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Issue 802 - September 7th - 11th 2026 - Expressly created for 3681 wine lovers,
professionals and opinion leaders from all over the world | |
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| | | History was made with this return, in which two destinies intersected: that of the young Kimi Antonelli, who, driving for Mercedes, became the first Italian driver in 60 years to stand on the top step of the podium at Monza; and that of LVMH, which, with Moët & Chandon Champagne, turned one of the world’s most anticipated and widely followed sporting events - in which it returned to the track in 2025 as the official sparkling - an opportunity to celebrate the heritage and allure of the famous French sparkling wine, featuring VIPs, Michelin-starred chefs, and renowned sommeliers from Italy’s most famous restaurants (with WineNews also present) during the 2026 “Formula 1 Pirelli Italian Grand Prix” at the Monza Autodrome. | |
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| | Despite the decline caused by various factors, from tariffs to changing consumption patterns, the U.S. market remains the undisputed No. 1 destination for Italian wine exports. The numbers speak for themselves: according to Istat data analyzed by WineNews, from January to May 2026, Italian wine exports totaled 709 million euros in value and 141.5 million liters in volume. Suffice it to say that Germany and the United Kingdom, the second- and third-largest markets for Italian wine, combined, imported Italian wine worth 717.6 million euros in the first five months of 2026, a figure only slightly higher. Not to mention that, in 2025, the U.S. accounted for nearly a quarter of total Italian wine exports (1.75 billion euros out of 7.7). That is why the United States remains a market to monitor and in which to continue investing, while maintaining a high level of attention. And it is precisely in one of the country’s most important cities, New York, that the spotlight will shine on Vinitaly.Usa No. 3, scheduled for October 26 and 27 at Pier 36, the large multipurpose center on Manhattan’s Lower East Side overlooking the East River. Meanwhile, the campaign to invite and select buyers is moving into its final stretch. To date, more than 400 buyers, including importers, distributors, and HoReCa operators have already registered with Veronafiere, which, in collaboration with Ita- Italian Trade Agency, is operating not only in the United States but also in Canada and Mexico. On the exhibitor front, the 11,000 square meters of exhibition space at Pier 36 are officially fully booked. Thanks in part to ITA, the “Made in Italy” contingent includes companies, regional and association-led groups (Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Lazio, Sardinia, Umbria, Enoteca Regionale dell’Emilia-Romagna, Italia del Vino, and Cooperativa produttori vitivinicoli di Matelica) and consortia (Asti DOCG, Brunello di Montalcino, Prosecco DOC, Vini dell’Elba, Vini Lugana DOC, and Vini delle Venezie DOC) has grown to 300 exhibitors, who will present 2,500 wine labels in New York. | |
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| | Italian wine exports, when the figures for the country’s individual regions and territories are combined, reached 3.6 billion euros in value during the period from January to June 2026, according to the latest Istat data analyzed by WineNews: a figure that, compared to the same period in 2025, represents a decline of 6.2%, though it should be noted that, compared to the first quarter of 2026, the decline has narrowed, falling from 8.2% to 6.2%. Exports from individual regions, however, are progressing at different rates. Leading the way is Veneto, with €1.3 billion in exports (-8.4%), ahead of Piedmont, which continues to see steady growth in 2026: exports for the first half of the year rose to €566.9 million, marking a 2.4% increase over the first half of 2025. Tuscany rounds out the top three, at 543.6 million euros, down 7.4% from the first half of 2025. | |
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| | | From Ferrari Trento to Rotari (Mezzacorona), from Altemasi and Cesarini Sforza (Cavit) to Marchesi Guerrieri Gonzaga and Maso Martis, these are just a few of the many wineries that have once again taken Trentodoc, the first Metodo Classico sparkling wine to receive DOC status in Italy and the renowned “mountain sparkling wine” par excellence, to the top of the world with 35 gold medals (out of a total of 87 for Italy and 156 overall) at the 2026 “Champagne & Sparkling Wine World Championships”, the world’s most prestigious competition dedicated to sparkling wines, founded by Tom Stevenson. Ferrari Trento, part of the Lunelli Group, took center stage (9 golds) and was once again awarded the “Sparkling Wine Producer of the Year” prize this year (with the “Trentodoc Festival” also on the horizon, scheduled for September 25–27 in Trento). Gold medals also went to Prosecco DOC sparkling wines, with wineries such as Paladin and Stefano Bottega; to Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG, with Andreola; and to Franciacorta, with brands such as Berlucchi, Bellavista, and Ca’ del Bosco; from South Tyrol with Kettmeir (Herita Marzotto Wine Estates); and from Campania with Dubl (Feudi di San Gregorio), just to name a few (see the complete list of medal winners for more details). | |
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| | | From Avignonesi, the historic producer of Nobile di Montepulciano, nominated for “European Winery of the Year”, to Paolo Saracco, Piedmont’s “master of Moscato,” nominated for “Winemaker of the Year”, from Ethica Wines, which imports Italian wine to the U.S. and is led by CEO Francesco Ganz, among the “Importer of the Year” nominees, to Varvaglione 1921, led by the Varvaglione family, among the “Environmental Advocate of the Year” nominees: here are the Italian nominations for the 2026 “Wine Enthusiast Wine Star Awards”. | |
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| | A reunion celebrated even around the table, with Italian cuisine and wine, its most faithful companion. That’s what brought Oasis to the Venice Film Festival in recent days for the screening of the documentary film “Oasis: Don’t Look Back in Anger”, which chronicles the reunion of Liam and Noel Gallagher. But they also enjoyed dishes by chef Tino Vettorello on the Terrazza Triennale, featuring a menu that showcased Italy through vibrant flavors, Mediterranean colors, and nods to the Veneto region, accompanied by glasses of Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG. With the bubbles from Veneto as the Official Sparkling Wine of the Venice Film Festival for the third consecutive year, and with limited-edition bottles taking center stage at all official Biennale events starting in 2024. | |
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| | The momentous change that Soave is undergoing, as Consortium President Cristian Ridolfi explained to WineNews, involves both revisions to the production regulations and the “Soave Identity Project”, which calls for a reorganization of the current 33 UGA zones. In the meantime, the best wines tasted by WineNews at “Appuntamento Soave” in Verona range from Coffele to Cadis 1898, from Suavia to La Cappuccina, from Le Mandolare to Prà, from Gini to Collis Heritage, from Bolla to Vicentini, and from Santi to Vitevis. | |
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