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Issue 777 - March 16th - 20th 2026 - Expressly created for 3704 wine lovers,
professionals and opinion leaders from all over the world | |
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| | | In recognition of his exceptional achievements in winemaking, the Institute of Masters of Wine has honored winemaker Renzo Cotarella with the 2026 “Winemakers’ Winemaker Award”, a prestigious award presented in collaboration with “The Drinks Business” to the CEO of Marchesi Antinori, the historic family renowned in the Italian and global wine world, at ProWein. “I am happy and truly honored, both personally and on behalf of the Antinori team, to receive this prestigious award from the Institute”, said Renzo Cotarella (the second Italian to receive it after Angelo Gaja in 2019, ed.) “I consider it a confirmation of our commitment to producing wines in line with the “Masters of Wine philosophy””. | |
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| | The problems in the wine market are evident and well known, and should not be hidden. But there is no need to panic, because they can be addressed by analyzing them and seeking new opportunities. This requires greater flexibility on the part of companies, more attention to costs than in the past, while continuing to invest in promotion and market presence, starting with trade shows themselves. We must continue to be present there, even more so than before. But perhaps in a lighter, “smarter”, more practical, and less costly way. Or at least with fewer resources dedicated to the “show”, focusing everything on the more practical aspects of the trade. Keeping in mind that, today more than ever, no market, large or small, historic or new, can be overlooked. It is, therefore, a sentiment, not illusory optimism, but concrete proactivity, that emerges from ProWein, held in Düsseldorf in recent days, where the WineNews staff gathered the impressions of many key figures in the Italian wine industry and the trade, primarily German but not exclusively so. For a trade show, moreover, where, despite a smaller number of exhibitors and trade visitors, business contacts were nonetheless plentiful for those who had prepared properly. A trade show that may no longer have the “global” scope it did a few years ago, but which nonetheless focuses on a key European market, where Italian wine exports alone, with Germany leading the way, are worth over 4 billion euros. And which, as is evident, and as confirmed in a conversation with WineNews by Marius Berlermann, CEO of Messe Düsseldorf, is returning somewhat “back to its roots”, to its origins as a “regional” fair, that is, one dedicated primarily to the German trade and neighboring countries (which, from Switzerland to the Netherlands, from Belgium to France, and from Eastern to Northern Europe, are important markets for Italy). Walking around the expo over these three days, one aspect, which may also be an indication for the near future, became evident: the largest flows of visitors and trade professionals were drawn to the collective stands of reputable German importers or distributors of Italian wines, or to the collective stands of major brands. Meanwhile, much lower attendance was seen at the “regional and consortium” group stands, even the major ones, with a few rare exceptions. | |
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| | For years, sparkling wines have been the driving force behind the global and Italian wine markets, but they are not entirely immune to the current challenges. On this topic, we are pleased to receive and publish (in depth) the remarks by Marcello Lunelli, vice president of Ferrari, a Trentino-based company that is a leader in Italy and a global benchmark for sparkling wines, prepared for the Wine Market Forum at the Accademia Intrecci, in Castiglione in Teverina, hosted by the Cotarella family and promoted by the Chiasso-Cotarella Wine Consulting Society, titled “Rethinking Wine: Opportunities and Strategies for Growth in a Changing Market”. The presentation highlighted the dynamics of the sparkling wine market by comparing Prosecco DOC and Prosecco DOCG, Champagne, and the Italian Metodo Classico. | |
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| | | When people talk about wine in Tuscany, what comes to mind above all are great red wines. But times are changing, just as the climate is changing and consumer tastes are evolving; for years now, consumers have been turning to sparkling wines more and more often. And so, now, even the Grand Duchy is associating its most famous regional brand with sparkling wine. This is because a decisive step has been taken in the process leading to the creation of the sparkling version of IGT Toscana, both Metodo Classico and Charmat, both white and rosé, with the green light from the National Wine Committee of the Ministry of Agriculture, a fundamental step in a process that began with the approval of the Regional Council of Tuscany in December 2024, and which now awaits the final approval by the European Commission. A historic change to the regulations, explains the Consorzio Vino Toscana, which oversees the IGT Toscana designation and is led by Cesare Cecchi and Stefano Campatelli, that could represent significant potential for one of Italy’s most important Geographical Indications and one of the most recognized worldwide, with an average production over the last 5 years, of over 90 million bottles, with a production value of 458 million euros, and 70% of the product being exported. | |
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| | | For wineries, cultural investments and commissioned works by emerging talents in contemporary art serve as a means to communicate their values and Italian identity. Take Pasqua, for example, the Venetian winery that, as part of its new patronage campaign, is sponsoring the Estate Teatrale Veronese at the Teatro Romano in Verona, and has unveiled the fifth edition of “Hey French: You Could Have Made It But You Didn’t”, a multivintage blend featuring a label by Cuban artist Cb Hoyo, who is also creating a site-specific work on display at the theater for Vinitaly 2026 (April 1–15). | |
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| | The issue of rising inflation and declining consumer purchasing power, in Italy as elsewhere, has recently become a central concern for every sector, including the wine industry. But on closer inspection, while consumer prices for many goods, from energy to food, have risen significantly and substantially over the past 10 years, wine, at least in Italy, is one of the products that has seen the smallest increase. According to Eurostat data processed by the Federal Reserve Economic Data (FRED) and analyzed by the American Association of Wine Economics, looking at changes in the harmonized index of consumer prices for wine from 2015 to 2025, Italy recorded a +7.4% increase, the lowest among the selected European countries, as smaller increases were recorded only in Switzerland (+4.8%). Increases were much steeper in Northern and Eastern Europe (in more details). | |
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| | Mezzacorona, one of the jewels of the virtuous cooperation within the Italian and Trentino wine sectors, and beyond (it also owns the Rotari winery, one of the symbols of Trentodoc, and Feudo Arancio in Sicily, as well as the subholding Nosio, which manages the marketing of Mezzacorona Group products in over 60 countries worldwide), led by Luca Rigotti, was honored at ProWein, as the “best Italian cooperative of the last 25 years” by the renowned Mundus Vini competition (which has honored many Italian wines, and Fantini Wines as “Best Italian Producer” 2026). | |
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