Wine press review for Tuesday, May 19, 2026!

Italian wineries

• Val delle Corti confirms the value of artisanal Chianti Classico with the 2023 DOCG by Roberto Bianchi: organic, limited production, and a strong territorial identity of Radda in Chianti.
• Conte Collalto strengthens its viticulture, hospitality, and events model in the UNESCO Prosecco Hills, focusing on energy sustainability and territorial development.
• Cantine Bertani opens its "Amarone Library" at its historic Grezzana location, offering tastings of historic vintages paired with dishes by chef Giancarlo Perbellini.
• Tenute Tomasella announces Open Cellars 2026, featuring tastings, vineyard tours, and family-friendly activities in Veneto and Friuli.
• Cantine Pellegrino is transforming Cantine Aperte 2026 into a "Flower Power" event dedicated to wine, music, and culture in the historic cellars of Marsala.
• Cantina Ventiventi continues its project to relaunch Lambrusco, investing in sustainability, quality, and direct control of the production chain.
• Eredi dei Papi is growing in the Castelli Romani area with organic production and wine tourism, following the return of its young founders from the world of management.
• Ambrogio and Giovanni Folonari Tenute inaugurates the new Cabreo Winery in Greve in Chianti with a €7 million investment dedicated to Super Tuscans.
• The Parpinello family continues the journey that has transformed the project born from the Conegliano winemaking school into one of the excellences of Sardinian wine.
• Over 700 Glera vines were stolen from a vineyard in Crocetta del Montello, prompting growing concern over thefts in the Prosecco sector.
• Managerial turnover is increasing in Italian wineries: a challenging market, under pressure from margins, and strategic shifts are pushing many companies to rethink their governance and sales strategies.

Italian wine and Italian oenology

• US tariffs continue to weigh on Italian wine: in the 12 months between April 2025 and March 2026, the sector lost approximately 340 million euros in exports to the United States, with volumes at their lowest in ten years.
• According to ISTAT data analyzed by WineNews, Italian wine exports in the first two months of 2026 fell by 13.3% compared to 2025, although February showed a slight recovery compared to January.
• Federvini estimates the direct cost of US duties paid by Italian wine in a year at around 180 million euros.
• Unione Italiana Vini confirms the sharp slowdown in the US market, but reports small signs of recovery in volumes shipped in March 2026.
• Growing attention is being paid to new emerging markets: according to Wine Monitor Nomisma, in 2025 Italian wine exports to the 13 emerging markets monitored will exceed 400 million euros (4.3%).
• Positive sentiment for Italian wine in China and Brazil during international events organized by Vinitaly and Veronafiere.
• Neuroscience and neuromarketing are entering the wine debate: according to Professor Vincenzo Russo, GenZ chooses cocktails and mixology for different identity and sensory dynamics than previous generations.
• The Rosazzo roundtable relaunched the concept of moderate wine consumption as an element of Mediterranean culture, distinguishing it from abuse.
• Tenuta Cavalier Pepe launches a "changing" label that indicates the ideal serving temperature to introduce new consumers to red wine.
• Sustainability is an increasingly central theme: the Agricoltura100 report shows that the most sustainable farms also grow more in terms of turnover.
• Italian agri-food is increasingly being considered a tool for international diplomacy and geopolitical positioning.
• New opportunities for the Basilicata region's wine sector thanks to the 2026/2027 CMO Wine call for proposals dedicated to promotion in non-EU markets.
• The ISMEA "Generazione Terra" call aims to encourage generational turnover by financing up to 100% of the purchase of agricultural land for young entrepreneurs.
• AgriBiogas 2026 confirms the strategic role of agricultural biomethane for the energy sustainability of Italian agricultural businesses.
• An in-depth look at typical Italian liqueurs, region by region: a journey through bitters, spirits, and local traditions.

International

• The global debate continues over the wines of the French Jura, which have become cult objects due to their rarity, speculation, and the search for authenticity.
• The international wine market remains affected by declining consumption, geopolitical instability, and new trade dynamics, pushing Italian producers to increasingly diversify their target markets.

Wine events

• Cantine Aperte 2026 returns on May 30th and 31st with immersive experiences dedicated to wine, local produce, sustainability, and wine tourism throughout Italy.
• The "Aperitivi con le Donne del Vino" (Aperitifs with Women in Wine) series continues in Verona, featuring tastings, culture, and a dialogue between wine and cinema.
• AIS Agrigento concludes the first-level course with an educational visit to Masseria del Feudo.
• Sicily is preparing for a record-breaking edition of Cantine Aperte 2026, with 30 participating wineries and a strong push for experiential wine tourism.

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See you tomorrow.