Wine press review for Wednesday, October 7, 2026!

Good morning,

Market, acquisitions, wineries, wine tourism, innovation, and new international scenarios: here are the main news from the world of wine selected by QUIDQUID.

ITALIAN WINERIES

Piccini acquires the Friulian winery Margherita ed Arrigo

The Piccini Group acquires full control of Margherita ed Arrigo , a Friulian winery specializing in white and sparkling wines. The transaction strengthens the group's presence in the Northeast and expands its offerings for large-scale retail, hospitality, and exports. The winery, which generated €3.6 million in revenue in 2025, produces Friulano, Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Prosecco DOC, and Ribolla Gialla.

Contadi Castaldi: Terra Moretti denies the sale

The Terra Moretti Group denies rumors regarding a possible sale of Contadi Castaldi to Argea. The Franciacorta winery owns 174 hectares of vineyards , produces approximately 1.4 million bottles , and reported revenues of €17.9 million in 2025.

Gaja: "We're not for sale."

Gaja also intervened to deny rumors of a possible sale of the company and Gaja Distribuzione. The family confirmed its intention to continue the generational continuity process, specifying that negotiations with potential buyers have never been initiated.

Your Rita celebrates 30 Redigaffi grape harvests

With the 2023 vintage, Redigaffi , Tua Rita's flagship Merlot, reaches the milestone of 30 harvests . Born in 1994 in Suvereto, the wine has become one of the most well-known and internationally appreciated Italian labels over the years.

Tenuta Sant'Antonio: Biodiversity and Identity in Amarone

To celebrate its thirtieth anniversary, Tenuta Sant'Antonio presents a special label for its Amarone della Valpolicella Anniversario. Four birds recall the Corvina, Corvinone, Rondinella, and Oseleta grape varieties and, symbolically, the four Castagnedi brothers who founded the winery.

Pistis Sophia: Wine, Soil, and Regenerative Agriculture

In Ortona, Pistis Sophia is pursuing a production project based on reducing interventions in the vineyard and cellar. The winery, led by David Seccia and Ilenia, produces an average of 18,000 bottles per year and has been practicing organic-regenerative agriculture since 2019.

Tenuta di Castellaro: Aeolian wine tourism continues this fall.

The Tenuta di Castellaro Wine Resort on Lipari will remain open until November 8th. This choice aims to promote the Aeolian Islands even outside of high season, offering a slower-paced form of tourism, rooted in wine, the local area, and the experience of the landscape.

ITALIAN WINE AND OENOLOGY

The 2026 wine market remains challenging, but expectations for the end of the year are growing.

According to Guido Folonari , president of Excellence Sidi, the 2026 market remains essentially in line with a complex 2025, although signs of increased confidence are emerging toward the end of the year. In the restaurant industry, demand is growing for more flexible logistics services, with less inventory, more frequent orders, and models closer to "just in time."

Fine wines: Italy and Champagne lead the recovery

The international collectible wine market is showing positive signs. In the first nine months of 2026, the Liv-ex 100 grew by 2.1% , reaching 4.4% over the twelve months.

Italy takes four positions among the ten best-performing labels: Barolo Falletto Vigna Le Rocche Riserva 2016 Bruno Giacosa 31.7%, Barolo Monfortino Riserva 2019 Giacomo Conterno 19.4%, Soldera Case Basse 2020 18.7% and Solaia 2021 Antinori 14.1% .

Barolo 2023: Serralunga presents a new vintage

At Serralunga Day , the 2023 Barolo del Comune di Serralunga d'Alba was previewed. A complex vintage, marked by spring rains and summer heat, but concluded with cool, bright conditions that favored a more classic harvest.

Cembra Valley: 708 kilometers of dry stone walls

The Cembra Valley represents one of the most significant examples of Italian heroic viticulture: vineyards between 500 and 900 meters above sea level, steep slopes, and 708 kilometers of dry stone walls . This agricultural and landscape heritage requires over 900 hours of work per hectare each year.

Wine and new generations: the sector seeks a new balance

The discussion between Cavit, Banfi, and Biondi Santi reveals a shared need: the market cannot simply wait for the return of old consumption patterns. Greater management capacity, territorial valorization, balanced production, and above all, a new language for engaging with young consumers are needed.

Wine Business Manager: A New Professional Standard Is Born

DNV has developed a certification scheme dedicated to the role of Wine Business Manager , with the scientific and methodological contribution of MIB Trieste School of Management. Export, marketing, pricing, finance, supply chain, risk management, and sustainability are becoming increasingly central skills in the modern management of wine businesses.

Innovation in the vineyards: eBacco is born

The Tuscan agritech startup E is developing eBacco , a compact, electric, and multifunctional agricultural vehicle also designed for vineyard work. The presentation is scheduled for EIMA International in Bologna, with pre-orders opening November 11th.

Asti DOCG focuses on cycling

The Asti DOCG Consortium becomes the official wine of Gran Piemonte. This partnership aims to unite wine, sport, landscape, and the international promotion of Piedmont's wine regions.

Harvest and consumption: Acli Terra's appeal

ACLI Terra Chieti emphasizes the good quality of the 2026 harvest grapes, despite a decrease in quantity. President Nicola D'Auria also urges the sector to reclaim a more natural relationship with wine, avoiding its perception as a product intended only for special occasions or elite consumers.

INTERNATIONAL

Prosecco grows where Champagne suffers

In price-sensitive markets, Prosecco continues to gain ground over Champagne. India is a particularly interesting case, where over 80% of wine is purchased under Rs 3,000, and Prosecco's more accessible positioning represents a significant competitive advantage.

This phenomenon confirms the potential of Italian sparkling wines in emerging markets, especially when quality, recognition, and price find the right balance.

Dealcoholized: Henkell Freixenet Invests in Aroma Recovery

Henkell Freixenet is focusing on new technologies to improve the quality of premium dealcoholized sparkling wines. The Wiesbaden plant will use Solos Technology's Aroma Recovery System , designed to recover and replenish the aromatic compounds normally lost during dealcoholization.

Montmartre: Grape Harvest in the Heart of Paris

The harvest has begun at the famous Clos Montmartre , an urban vineyard with over 1,700 vines and more than 20 varietals . The vineyard produces a symbolic production sold during the Fête des Vendanges and at the Montmartre Museum.

Argentina: Salesian wine for Pope Leo XIV's Mass

The Don Bosco fortified wine from Casa Don Bosco in Rodeo del Medio , in the province of Mendoza, will be used during the Eucharistic celebration presided over by Pope Leo XIV in Córdoba on the occasion of his visit to Argentina scheduled for November 8-11, 2026.

WINE TOURISM

Italy relaunches wine tourism on international markets

At Vinitaly USA 2026 , scheduled for October 26 and 27 in New York, Italy will bring the strategic value of wine and wine tourism to the forefront.

According to ENIT data processed for UniCredit-Nomisma Wine Monitor 2025, 98% of wine tourists intend to repeat a wine-related travel experience in the next two to three years and 85% indicate Italy as their preferred destination .

An important signal for wineries and regions: wine is increasingly becoming a gateway to hospitality, gastronomy, culture, landscape, and experiential tourism.

Italian wineries become destinations

From Umbria to Piedmont, interest in wineries characterized by their architecture, landscape, and quality hospitality is growing. A winery visit thus transforms from a simple tasting into a complete tourist experience, especially during the grape harvest and in the autumn months.

WINE EVENTS

Champagne Experience surpasses 6,000 visitors

The ninth edition of Champagne Experience attracted over 6,000 attendees, including professionals, industry professionals, and enthusiasts. The event confirms the strong interest in Champagne and the direct exchange between Maisons, winemakers, terroirs, and different production styles.

Rauscedo Winery: A discussion on the future of cooperation

On October 9th and 10th , to celebrate Cantina Rauscedo's 75th anniversary, "Le Radici del Vino" will bring together producers, experts, and operators to discuss competitiveness, exports, and the future of cooperatives.

Among the protagonists Alessio Planeta, Matteo Zoppas, Gabriele Gorelli and Denis Pantini of Nomisma Wine Monitor .

Rosé Experience in Milan

At the Kerakoll spaces in Milan, Rosé Experience brings together wine, color, art, and design. The initiative, part of the "100 Best Italian Rosé" guide, aims to showcase the growing identity of Italian rosé wines.

Sardinia: "Passi di Gusto" returns

On October 10-11 and October 31-November 1, Passi di Gusto returns, an initiative of the Fondazione Cammino Minerario di Santa Barbara that combines hiking, local products, wines and meetings with producers from south-western Sardinia.

Tiramisu World Cup and the Treviso area

From 9 to 11 October , Treviso hosts the Tiramisu World Cup. The event also becomes an opportunity to promote the Treviso area through cities of art, villages, gastronomy, nature and vineyard-covered hills .

PICTURE OF THE DAY

The news of October 7th tells of a sector that is moving on several fronts simultaneously.

On the one hand, the traditional market remains complex , on the other, interesting signs are emerging: a recovery in fine wines, acquisitions and corporate mergers, the growth of Prosecco in new markets, the development of wine tourism, and investments in dealcoholization and agriculture technologies.

One thing is becoming increasingly clear: a winery's future competitiveness will depend on more than just the quality of its wine . It will require managerial skills, cost control, distribution, exports, technology, terroir, hospitality, and the ability to build new relationships with consumers.

For winery owners, entrepreneurs, and investors, this transformation could represent not only a critical issue, but also a concrete opportunity for the acquisition, aggregation, development, and valorization of Italian wineries .

Today's wine press review is brought to you by WINEIDEA.IT.

See you tomorrow.