If this message is not displayed correctly click here |
Issue 797 - August 3rd - 7th 2026 - Expressly created for 3691 wine lovers,
professionals and opinion leaders from all over the world | |
|
|
| | | According to a study by the American Association of Wine Economist (Aawe), based on the 2024 Fadn (Farm Accountancy Data Network) data, which measures the wealth created by the cultivation of vineyards for each hectare of land, net of intermediate costs, Italy is the absolute protagonist: on the podium of this special ranking, behind Champagne (€60,030 per hectare), there is South Tyrol, Italy “white wine pearl”, with €32,155 per hectare and the Aosta Valley, at No. 3, with €32,043 per hectare. Liguria, Piedmont, Tuscany, Molise, Veneto, and Friuli-Venezia Giulia also stand out in the top 20 (more in depth).
| |
|
| | Terlano, the pearl of South Tyrol and among the first to believe in the longevity of great white wines, and Cavit, a Trentino giant which, with 5,250 winemakers, manages over 6,000 hectares of vines, 60% of regional vineyard, are, in order, the best cooperatives in the world, according to the 2026 contest by the German magazine “Weinwirtschaft” (as we anticipated in recent days). But the full ranking, published today, recognizes many leading Italian wine cooperatives, which account for half of European and Italian production. In the world rankings, among the top 20, at No.5, there is Cantina Kurtatsch, yet another excellence of South Tyrol, along with other regional gems such as Cantina Andriano, Cantina Merano, and Cantina Bolzano at Nos. 9, 10, and 13 (these wineries, along with Terlano, are also the “top 5” cooperatives in South Tyrol, a region which has always had its own ranking, given the importance and excellence of wine cooperatives here). As well as South Tyrolean Tramin, at No. 20,. Looking at the Italian rankings, Cavit is obviously No. 1, while the Italian podium also includes Cva Canicattì, one of Sicily largest producers, and Cantina Valpolicella Negrar, a leading producer of Amarone della Valpolicella and other local wines. At No.4, again, there is Citra from Abruzzo, while at No. 5, there is another Sicilian cooperative leader, Settesoli, whose 5,700 hectares of vineyards range from rows rooted just steps from the sea at Menfi to those overlooking Europe largest archaeological park, Selinunte, and not only. Position No. 6, however, leads to Sannio, with La Guardiense, while at No.7, there is Cantina Colli del Soligo, a historic Prosecco di Conegliano Valdobbiadene producer, while at No.8 one returns to Sicily with Cantine Ermes, a company which, starting from Gibellina, is also present, with its own facilities and collaborations, in Puglia, Abruzzo, Emilia Romagna, Veneto, Lombardy and Lazio (thanks to the recent operation involving Gotto d’Oro, ed). Closing the Italian “top 10”, at No. 9, there are Cantina dei Vignaioli del Morellino di Scansano, the largest and most important winery in the prestigious Maremma area, and Cantina Frentana, in Abruzzo.
| |
|
| | Enhancing Italy territory through experiences which bring cultural heritage and landscape into dialogue is a journey in which Pinot Grigio DOC Delle Venezie - denomination, which today accounts for 85% of Italian Pinot Grigio production and 43% of global production, with 27,000 hectares across Veneto, Friuli-Venezia Giulia and the Autonomous Province of Trento, 230 million bottles, 6,141 winegrowers, 575 winemaking companies and 371 bottling companies - becomes an active interpreter of a contemporary lifestyle and an authentic way of experiencing places, with the continuation of the collaboration with FAI, the Italian Environmental Fund Ets, on the occasion of “Sere Fai d’Estate”. The next events will be held on August 8th at the Avio Castle in Sabbionara di Avio (Trento) and on August 16th at the Saline Conti Vecchi in Assemini (Cagliari).
| |
|
| | | The metaphor of a wine-producing Italy operating at “two speeds” now seems insufficient to describe the gap which separates much of the country wine sector, struggling to find the way to curb production, from the world of Prosecco, where the discussion revolves around how to keep growing. We are now looking at two truly “different” countries, as clearly emerged during the meeting held in recent days and organized by Cia-Agricoltori Italiani Treviso at Enoteca Veneta in Conegliano, with the title “The Prosecco System: what horizons?”, brought together around one table (as Coldiretti had already done at the end of 2025, also featuring a contribution from WineNews director Alessandro Regoli, ed) the three distinct yet synergistic souls of Prosecco represented by Consorzio di Tutela del Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG, headed by Franco Adami, the Prosecco DOC Consortium, headed by Giancarlo Guidolin and the Asolo Prosecco Superiore DOCG Consortium, headed by Michele Noal (in more detail). The gap between the sparkling wine heartland of northeastern Italy and the rest of the country wine industry continues to widen day by day, marked not only by figures but, above all, by differing strategic visions for the future, beginning with the management of the upcoming harvest.
| |
|
| | | In 1961, in Switzerland, biologist Julian Huxley and Princes Bernhard of the Netherlands and Philip of Edinburgh founded the WWF. WWF Italia was established in 1966, thanks to environmentalist Fulco Pratesi. Headed by Marchese Mario Incisa della Rocchetta, who, before creating Sassicaia, next to Tenuta San Guido vineyards, had founded the first Italian private wildlife refuge, Padule di Bolgheri. Today, WWF is the most important organization for nature conservation and recently celebrated 60 years (more in depth). | |
|
| | In recent years, many foods have found themselves in the dock, put on trial in the name of health and often condemned without appeal. This is a narrative which has gained ground with the force of a dogma, and perhaps the time has come for a counter-narrative. Noone denies the importance of prevention, scientific research, and nutrition education, the problem arises when this focus turns into a moralizing impulse that treats every food as a threat and every pleasure as a sin to be atoned for. This is the shift from prevention to demonization. But health and well-being, both mental and physical, also depend on pleasure and social connection, as well as on moderation and common sense. According to WineNews, many of these campaigns are based on a fundamental error of perspective (more in depth). | |
|
| | The winemaking soul of Compagnia del Gusto Holding, the investment platform inspired and promoted by the Cosulich family and led by ceo Ettore Nicoletto and chairman Sergio Albarelli, continues to grow, which, after the announcement, in recent days, of the acquisition of Cantine Romagnoli, a historic company in the Piacenza Hills, under “Compagnia delle Vigne” division, is relaunches with the acquisition of Jascots Wine Merchants from Freixenet Copestick, with the two companies which have signed also a partnership for the distribution of Italian wines in the Uk On-Trade channel.
| |
|
|
|
