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Issue 810 - November 2nd - 6th 2026 - Expressly created for 3696 wine lovers,
professionals and opinion leaders from all over the world | |
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| | | According to WineNews, since the traditional September estimates on the grape harvest, usually provided by Ismea, Assoenologi, and Unione Italiana Vini (Uiv), have not been released, we will have to wait “almost until Christmas” to get any data on Italy’s latest harvest. We’ll have to rely either on data from grape harvest declarations, which wineries are required by law to submit by November 30, or on wine and must production declarations, due by December 15. In the meantime, the only estimates available are those from the European Commission’s DG AGRI, updated as of November 2: Italy is expected to produce 41.1 million hectoliters, Spain 37.5 million, and France 33.8 million.
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| | Nebbiolo reaffirms its status as the grape variety that Italian producers are best able to transform into wines with long aging potential. In fact, it dominates the Italian entries in “Wine Enthusiast”’s “Top 100 Cellar Selections” 2026, a list dedicated to wines meant to be stored in the cellar so they can fully express their potential: out of 25 Italian wines, a quarter of the ranking, 8 are made from Nebbiolo, including 6 Barolos and 2 from Valtellina. First is Ferreira’s 2024 Vintage Port, followed by To Kalon Vineyard’s 2023 Lithology. Third, and the top Italian entry, is Giacomo Fenocchio’s 2019 Barolo Bussia Riserva. Next, at No. 17, is the 2019 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva from Poggio Antico, owned by Dutch entrepreneur Marcel Van Poecke; at No. 20, Villa Bucci’s Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Classico Riserva Bucci 2021, now part of the Oniwines group; at No. 23, Livio Felluga’s Friuli Colli Orientali Picolit del Sole 2019; at No. 24, Poggio di Sotto’s Brunello di Montalcino Riserva 2018 from the ColleMassari group; at No. 31, La Poja 2019 from Allegrini. At No. 33, the Valtellina Superiore Sassella Nuova Regina Riserva 2018 from Arpepe; at No. 38, the Franciacorta Annamaria Clementi Dosage Zero Riserva 2017 from Ca’ del Bosco; at No. 42, the 2022 Alto Adige Nova Domus Terlaner Riserva from Cantina di Terlano; at No. 48, the 2016 Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Campolongo di Torbe from Masi; at No. 50, the 2021 Alta Valle della Greve IGT Piantonaia from Podere Poggio Scalette. At position 52, Ratti’s 2021 Barolo Rocche dell’Annunziata; at position 56, Tenuta Fratini’s 2022 Bolgheri Superiore Hortenese; at No. 58, the 2017 Alta Langa Pas Dosé Blanc de Blanc by Ettore Germano; at No. 60, the 2021 Valtellina Superiore Valgella Vigneto Carterìa Riserva by Sandro Fay. At No. 61, the 2020 Alto Adige Barthenau Vigna S. Urbano Riserva by J. Hofstätter; at No. 62, the 2021 Romagna Sangiovese Le Lucciole Predappio Riserva by Chiara Condello; at No. 63, the 2023 Colli Tortonesi Derthona Riserva by Pio Cesare; at No. 66, the 2021 Toscana IGT Palaferno by Querciabella. Then four Barolos: the 2019 Vignolo Riserva by Cavallotto at No. 69, the 2019 Cerequio Riserva by Michele Chiarlo at No. 70, the 2021 Cannubi by Poderi Luigi Einaudi at No. 78, and the 2022 Monvigliero by Vietti at No. 81. At No. 82, the 2019 Amarone della Valpolicella from Romano dal Forno; at No. 98, the 2021 Tal 1930 from Cantina di Bolzano. | |
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| | BolognaFiere “wine mosaic” continues to expand (the company has since acquired a 49.9% stake in Gambero Rosso Holding and, according to many analysts, is looking to acquire a majority stake as early as the coming months). Following Excellence Sidi’s “Champagne Experience” and the Mexican debut of the “Wine Experience” (held in recent days in Mexico City, following editions in London and Ho Chi Minh City), the next “major events” are Fivi’s “Mercato dei Vini dei Vignaioli Indipendenti” (November 21–23) and the “Slow Wine Fair”, in partnership with Slow Wine and Slow Food, from February 21 to 23, 2027, alongside Sana Food. And that’s where the new partnership with “Raw Wine”, the global community of reference for natural, organic, biodynamic, and low-intervention wines, founded by Master of Wine Isabelle Legeron, will also make its debut at the same time. | |
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| | | “Since 1992, we’ve always wanted to keep the focus on the future of the wine world, which cannot be separated from the regions and the producers. Today, we also want to shine a spotlight on the role of technology and AI as cross-cutting tools and potential allies from the vineyard to the winery, making the wealth of wine knowledge accessible, facilitating opportunities for communication and promotion, and ensuring transparency and information for consumers”. This is according to Helmuth Köcher, founder of the Merano Wine Festival (running through November 10). It’s an opportunity for WineNews (which is a media partner, ed.) to take stock of the state of the industry and reflect on the 2026 harvest, which has concluded but about which little has yet been said in terms of numbers and quality estimates (pending the official figures). In the spotlight is a packed program, ranging from the organic sector to no- and low-alcohol wines, from signature cuisine to Metodo Classico sparkling wines and beyond. The event features over 350 wineries in the “Wine Italia” section, ranging from the major brands of South Tyrol, which is “playing on home turf”, to many of Italy’s most prestigious wineries (in more detail). | |
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| | | Marroneto, Biondi-Santi, Poggio di Sotto, Ornellaia, Giacomo Conterno, Borgogno, Emidio Pepe, Roagna, Passopisciaro, Marchesi Frescobaldi, Isole e Olena: Italy is well represented, alongside other major players in the international wine scene, at the 2026 “Golden Vines Online Auction”, in support of the Gérard Basset Foundation, which funds global education, training, and mentorship programs in the wine, spirits, and hospitality sectors, with the goal of promoting inclusion. The auction will conclude on November 8. | |
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| | Spain leads the way, but Italy is among the elite with five restaurants in the Top 50. In Lima, Peru, the awards ceremony for “The World’s Best Restaurant” 2026, the ranking of the world’s best restaurants, took place, with Asador Etxebarri in Atxondo, in the Basque Country, taking the top spot. For Italy, Piazza Duomo in Alba, led by Chef Enrico Crippa and owned by the Ceretto family, ranks No. 20; Al Gatto Verde, in Modena, led by chef Jessica Rosval (named “Best Female Chef”), No. 27 for Il Reale in Castel di Sangro, led by chef Niko Romito, No. 38 for Atelier Moessmer, led by chef Norbert Niederkofler in Brunico, and No. 43 for Le Calandre, run by the Alajmo brothers in Rubano; and No. 51 for Uliassi in Senigallia, led by Chef Mauro Uliassi. | |
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| | La Paulée brings together the finest wines from the greatest wineries, offering wine lovers experiences in the iconic regions of France and Italy. Its symposia are also considered among the world’s premier wine events, “convivia” in which La Paulée’s prestigious producers look toward the future of the sector. This is exactly what they did, once again in Italy, at a place that symbolizes “Italian craftsmanship”: Solomeo, where they were welcomed by fashion designer Brunello Cucinelli, a wine producer at Castello di Solomeo (and where WineNews was also present). | |
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