Wine Press Review - Top News for Saturday, August 29, 2026

Good morning,

ITALIAN WINERIES

Franciacorta: the wineries and their leading labels . Several Franciacorta producers are taking center stage. Uberti presents the distinctive De Quinque RP 02-19 , a Chardonnay crafted from a perpetual reserve that brings together cuvées from 17 vintages and ages on the lees for over 70 months. Ca' del Bosco presents the Dosage Zéro Vintage Collection 2021, while Tenuta Montenisa – Marchesi Antinori creates the Brut Satèn Donna Cora 2022. Among the local producers is Bosio, a 22-hectare organic winery producing approximately 150,000 bottles.

Villa Raiano, tradition and innovation in Irpinia. Located in San Michele di Serino, Villa Raiano interprets Irpinia through a winery designed to exploit gravity throughout the various production phases. The goal is to combine territorial identity, tradition, and winemaking innovation.

Jerzu, the Cannonau that unites wine and solidarity. The 2023 Cannonau di Sardegna "Vittoria" from the Jerzu Social Winery was also born as a memorial and solidarity project dedicated to Maria Vittoria Orrù. The initiative supports two annual scholarships for deserving students from Jerzu. Etna, Michele Scammacca: the region seeks a new balance. According to Michele Scammacca of Murgo, Etna is undergoing profound change and must bridge the gap between different price ranges. For the winery, the Metodo Classico represents an important strategic choice: approximately 200,000 of the 400,000 bottles produced are made with this method. The market is slowing and the skills required by wineries are changing. According to Andrea Pecchioni of WineJob, companies are increasingly seeking sales professionals capable of developing managerial vision and new markets, from Africa to South America. Furthermore, the importance of hospitality skills at the winery is growing, increasingly linked to direct sales, loyalty, and brand positioning.

ITALIAN WINE AND ITALIAN OENOLOGY

2026 Harvest: Promising Quality, but Climate Increasingly Determining. Initial indications point to a common thread: high temperatures, early ripening, and narrower harvest windows . From Chianti Classico to Alto Adige, the need for highly precise monitoring of vineyards and ripening is evident. Quality expectations remain positive, however.

Oltrepò Pavese: National Wine Strategy Requested As the harvest progresses, Coldiretti Pavia is calling for a National Strategic Plan for the wine sector , developed in collaboration with the wineries. The year was characterized by intense heat and water shortages, and the harvest could end in the first ten days of September. Lugana: Early Harvest and Good Quality Expectations. In Lake Garda, the Turbiana harvest began approximately ten days early . The district covers 2,670 hectares, and approximately 60% of production is intended for export. Quality expectations are positive, and no significant declines in quantity are expected, except in areas affected by hailstorms. Turin: High Quality, but Production Expected to Drop 20%. The harvest has begun with white grapes destined for sparkling wine. Coldiretti Turin predicts a reduction in production of approximately 20% , which could reach 50% in the Canavese areas affected by the Japanese blight. The estimated economic loss is approximately €2 million , while the quality of the grapes is judged to be very good. Hailstorm in the Verona area during the grape harvest. A hailstorm hit Peschiera del Garda, Colà di Lazise, Castelnuovo del Garda, and Bosco di Sona during the ripening and harvesting of the grapes. Investigations are underway to assess the extent of the damage to the companies. Veneto: Clearer rules on the exchange of agricultural labor. The Veneto Region aims to define a clearer framework for the exchange of labor between farmers and for the assistance provided by family members during periods of greater work intensity, such as the harvest. Grappello Ruberti, rediscovering a historic grape variety from the Po Valley . Attention is returning to Grappello Ruberti, a variety historically linked to the territories between Mantua and Cremona. Its history testifies to the value of Italian viticultural biodiversity and the preservation of local grape varieties. Tasting: technique and subjectivity coexist in judging wine. Acidity, tannin, alcohol content, structure, and persistence can be assessed technically; The subsequent qualitative assessment, however, inevitably retains a personal component. A reflection on the boundary between objective analysis and individual interpretation of wine. Italian wine: €1.45 billion in revenue affected by potential changes in ownership or governance. According to reports, at least six or seven major Italian wineries could face significant governance changes in the next 6-12 months, with transactions that would overall affect approximately €1.45 billion in revenue . Fine wine: Italy maintains a role in the international collectibles market. Some of the most prestigious Italian labels find space in the Liv-ex: Piedmontese Barolo and Barbaresco, Masseto, Ornellaia, Sassicaia, Solaia, Tignanello, and Soldera. The secondary market remains separate from the dynamics of ordinary consumption and continues to represent an interesting indicator of the value of fine wines. Vermouth di Torino among the most searched Italian PDO/PGI products on Wikipedia A study of 99 Italian products with a designation of origin places Vermouth di Torino among the most searched for excellences online, along with Gorgonzola, Parmigiano Reggiano, Grana Padano, and Taggiasca olives.

INTERNATIONAL

France: Small yields, but 2026 could be a great vintage. Despite temperatures above 40°C, drought, and fires, early indications suggest potentially highly concentrated and qualitatively interesting wines. The harvest began early in several regions, from Burgundy to Beaujolais and the Loire. In July, French rainfall was 67% lower than the national average .

Rhone Valley: 73% of winemakers adopt climate change mitigation measures. A survey by the Institut Rhodanien shows that 72 of the 98 producers interviewed have already adopted at least one adaptation practice, from early harvesting to irrigation. Climate change is significantly altering viticulture timing and techniques. Albania, early harvest also in Berat. At the Çobo Winery, the harvest of Puls, a native white grape variety also used for Classic Method base wines, began about ten days earlier than usual , further evidence of the impact of temperatures on ripening. Farewell to Branko Čotar, pioneer of orange wines from the Slovenian Karst . Branko Čotar, a leading figure in natural viticulture in the Slovenian Karst, has died at the age of 78. He practiced long macerations on white grapes decades before orange wines became an international trend.

WINE EVENTS, WINE TOURISM AND WINE CULTURE

Open Cellars during Harvest: two months dedicated to wine tourism. From August 24th to October 25th, the Wine Tourism Movement brings visitors to Italian wineries during one of the most important times of the year. Foreigners already represent 35-40% of winery visitors , but the potential for attracting them to Italy's overall international tourism flows remains significant.

Franciacorta in Cantina Festival. This September, the event dedicated to discovering the Franciacorta region through wineries, tastings, vineyards, historic homes, art, and outdoor activities returns. An example of how wine and the region can become an integrated tourist experience. Gessopalena: Abruzzo's rare grape varieties take center stage. The "Gli Irripetibili" tasting presents five years of micro-vinifications made with native varieties from the Abruzzo mountains. The Bio Cantina Sociale Orsogna project aims to preserve the genetic heritage and local viticultural heritage. Ardauli: young people discover the origins of Sardinian viticulture. The "Trekking among the Palmenti" led about one hundred participants through historic vineyards and ancient palmenti carved into the rock of the Oristano area, highlighting the relationship between wine, rural archaeology, and territorial identity. Crema Wine Festival: wine, music, and new tasting formats. The Offanengo edition experimented with a format without the traditional lineup of wineries: two expert tasters directly accompany the audience through tastings of wines, accompanied by music and food. Emilia-Romagna: dinners and aperitifs in the vineyard continue. The food and wine events in the vineyards continue until the end of August, transforming tastings, landscapes, and local cuisine into tools for learning about the region and the rural culture of Romagna.

PICTURE OF THE DAY

The 2026 harvest is highlighting a structural shift: the climate is altering the timing, quantity, and methods of wine production . From Oltrepò to Lugana, from Piedmont to France, early harvests, heat, and water shortages are forcing wineries to make increasingly rapid and precise decisions.

Quality, however, remains the positive aspect: in many areas, expectations are good or very good, even when volumes are decreasing.

On the economic front, a second important phenomenon is emerging: the sector is entering a phase of reorganization . The commercial slowdown is changing the skills required by wineries, and at the same time, several major Italian companies could face changes in ownership, the entry of new shareholders, or new governance.

Finally, the importance of wine tourism is growing. Open Cellars, the Franciacorta Festival, tastings in the villages, and initiatives in the vineyards demonstrate how the winery is no longer just a place of production: it is increasingly becoming a place to sell directly, build the brand, tell the story of the region, and create a lasting relationship with the consumer .

Today's summary: less focus on quantity alone, more quality, adaptability, brand value, direct consumer relationships, and appreciation of the local area. These are the factors reshaping Italian wine.

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

See you tomorrow.