Wine press review for Wednesday, May 13, 2026!

Italian wineries

Sicily, wine tourism already accounts for 10% of wineries' revenues. The Assovini Sicilia–Lumsa Ceseo report confirms the growth of wine tourism on the island, with a strong presence of foreign visitors, increased investment in hospitality, and a greater focus on renewable energy. Sicilian wineries are now aiming to transform wine tourism into a stable economic asset.

Cantina di Vicobarone restarts with the best grape prices. The Piacenza-based cooperative closed its financial year with an average payment of €43 per quintal for 2025 grapes, up from €34 the previous year. This is a positive sign for the 125 members and for the winery's new direction.

Letrari celebrates 50 years of Trentodoc history. The Trentino winery celebrates half a century of business with three generations of women: Lucia Letrari, her daughter Margherita, and Maria Vittoria. A history tied to the Vallagarina, the classic method, and family continuity.

Cantina del Taburno presents its new vintages of red wines. The new vintages of the company's red wines are available for tasting, including the 2024 Piedirosso Sannio DOC, confirming the Campania winery's role in promoting local grape varieties.

Tebano Center, new experimental winery confirmed. The Romagna center strengthens its role in winemaking research with the project of a new educational and experimental winery, conceived as a hub for the future of wine.

Italian wine and Italian oenology

Hail in the Treviso area: vineyards damaged in the Opitergino area. Severe weather hit several areas in the Treviso area, causing significant damage to vineyards. In Mansuè, some winemakers estimate up to 50% of their plants lost.

Agrivoltaic wines, Puglia experiments with a new production model. After four years of experimentation, the first wines made from agrivoltaic vineyards have arrived. Falanghina, Traminer Aromatico, and Primitivo display freshness, balance, and aromatic precision thanks to the microclimate created by the panels.

Alcohol-free, non-alcoholic, and alcohol-dealerted: the need for clarity is growing. The alcohol-free wine market is expanding, but definitions remain confusing. Alcohol-dealerted wine is initially produced as wine and is then completely or partially removed from the alcohol through authorized physical processes.

Green manure in the vineyard: an ancient practice that has become strategic again. Green manure is proving to be an important tool for improving fertility, organic matter, soil structure, and water retention capacity, especially in vineyards subjected to climatic and agronomic stress.

Agrochemicals in stock: beware of revocations and authorizations. Farms must periodically check the validity of plant protection products stored in their warehouses. A product purchased regularly may no longer be usable if it is revoked or subject to new restrictions.

Forgotten grape varieties: the past is useful for the future of wine. Interest is growing in minor native varieties such as Timorasso, Foglia Tonda, Susumaniello, Nascetta, Durella, Oseleta, and Recantina. It's not nostalgia, but a search for identity, biodiversity, and adaptation to climate change.

Cork, sustainability, and the future of closures The debate on closures is back at the forefront: the natural and sustainable cork stopper remains an important solution, but it must be evaluated with technical data and without simplifications.

Grapevine millerandage: observing flowering and fruit set. Grape bunch quality is built during the flowering and fruit set phases. Balanced nutrition, water stress management, and micronutrient availability help reduce millerandage and promote more uniform bunches.

The most famous Italian wines in the world, region by region From Prosecco to Barolo, from Brunello to the great wines of the South, Italy confirms its strength thanks to over 500 native vines and an extraordinary territorial variety.

International

OIV: Global wine consumption to decline in 2025. Global consumption will decline by 2.7%, reaching 208 million hectoliters. Since 2018, the decline has been 14%, signaling a structural shift in consumption habits.

OIV: The sector seeks balance between production and demand. Global vineyard acreage has declined for the sixth consecutive year. Italy and France remain leaders in production and exports, while the sector aims to reduce production capacity and seek new markets.

U.S.: 70% of wineries expect a recovery within 2-3 years. According to the BMO Wine Market Report 2026, many American wineries are confident about the future. Spending on wine in the U.S. grew 3% in 2025, even though volumes continue to decline.

Canada, a new frontier for Barolo and Barbaresco. Langhe wines are strengthening their presence in Canada, where many provincial monopolies are squeezing out US wines. Toronto remains a strategic market for Piedmontese producers.

Bordeaux launches €20 million fund for the future of uprooted vineyards. The "Foncier d'avenir en Gironde" program is being launched in Gironde, designed to support vineyard restructuring and promote new agricultural projects following the reduction of approximately 20,000 hectares between 2023 and 2025.

European agriculture under pressure: Brussels accelerates risk management. Extreme weather, market volatility, and geopolitical crises are pushing Europe to strengthen insurance tools, mutual funds, and crisis mechanisms in the future CAP.

Apulian Grapes, Foreign Markets Under Pressure Geopolitical tensions and challenging trade routes are worrying Apulian table grape exporters, already penalized by the closure of the Russian market.

Wine and agri-food events

Sicilia En Primeur 2026: wine, territory and wine tourism From May 11th to 15th, the Assovini Sicilia event brings over one hundred international journalists to the island for tastings, winery visits and meetings with producers.

Pietradolce Winery hosts “Incroci di Vite” on Etna. On Saturday, May 16, the Faro family winery will welcome 33 Etna producers for an event featuring wine, street food, and solidarity in support of WonderLAD.

Open Cellars in Ticino 2026 The 26th edition involves over 80 wineries over two weekends: May 16-17 in the Sottoceneri and May 23-24 in the Sopraceneri, with tastings, visits and new mobility solutions.

TuttoFood 2026 in Milan: Made in Italy food remains strong. The fair confirms the centrality of Italian agri-food, with new trends, local products, free-from, proteins, fermented foods, and international interest.

Italian agri-food exports to reach record levels in 2025. According to ICE, Italian agri-food exports reached 72.5 billion euros, up 5%, despite geopolitical tensions and US tariffs.

Italianness is the first claim in large-scale retail. According to Coldiretti, products with claims of Italian origin represent nearly 30% of the agri-food products on shelves. Consumers are increasingly demanding transparency and territorial identity.

Cycling through the vineyards of Oltrepò Pavese A circular route through Borgoratto Mormorolo, hills, vineyards, and rural villages confirms the potential of active and slow wine tourism.

Wines and Culture: Aldo Tagliaferro is the new president of the Veronelli Seminary. The journalist succeeds Angela Maculan as head of the association founded to continue Luigi Veronelli's cultural work.

Intravino Cup Montalcino: 16 wineries remain in the competition. The competition among enthusiasts enters its decisive phase, showcasing some of Montalcino's most beloved wineries.

Final summary

Today's review explores a winemaking sector undergoing rapid transformation. On the one hand, wine tourism, energy innovation, native grape varieties, agrivoltaics, and new agronomic practices are growing; on the other, extreme weather, declining global consumption, unstable markets, and geopolitical tensions are weighing on the sector.

For Italian wineries, the key point is clear: simply producing well is no longer enough. They need to build value around wine, the region, hospitality, sustainability, and the ability to tap into new markets.

Today's wine press review was brought to you by WineIdea.it.