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Issue 622 - March 27th - 31st 2023 - Expressly created for 4469 wine lovers, professionals and opinion leaders from all over the world |
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Ruffino, among the leaders in Chianti Classico and Tuscan wine, as well as Prosecco (from Constellation Brands), has acquired 15 hectares in the Bolgheri DOC (of which 6 hectares are already in vineyard, and another 9, with planting rights, that will become real vineyard in the coming months) one of the most quoted and in good shape at the moment (and where by now the vineyard per hectare in the denomination ranges from 750,000 to 1 million euros, ed.) The goal, explains the company led by Sandro Sartor, is to “produce the main Bolgheri wines in the new estate, which will have its own label”. But already they are also looking at a new cellar and hospitality. |
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Wine is a “medium” for territories and their civilization, and winemakers are guardians and at the same time, innovators. It is also a product that goes against the trend and towards “parcelisation” an expression of the territories, in an increasingly standardized world. The vine is a plant that resists and adapts and has always known how to live with climate change over the centuries. Vines will certainly know how to do so again, thanks to the work and care of the winemakers. These are the profound thoughts and messages from Monsieur Aubert De Villaine, co-owner (until 2022) of one of the most prestigious wineries in the world, Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, an icon of Burgundy, and for the last half a century, the leading figure of one of the territories of the most famous wines in the world. WineNews met with him, once again, face to face, during the tribute in memory of the “Master of Sangiovese”, Giulio Gambelli (Aubert De Villaine is honorary president, ed.), promoted by Pasquale Forte at Podere Forte, surrounded by the beauty of the vineyards in Val d’Orcia, a Unesco World Heritage Site. We talked about wine, and also history, culture, current events and the future, with one of the most prestigious personalities who has indelibly influenced world winemaking, bringing it to the highest level of quality, starting from the “fine wines” market. He has, though, always remained faithful to defend the concept of terroir, the link between man and nature, and taking care of it as a “good family man” cares for his family; that is, putting human, cultural and sustainable values - the true heritage of each territory - ahead of the economic aspect. With wine that can be defined as a “medium” of territories. “Yes, I think you can say that. There is a saying in France that explains it very well: "there is no great predestined vineyard, there are only ambitions of civilization", and I think the definition is exact and tells the truth. Wine is the guardian of culture: without local wines, many aspects of our culture would be lost”. Climate change? “The vineyard has gone through many different and difficult moments, extreme cold and extreme heat, and has always resisted. Today, in this phase of global warming, I am convinced that the vineyard, with the help of the vigneron, will show us that it will be able to adapt once again”. |
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As repeatedly written in many of our articles and analyses, 2022, for Italian wine, despite the long wave of Covid, the war in Ukraine, high energy and raw materials prices, and out-of-control inflation, went better than expected. And in reconfirmation comes Pambianco’s analysis of the turnovers of the 15 largest wine companies in Italy, which points out that “the big companies not only fended off the difficulties, but also grew. In fact, if one considers the sum of turnovers, the average growth was 9%, from just under 3.9 billion euros to just over 4.2 billion”. At the top, in terms of turnovers, were Cantine Riunite & Civ, Argea, Italian Wine Brands, Caviro, Cavit, Santa Margherita, Antinori, Fratelli Martini, La Marca, Mezzacorona, Zonin1821, Terre Cevico, Frescobaldi, Gruppo Lunelli and Villa Sandi (numbers in more detail). |
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Italy’s wine sector once again ascends to the roof of the world, winning the “Oscar” of the best brands, once again thanks to one of its top names, Marchesi Antinori. The historic winery of the Antinori family, now led by Albiera, Allegra and Alessia with their father Piero Antinori and CEO Renzo Cotarella, is at no. 1 in 2023 of “The World’s Most Admired Wine Brands” by “Drinks International” magazine, revealed on YouTube, and made each year by the votes of an “academy” made up of influential personalities and wine industry professionals (buyers, sommeliers, merchants, restaurateurs, Masters of Wine, critics, educators and others), who judge wine quality and consistency, value for money and strength of brand and marketing. But Antinori, which in “The World’s Most Admired Wine Brands” also places its iconic Tignanello at No. 21, is in the company of a large group of top Italian wine brands, in a list that includes many big names from France, Spain and beyond. From Tenuta San Guido’s Sassicaia at No. 6, to Gaja, at No. 7, from Planeta, at No. 25, to Ornellaia and Frescobaldi, at Nos. 33 and 34, both from the Frescobaldi group. An Italian “parterre de rois” that once again makes the star of Italian wine shine brighter than any in the world. |
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The Bulgarian trademark “Bolgaré” is evocative of the Bolgheri DOP, and cannot be used. So ruled the General Court of the European Union, agreeing with the Tuscan appellation. “The General Court of the European Union recognizes all the reasons of the Bolgheri and Bolgheri Sassicaia Consortium in the case against the Bulgarian trademark Bolgaré”, explains a note from the Consortium, which was thus right against the attempt to register the trademark by the Domaine Boyar winery. |
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For the world of Italian wine, sustainability is an essential commitment, a choice that no producer can no longer ignore. And communicating it creates resilience and competitive advantages. It is the meaning of a beautiful, but difficult and often abused term for Italian wineries, according to a survey promoted by the Gavi Consortium, and carried out by Walden Lab & The Round Table, for the Premio Gavi “La Buona Italia 2023”. In edition no. 9, in recent days, to win the recognition dedicated to the good practices implemented by the wineries and by the Consortiums of Italian wine, is Ruffino, for the ability to communicate its commitment in sustainability. The Mezzacorona Group, Cantina Pizzolato and Ricci Curbastro were also awarded with the “Special Mentions” |
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With 50 events in a rich schedule for everyone including tastings, masterclasses, wine talks, meetings and guided tours, “Vinitaly and the City” is back, the “fuori salone” of “Vinitaly 2023”, edition no. 55 focused on business, internationalization (with over 1,000 top buyers present, +43% on 2022, from 68 selected countries), to give even more boost to a wine supply chain which, overall, is worth 31.3 billion euros in turnover developed by 530,000 companies and 870,000 employees, identikit of a strategic sector for the whole Made in Italy. |
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