Wine press review for Wednesday, October 22, 2025!

The tone remains informative but fluid, designed for a professional reader in the wine sector.

ITALIAN WINERIES

Divine Cellars. Iconic and sustainable architecture transforms cellars into "wine cathedrals." At Portus Lunae, in the heart of the Colli di Luni, the Bosoni family has created a semi-buried biomorphic structure, powered by geothermal energy and perfectly integrated into the landscape.

100 years of Paternoster, now Tommasi Family Estates. The Lucanian company celebrates a century of history and the generational transition with Tommasi Family Estates, which consolidates its network of 800 hectares in seven Italian regions and a turnover of €31.9 million.

Collemattoni (Montalcino) presents its 2024 Sustainability Report. The historic Tuscan company publishes its first sustainability report according to European standards. The document was created in collaboration with the University of Siena and marks a decisive step towards a transparent and responsible production model.

Former Cantina di Canneto Pavese: sale of the Garda share suspended. After three unsuccessful auctions, the liquidator has blocked the sale of a 90% stake in Cantine La Pergola di Moniga del Garda, pending legal developments regarding the former Oltrepò cooperative winery.

Biopass is coming to Franciacorta for soil fertility. Villa Franciacorta has been using Studio Agronomico Sata's Biopass method since 2015: an approach that integrates biodiversity and soil analysis, for more resilient and sustainable viticulture.

The Neolithic, a wine from "times past" by Roberto Giacobbo. The "Terre di Maria" project, combining ancient techniques and modern technologies, was born in Puglia, promoted by wine communicator Roberto Giacobbo and his daughter Giovanna.

ITALIAN WINE AND ITALIAN OENOLOGY

Wineries and Wines of the Year according to Winemag 2026: the watchword is authenticity. The new guide celebrates Italian wines that express identity and courage, rewarding typicality and territoriality as a response to the "standardization" of contemporary taste.

Recioto della Valpolicella becomes a Slow Food Presidium. Verona's quintessential sweet wine has been recognized as a Slow Food Presidium, protecting a historic and distinctive product.

Falling wine prices: Umbria is a symptom of national distress. Grape prices are plummeting by up to 50% compared to 2023. This structural sign reflects the contraction in domestic consumption and the slowdown in Italian exports.

Big finance is investing in Made in Italy wine. Cassa Depositi e Prestiti and Finint Investments are subscribing to €5 million in bonds issued by Feudi di San Gregorio to support the growth of one of Southern Italy's leading wineries.

I Vini di Maremma launches "Le Muse dell'Alchimia." A new line of wine spirits—bitters, vermouth, and ready-to-drink—created in collaboration with The Spiritual Machine, blending winemaking tradition and contemporary mixology.

Wine, Zoppas (ICE): "This is a time of uncertainty; we need to expand into new markets." The ICE president emphasizes the need to look beyond tariffs and open up to new countries to support the Italian wine industry.

Chromium in wines: UIV monitoring. The Italian Wine Union published a study on 800 samples to assess the presence of chromium in wine, linked to environmental and technological factors, confirming very low levels, below safety limits.

A Journey through Collio – Part Three. A narrative and sensory reflection on a border region that combines memory, complexity, and scenic beauty, a symbol of the cultural continuity of Italian wine.

INTERNATIONAL OENOLOGY

Bordeaux is betting on "blouge." This is the birth of "blouge" wine, a blend of white and red wines (blanc et rouge) designed to attract new consumers in a declining French market.

France: 37% of insolvencies in the wine sector. The Altares report highlights 257 ongoing procedures in the wine sector, with small businesses particularly affected. The structural crisis and declining consumption are exacerbating the situation.

Wine and the global market: 13% is re-exported. Global wine trade reached €35.9 billion in 2024. Re-exports are growing, often from countries that don't produce wine but operate as logistics hubs.

Locanda Locatelli: Record-breaking auction for its wine collection. Bonhams sold nearly £500,000 for the 400 lots from chef Giorgio Locatelli's historic London restaurant.

“Italy is one big food playground.” The New York Times criticizes the “foodification” of Italy’s historic centers, with Palermo as a symbol of excessive food and wine tourism.

WINE EVENTS

VinNatur Paris 2025 – Angiolino Maule makes its debut in the French capital. On November 23-24 at 116 rue de Turenne, 90 producers from seven countries will showcase the culture of natural wine with masterclasses and technical meetings.

Merano WineFestival 2025 (November 8-10). Masterclasses and tastings have been announced, including one dedicated to Carignano del Sulcis. Helmut Kocher: "Creativity and experimentation are the keys to overcoming the crisis." Villa Franciacorta will be present at the tasting.

Let's Drink South Rome 2026. The Southern Italian wine festival returns to the capital, at The Westin Excelsior Rome, to celebrate the biodiversity and identity of the South.

Festival Gusto – Florence, November 15. At the Stazione Leopolda, the 2026 Vite Guide will be presented and 400 Italian wines will be tasted: storytelling will be at the heart of the future of wine.

Yoga & Wine in the Castelli Romani. An autumn event combining wellness, nature, and tastings at the Casal Montani estate, among centuries-old olive trees and quality wines.

Consorzio Alta Langa is the main sponsor of Buonissima Torino 2025. Piedmontese sparkling wines will be the protagonists of the gastronomic event from October 22nd to 26th, featuring over one hundred international chefs.

Sangioveto takes center stage in Siena. A technical meeting at the Accademia dei Fisiocritici will discuss the history and future prospects of Tuscany's iconic grape variety.

See you tomorrow with the QUIDQUID wine press review, brought to you by WineIdea.it.