
Through four wines and four production experiences, the meeting will address the role that viticulture can have in creating inclusion, autonomy and territorial regeneration .
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