Wine press review for Tuesday, February 17, 2026!

Italian wineries

Tenuta Monsignore (Alta Langa) The Alta Langa classic method that “looks like Champagne”: Chardonnay and Pinot Noir in perfect balance for one of the most interesting labels of the Piedmont region, presented at the Grandi Langhe in Turin.

Il Verro Winery – Formicola (Caserta) Cesare Avenia's project promotes rare grape varieties such as Pallagrello, Casavecchia, and Coda di Pecora, with a return to the land that combines managerial skill and agricultural vision.

Cantina Foradori – Trentino 125 years of history and a radical and consistent biodynamic philosophy. An agricultural model that focuses on listening to the land, territorial identity, and certified sustainability.

Casa Grazia – Sicilia Vi Veri and Victorya: Cabernet Sauvignon and Cerasuolo di Vittoria DOCG that tell the story of an agricultural and entrepreneurial Sicily par excellence, on the edge of the Biviere Reserve.

Centopassi – Sicily Wine as a social and industrial project: Libera Terra cooperatives, organic farming, native grape varieties, and a structured presence on global markets.

Vogadori Winery – Valpolicella Weekend dedicated to bulk wines in Negrar: tradition, informed consumption, and a direct relationship between producer and enthusiast.

Cantina Produttori Cormòns is mourning the passing of Andrea Tofful, vice president and key figure in the winery's rebirth.

Italian wine and Italian oenology

Gen Z and wine: it's not rejection, it's a rejection of the model. Young people haven't abandoned wine, but an elitist and unsustainable narrative. What's needed is a cultural shift, not moralism.

Drinking “in stripes”: alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks together “Zebra striping” is becoming increasingly popular among young people: alternating consumption that redefines the concept of moderation.

Growing Quality Grapes From soil to agronomic management: the practices that make the difference between an ordinary harvest and excellent grapes.

Production Concentration in Italian Wine The top 5 wineries produce 18% of DOC and IGT wines: the Valoritalia data opens the debate on aggregation and industrial scale.

Identity and Future of Vino Nobile di Montepulciano: Culture, landscape, and sustainability as strategic pillars of one of Italy's historic DOCGs.

Chianti Classico Collection Wine as a cultural identity: positive signals from North America and Canada despite a complex context.

Cuzziol Grandi Vini Entrepreneurial strategy and romanticism: growing in wine amidst uncertainty, vision, and the selection of authentic stories.

International and market scenarios

Tariffs and foreign markets: US alarm. Shipments to the United States -9% in 2025. The sector calls for acceleration in Mercosur and India to diversify markets.

Certified wine 2025: DOC and DOCG hold steady . Sparkling, white, and rosé wines are growing. Red and IGT wines are declining. A market that rewards identity and certified value.

Overall bottling volumes in 2025 are down 2.1%, but DOC and DOCG production is growing. The data confirms the "structural stability" of the quality sector.

Policies, territories and supply chain

Piedmont: €18.8 million for wine. CMO funds for foreign promotion, winery investments, and vineyard renovation. 2026–27 priorities shared with the supply chain.

Città del Vino: Renewables banned in DOC and DOCG areas. Updated guidelines to protect the landscape, winemaking quality, and land use planning.

Wine events and wine culture

Vinetia Tasting – Santa Lucia di Piave (March 22) 800 labels to showcase Venetian winemaking in a major event organized by AIS Veneto.

Traminer Weingassl – Termeno The wine festival that combines Gewürztraminer, conviviality and the culture of South Tyrolean Törggelen.

Barbera Red Night – Turin (February 20) 20 piole, live music and popular cuisine: wine as a social ritual awaiting the Turin Wine Fair 2026.

Taste Alto Piemonte – Milan (March 9) Tastings and insights to tell the story of a region undergoing a strong resurgence.

Today's wine press review is brought to you by WINEIDEA.IT. See you tomorrow with new strategic insights from the world of wine.