Wine press review for Wednesday, August 12, 2026!

Good morning,

The day highlights a sector torn between commercial pressure and new opportunities : Italian wineries are experiencing growing inventories, exports are slowing, and harvests are coming early due to high temperatures. At the same time, investments in wine tourism, winemaking innovation, and new winery development models are increasing.

ITALIAN WINERIES

Ferrari: Great bubbles can have a second life

Ferrari Trento focuses on the value of time through the Archivio di Famiglia project, dedicated to the evolution of Trentodoc wines after long refinements.

The project includes Original Editions and Recent Disgorges, allowing us to compare bottles that have followed different maturation paths, in some cases lasting 15, 16 or even 20 years .

The goal is to demonstrate how sparkling wine is also a living product, capable of profoundly evolving over time.

Montalbera: wine, hospitality, and Ruchè in the heart of Monferrato.

Montalbera further develops its wine tourism model with the Montalbera 360° Experience .

Vineyards, tastings, rooms, panoramic terraces and swimming pool become part of a unique experience built around the Ruchè di Castagnole Monferrato DOCG .

An example of how wine tourism can transform from a complementary activity into a true tool for the economic valorization of the winery.

Alois Lageder: Wine tourism becomes an experience of nature

In Magrè, in Alto Adige, Alois Lageder proposes a model in which the cellar, vineyards, garden, kitchen, and animals are part of the same ecosystem.

The “Diversity is Key” philosophy accompanies a path that began decades ago towards biodynamic agriculture, biodiversity and sustainability.

The experience offered to visitors thus becomes a tool for concretely describing the relationship between wine, territory, and nature.

Murgo: when the Classic Method on Etna was still a gamble

The Murgo winery recalls its pioneering role in the production of Metodo Classico from Nerello Mascalese on Etna .

Between the late 1980s and early 1990s, the company chose to use the native Sicilian grape variety to produce Classic Method sparkling wines, anticipating a trend now followed by many Etna wineries.

Centopassi: Confiscated Vineyards Become Symbols of Rebirth

In Sicily, Centopassi represents a project in which wine, territory, and social commitment meet.

In the Alto Belice Corleonese area, lands linked to the history of the fight against the Mafia have become productive vineyards and a winemaking project capable of transforming confiscated heritage into economic and cultural development.

Italian cellars become works of architecture

The phenomenon of cellars designed by great international architects and artists continues.

From Mario Botta's Petra to Renzo Piano's Rocca di Frassinello, to the Folonari family's new Cantina del Cabreo and new projects in Chianti Classico, architecture becomes an integral part of the positioning and experience of wine.

ITALIAN WINE, MARKET AND OENOLOGY

Exports: almost 3 billion euros in the first five months, but the decline continues

From January to May 2026, Italy exported wine worth approximately 2.98 billion euros , a decrease of 6.86% compared to the same period in 2025.

Volumes fell by 5% , reaching approximately 809 million litres.

The US market is particularly worrying: €709 million, down 15.4% . Germany, down 8.2%, and the United Kingdom, down 6.5%, are also struggling.

Italian cellars still too full: 42.6 million hectoliters

As of July 31, 2026, Italian cellars held 42.6 million hectolitres of wine , 6.9% more than a year earlier.

To these are added 3.1 million hectolitres of must.

55.9% of the stocks are concentrated in Northern Italy , especially in Veneto, while 55.4% of the wine in stock belongs to the PDO denominations.

With the harvest now underway in several areas, the high level of inventories is increasing pressure on prices, storage, and production planning.

Tuscany: Up to a year and a half of unsold wine remains in cellars.

The situation is particularly delicate in Tuscany, where, according to the information reported in the review, stocks have reached levels equivalent to approximately a year and a half of production .

Prices are also showing signs of weakness: Chianti is said to have lost around 35% from pre-Covid highs and Chianti Classico around 30%.

A situation that could increase the pressure on producers with the arrival of the new harvest.

Puglia: Over 5 million hectoliters in the cellars

CIA Puglia draws attention to the regional situation: there are reportedly at least 5 million hectolitres of wine still unsold , of which over 3 million belong to the IGP and DOP categories.

Production costs, phytosanitary problems, reduced consumption, and more difficult exports are squeezing companies' profitability.

Sicily: Concern in the Agrigento area

Fears are also growing in the Agrigento area over excess wine in storage and a possible drop in grape prices.

The difficulties particularly affect the cooperative wineries of Canicattinese and Menfitano, in an area where viticulture represents an important component of the local economy.

Marche: Harvest is early, but quality is promising.

In the Marche region, the 2026 harvest starts about ten days early .

The first harvests concern the sparkling bases and subsequently Chardonnay, Bianchello and Sangiovese.

The quality outlook is positive, especially in the provinces of Ancona and Pesaro-Urbino, while some areas suffered damage from hailstorms at the end of July.

2026 Harvest: Hot Nights Are Another Problem

High night temperatures are becoming a determining factor for ripening.

When the temperature remains high even after sunset, the vine continues to breathe intensely and consumes malic acid more quickly.

The result can be an acceleration of ripening accompanied by a loss of acidity, with consequences on the final balance of the grapes.

Marche: Hail and heat make it difficult to predict the harvest

Stefano Dezi, a producer from Servigliano, emphasizes how the situation can change significantly even in the space of a few hundred meters.

Early varieties such as Chardonnay and Sauvignon are ripening early, but it will be necessary to wait until the grapes arrive in the cellar before making definitive assessments on the quality of the vintage.

Italian vineyards among the most profitable in Europe

Italy occupies eight positions among the top twenty European wine-growing regions in terms of net added value generated per hectare, according to the AAWE ranking based on FADN-FSDN 2024 data.

Champagne-Ardenne leads with around 60,000 euros per hectare , but Alto Adige comes in close behind with 32,100 euros and Valle d'Aosta with 32,000 euros .

Liguria and Piedmont also did very well.

The data demonstrates that the prestige of the denomination, the value of the land and profitability per hectare do not necessarily coincide.

Alcohol Dealing: Vason Group Also Looks to Portable Devices

Vason Group continues to develop dealcohol removal technologies through the membrane-based Mastermind Remove system.

Technological evolution could lead from large industrial plants to laboratory systems and portable devices intended, in the future, also for restaurants and consumers.

An important sign of the growth of the low and no alcohol segment.

Italian agriculture ranks first in the EU for added value

According to the report cited in the review, Italy generates 16.9% of the European Union's agricultural added value .

The Italian agri-food supply chain overall reaches approximately 89 billion euros in added value , confirming the strategic economic weight of agriculture and the national food industry.

INTERNATIONAL

Hungary: Drought, Villány harvest expected to be 30% lower

The Villány wine region is facing a severe drought.

The berries are smaller, and the heat has accelerated ripening. Quality could remain good, but producers estimate a decline in quantities of nearly 30% , with particularly high risks for late-ripening varieties.

London: Wine Produced in a Train Station Is Born

Denmark Hill station in the London borough of Camberwell is preparing for the first harvest of grapes grown within its area.

The Bacchus grapes are expected to give rise to Château Denmark Hill , a white wine that could arrive in glasses in 2027.

A curious example of urban viticulture.

Oregon: Willamette Valley Vineyards Raises New Capital

Willamette Valley Vineyards, an Oregon producer specializing primarily in Pinot Noir, has launched a $1.75 million Preferred Stock Offering .

The operation confirms a unique model of a winery with widespread shareholding, in which enthusiasts and customers can become direct investors in the company.

Hungary: The Spectacular Rock Cellars of Hercegkút

In the Tokaj-Hegyalja wine region, the village of Hercegkút preserves a fascinating system of ancient cellars carved into the rock.

The unique architecture, reminiscent of a fairytale village, has also become an important tourist attraction linked to Hungarian wine culture.

WINE TOURISM, TERRITORIES AND EVENTS

Summer 2026: 25 million Italians choose food and wine experiences.

According to a Coldiretti/Ixè survey, approximately 25 million Italians will participate in food and wine tourism activities during the summer of 2026.

Tastings, cellar tours, direct purchases, cooking classes, wellness programs, and vineyard activities are expanding the offerings.

Wine tourism alone is estimated at around 3.5 billion euros .

Abruzzo: The 21st Wine Tourism Report presented

The 21st Report of the National Observatory of Wine Tourism was presented at the Frentana Winery in Rocca San Giovanni.

The discussion focused on the role of wine tourism on the Trabocchi Coast and its ability to integrate wine, territory, hospitality, and the local economy.

Salento: wine can become part of the seaside experience.

Salento emerges among the most popular wine tourism destinations for Italians.

The goal is to transcend a simple calendar of events and create integrated experiences combining the sea, vineyards, gastronomy, culture, landscape, and history , increasing visitor stay and spending in the area.

Stramare: the stone village between the Piave River and the Prosecco Hills

Above Segusino, in the Treviso area, the small village of Stramare represents a lesser-known face of the Prosecco region.

Woods, ancient stone houses, and proximity to the Piave River can expand the touristic narrative of the Prosecco Hills beyond the traditional winery-vineyard combination.

San Martino della Battaglia: Six Days Dedicated to Wine

From 11 to 16 August, the San Martino Wine Festival returns, now in its 49th edition.

Six days of tastings, local wineries, food, and music confirm the value of local events as a tool for promoting wine production.

HIP: Innovation and Investment for the Hospitality Sector

HIP aims to be an international platform dedicated to innovation, technology, and investment in the hospitality industry, with over 10,000 professionals expected and opportunities for wine and wine tourism businesses.

QUIDQUID – Wine Press Review