Wine press review for Wednesday, May 27, 2026!

Italian wineries

• The Angelo Gaja family is relaunching "Butterfly Day" at the Ca' Marcanda estate in Bolgheri: a symbolic release of butterflies among the vineyards to celebrate biodiversity, sustainability, and the health of the viticultural ecosystem.
• Varvaglione 1921 acquires Casino Nitti in Marina di Lizzano: 70 hectares and a project that combines native grape varieties from Puglia and Campania, strengthening the territorial strategy of the historic Southern Italian company.
• Biancavigna inaugurates "Elogio alla Vigna Eroica," two days of tastings, historical remembrance, and the promotion of heroic viticulture in the UNESCO hills.
• Masi Agricola presents in Venice the catalog "L'Anima dell'Amarone" by Fabrizio Plessi and the limited edition Amarone Masi Costasera Contemporary Art 2006, strengthening the connection between wine, art, and territory.
• Vigna Traverso continues its journey to promote the red wines of the Colli Orientali del Friuli, focusing on their territorial identity and historic grape varieties.
• Montalbera is investing €550,000 in Monferrato wine tourism with the new "Dolce Vita" panoramic terrace amidst vineyards, a gazebo suite, and a panoramic pool.
• Cantine Catabbo relaunches Tintilia with more elegant, fresh, and modern interpretations, maintaining a strong connection with the iconic grape variety of Molise.
• After more than 50 years, Mario Pojer and Fiorentino Sandri are separating, ending one of the most iconic partnerships in Italian wine.
• Cantine Pellegrino presents “Bianco di Venere,” a new dry white wine from Pantelleria dedicated to showcasing the island's terroir and biodiversity.
• Consorzio Tutela Vini Valpolicella confirms Christian Marchesini as president until 2028, focusing on international promotion and balanced production.

Italian wine and Italian oenology

• Remembering Carlo Petrini brings to the forefront the revolutionary role of Slow Food in global gastronomic culture and the relationship between wine, territory, and sustainability.
• The Piedmontese Consortia pay homage to Carlo Petrini, a key figure in the cultural promotion of wine and Italian agricultural traditions.
• According to Knight Frank's "Wealth Report 2026," one hectare of Barolo reaches 2.3 million euros, surpassing even Champagne among the most expensive vineyards in the world.
• Unioncamere and BMTI report a general decline in wine grape prices for the 2025 harvest, with sharp drops for Nebbiolo for Barolo and Barbaresco.
• The influence of digital wine tourism is growing: according to DNA Tasting, 55.3% of wine tourists in Italy are Italian, and over 70% are under 50. Online bookings and artificial intelligence are transforming winery hospitality.
• Brussels is accelerating progress toward a European one-stop shop for managing excise duties on online wine sales: a possible operational reform by 2027 to benefit independent wineries and winemakers.
• The debate over the future of natural wine continues: new "post-natural" models are emerging, more mature and less ideological than the first generation of the movement.

International

• In France, there is growing debate about the "wine crisis": according to Le Figaro, restaurateurs are focusing on simple, accessible, and less technical wine lists to win back younger consumers.
• Wine consumption in French restaurants continues to decline: -9% in 2024 and -7% in 2025, although wine remains the French's favorite alcoholic beverage.
• On the Costa Smeralda, wine increasingly becomes a symbol of luxury and international lifestyle during the Porto Cervo Wine & Food Festival, an event that kicks off the high-spending tourism season.
• Ticinowine is focusing on experiential wine tourism and its strategic focus for 2026-2029, with over 30,000 visitors expected at Cantine Aperte events in Ticino.

Wine events

• Berebianco 2026 honors four great Italian whites: 55 wineries and 160 wines featured in tastings and masterclasses dedicated to the evolution of great white wines.
• Taobuk - Taormina International Book Festival sees Cusumano as its Official Wine Partner with events dedicated to wine, culture, and business.
• Cantine Aperte 2026 returns with an increasingly experiential format: trekking, vineyard picnics, art, music, cooking classes, and immersive experiences throughout Italy.
• A weekend of tastings in the Berici Hills with guided tours, vineyard tours, and food pairings during Cantine Aperte (Open Cellars).
• In Montalcino, the “Cantine Aperte del Brunello” (Open Brunello Cellars) offer blind tastings, picnics among the vineyards, and immersive tours into the heart of Brunello.
• Cantina Goretti is organizing three days of wine experiences, music, Umbrian cuisine, and art workshops in Perugia.
• Antico Castello is promoting a "wine for all" philosophy during Cantine Aperte 2026 with free tours and accessible tastings.
• In Moasca, a tasting dedicated to pairings between Tenuta Il Nespolo wines and local artisanal cheeses.
• "Il Bello del Vino" inaugurates a new exhibition dedicated to organic, biodynamic, and family-run wineries, with fortnightly tastings and a focus on the local area.
• Controversy in Velletri over "Tutti giù in Cantina 2026": ARSIAL clarifies that there was no prejudicial denial but rather a request for a more structured project.

Press review provided by WINEIDEA.IT .