Wine press review for Thursday, September 3, 2026!

Good morning,

Wine Idea presents the main news from the world of Italian and international wine.

ITALIAN WINERIES

Winery dining: growing investment in wine tourism

Catering has become one of the main areas of investment for Italian wineries. The goal is to expand the offering, increase guest stays, and integrate wine, cuisine, local produce, and hospitality.

Numerous companies have developed high-end restaurants, some of which Michelin-starred, transforming winery visits into a complete experience. Examples include those in the Langhe, Franciacorta, Maremma, Trentino, Chianti Classico, and Sicily.

The phenomenon confirms an important transformation: the winery no longer sells just wine, but territory, hospitality and experience .

Cantine Settesoli enters the dealcoholized wine market

Cantine Settesoli, a Menfi-based cooperative with approximately 2,000 members, 6,000 hectares of vineyards, and an annual production of approximately 20 million bottles , has obtained a license from the Customs Agency for the dealcoholization of wines.

It is the first Sicilian winery to be authorized to operate in this new segment. The company already has the necessary equipment and will use vacuum evaporation technology.

The operation confirms the growing attention of Italian wine towards the no-low alcohol market.

Feudi di San Gregorio: wine, art, and hospitality in Irpinia

Borgo San Gregorio represents the evolution of Feudi di San Gregorio's hospitality model: wine, contemporary art, architecture, and landscape are integrated into an immersive hospitality project.

The old farmhouses have been restored and transformed into accommodations nestled among the vineyards, strengthening the link between wine production and local experience.

Bio Cantina Orsogna rediscovers the Maiella grape varieties

Five years of experimentation and micro-vinification have led Bio Cantina Orsogna to develop the “Irripetibili,” wines made from rare varieties of eastern Maiella.

The project aims to preserve viticultural biodiversity and promote native grape varieties, balancing territorial identity and winemaking research with the growing international standardization of wine.

Le Colture combines Prosecco and contemporary art

The Le Colture winery in Santo Stefano di Valdobbiadene supports the exhibition “On the Future of the Body” , scheduled at the Galleria Civica Cavour in Padua from 5 September to 4 October 2026.

This initiative confirms wineries' growing focus on art and culture as tools for brand engagement and positioning.

ITALIAN WINE AND ITALIAN OENOLOGY

Italian wine: 42.6 million hectoliters still in the cellar

The main problem in the sector remains the balance between production and demand.

As of July 31, 2026, Italian wine stocks amounted to 42.6 million hectoliters, 6.9% higher than in July 2025. If musts are also included, availability reaches 45.6 million hectoliters.

The 2026 harvest is estimated at around 40 million hectolitres , a quantity that should keep Italy at the top of the world production.

But the abundance of product, combined with weak demand, is compressing prices: in June, the prices of DOC wines were down an average of 7%, while those of common wines recorded a 19% drop.

Valpolicella: grapes even at 40-50 cents per kilo

The harvest opens with strong price tensions.

Initial prices for fresh grapes were around 50 cents per kilogram , compared to a considered fair range of 60 to 80 cents. Transactions as low as 40 cents were also reported.

Christian Marchesini, president of the Valpolicella Wine Consortium, speaks of the risk of speculation. The backdrop is heavy inventory levels, a slowing market, and a harvest that began about two weeks earlier than the historical average due to heat and drought.

Prosecco DOCG: A comparison of vineyards with slopes greater than 30%

In the Conegliano Valdobbiadene area, there is a discussion about the possibility of distinguishing, during future destocking, the production coming from vineyards with a slope equal to or greater than 30% .

The hypothesis foresees that these productions could maintain the DOCG classification, while some of the productions coming from less steep terrains could be reclassified as DOC.

The Region has authorized separate storage and tracking, but has not yet approved separate treatment .

Brunello di Montalcino: early harvest and controlled yields

In Montalcino, the 2026 harvest should begin, for most companies, around September 7 , about a week earlier than in 2025.

The Consortium confirmed the yield reduction from 80 to 70 quintals per hectare . Volumes are expected to be in line with or slightly lower than the previous year, while the phytosanitary condition of the vineyards is judged to be very positive.

Asti: excellent grapes, but drought and lower yields

The harvest in the Asti area began about ten days early.

Pinot Noir and Chardonnay destined for sparkling wines were harvested as early as the first days of August, followed by Sauvignon, other whites and Moscato.

The quality of the grapes is considered high, but drought and high temperatures are reducing yields and increasing the use of mechanization.

Trentino-Alto Adige: Heat and hail also hit vineyards.

High temperatures and extreme weather events are causing damage to regional agriculture.

In addition to apples, which were particularly affected by the high temperatures, hail also affected several wine-growing areas, confirming the growing exposure of Alpine agriculture to extreme weather events.

The future of wine also depends on sales by the glass

In a period of declining consumption, pouring wine can become an important marketing tool for restaurants and wine shops.

Selling wine by the glass allows consumers to experience more labels and regions, reducing the economic barrier posed by purchasing a full bottle.

For producers and Ho.Re.Ca. operators, however, this means working more effectively on conservation, bottle rotation, and margins.

Classic Method: OI presents a 795 gram bottle

OI has developed a 75cl, 795g bottle intended for the Classic Method.

The goal is to lighten the container while maintaining the necessary resistance to high internal pressures and compatibility with existing production and packaging lines.

A solution that combines sustainability, glass reduction, and industrial efficiency.

Gender equality: certified wineries on the rise

The Italian wine sector is showing signs of progress in terms of gender equality, although the number of certified companies remains limited.

Among the companies mentioned are Carpineto, Donatella Cinelli Colombini, Famiglia Cotarella, Ruffino, Venica & Venica and Cantine del Notaio.

According to DNV, other wineries are starting certification processes that could materialize between the end of 2026 and 2027.

Campania: Selling wine increasingly means building relationships.

The experience of the Zotti Agency, active in Caserta since 1967, captures the evolution of wine distribution.

The representative is no longer just a bottle seller, but increasingly a consultant capable of interpreting the needs of producers and customers, moving between Ho.Re.Ca., distribution, native grape varieties and new low-alcohol consumption.

INTERNATIONAL

Champagne and Formula 1: Major Brands Invest in Sports

Moët & Chandon returns as the Official Champagne of Formula 1.

During the Italian Grand Prix in Monza, from 4 to 6 September , Champagne will accompany the celebrations on the podium and will also be at the centre of initiatives dedicated to cuisine, bubbles and mixology in Milan.

The strategy confirms how major wine and beverage brands are increasingly seeking visibility through sports, luxury, and international events.

Champagne: the heat favors the production of still wines

High temperatures are also changing production strategies in Champagne.

The 2026 harvest started exceptionally early and some houses are considering allocating a greater share of grapes to the production of Coteaux Champenois still wines, rather than Champagne.

Climate change therefore not only alters the harvest calendar, but can directly impact the type of wine produced.

Table grapes: demand expected to recover

The table grape campaign started early with generally good quality, but initially weak demand due to competition from peaches, apricots, and nectarines.

As summer fruit gradually disappears from shelves, producers expect increased demand for grapes in the coming weeks.

WINE EVENTS

Campania.Wine – Naples, September 6 and 7

Over 100 wineries will participate in the third edition of Campania.Wine.

Tastings, masterclasses, wine tourism, gastronomy, and hospitality will showcase the region's entire winemaking heritage, from Vesuvius to the Phlegraean Fields, from Sannio to Irpinia, from Caserta to Cilento and the Amalfi Coast.

The event is a collaboration between the Campania Protection Consortia, the Campania Region, and the Municipality of Naples.

The Great Wine Festival – September 26th and 27th

Villa Farsetti, in Santa Maria di Sala in the province of Venice, will host the 19th edition of the Great Wine Festival .

The announced numbers: 149 exhibitors, 29 countries, 5 continents, 420 labels and over 8,000 bottles .

The event is aimed at wine lovers, sommeliers, Ho.Re.Ca. operators, buyers, distributors, and industry professionals.

Trentino Wine Consortium: 3rd Sustainability Report

On September 30th in Trento, the Trentino Wine Consortium will present its third Sustainability Report.

The meeting focused on the relationship between environmental protection, economic and social sustainability, business competitiveness, and the region's ability to adapt to market changes.

Pitigliano celebrates 60 years of Bianco di Pitigliano DOC

The book The vine, the winemakers and the wine in the Bianco di Pitigliano area will be presented on September 4th .

The initiative is part of the celebrations for the 60th anniversary of the DOC and aims to highlight the winemaking history of Pitigliano, the Città del Tufo, Bianco di Pitigliano, and Rosso di Sovana.

Valtidone Wine Fest: Ortrugo protagonist

Ortrugo&Chisöla , the first event of the Valtidone Wine Fest, kicks off in Corano on September 3rd.

Colli Piacentini DOC wine, food, music, vineyard tours, and local culture are featured in a program that will continue over the weekend in Borgonovo.

Sa Innenna meets the Nights of Wine

In Sorgono, in the heart of Mandrolisai, the tradition of the grape harvest, tastings, music, ancient crafts, and gastronomy become an experiential journey.

The event combines rural culture and the promotion of local wine production, part of the Autunno in Barbagia program.

September in Oltrepò, Valtellina, Soave, and other major wine regions

The Italian wine calendar is getting into full swing with numerous events: OltreGusto – Oltrepò Terra di Pinot Nero , ViVa – Vini Valtellina , Appuntamento Soave , Vinitaly Opera Ouverture, Cinema in the Cellar, Collisioni Festival, Chianti Classico Fest and Vinòforum.

A network of events that confirms the growing link between wine, gastronomy, tourism, culture, music and territory .

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

See you tomorrow.