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Issue 758 - November 3rd - 7th 2025 - Expressly created for 3703 wine lovers,
professionals and opinion leaders from all over the world | |
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| | | With the harvest now over, it is time for further estimates of an expected harvest that comes in a difficult year for wine. According to Copa Cogeca, the “voice” of EU farmers and agricultural cooperatives, the European wine sector estimates wine production of 145.5 million hectoliters for 2025, up 1% on 2024. However, although volumes are recovering, they remain 7.5% below the five-year average. Italy remains the EU leader with an estimated production of 47 million hectoliters, ahead of France with around 37 million hectoliters and Spain, which drops to third place with around 31.5 million hectoliters (in more detail). | |
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| | The financing of wine promotion projects in third countries with CMO funds could rise from 50% to a much higher 80%, and the digitization of labels is being simplified, but EU CMO funds could now also be used to finance the removal of vineyards: These are some of the new developments from the recent votes on amendments to the “Wine Package” in the EU Parliament’s Agriculture Committee in Strasbourg, an intermediate but important step ahead of the plenary vote on November 25, which will kick off negotiations on the final regulation by the “Trilogue” between the Commission, Council, and EU Parliament. Among Italian trade organizations, Federvini expresses substantial appreciation. Starting with the “confirmation of simplifications in labeling, the provision of higher support rates for sectoral interventions, and the extension of the duration of promotion projects”. For Albiera Antinori, president of the Federvini Wine Group, these are “measures aimed at strengthening the promotion, internationalization, and sustainability of the sector”. The Unione Italiana Vini (Uiv) is more critical, speaking of “lights and shadows”. Among the positive aspects, it cites “the increase of up to 80% in the contribution allowed for promotion in third countries and the extension of the duration of the programs, the pro-digitization choice for labeling, while on the subject of dealcoholized wines, it is not convinced by the Parliament’s proposal on the term “reduced alcohol” (instead of partially dealcoholized)”. A highly negative element, according to Unione Italiana Vini, is related to the issue of grubbing-up and distillation: “this decision takes us back 15 year”, comments Uiv president Lamberto Frescobaldi. The “Wine Package” and the CAP post-2028 were also the focus of yesterday’s meeting in Rome between representatives of the wine industry and the administrations of the three main wine producers in the EU, Italy, France, and Spain. Among the requests was that of following up on the recommendations of the High Level Group, namely that the legislation be adapted to accommodate and make room for new products, such as dealcoholized wines and sustainable productions of low-alcohol wines obtained naturally (in more detail). | |
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| | As has been the case for some time now, many people are combining finance and business to invest in wine & food, with the aim of bringing together different but synergistic companies and products. One such example is Compagnia del Gusto Holding, a project inspired by the Cosulich family that “aims to become the Italian platform of reference for the promotion of food & beverage excellence”, bringing together “high-quality companies, supporting their growth and accompanying them in the market”, and combining “financial solidity, sustainability, and strategic vision”, with the aim of achieving a turnover of around €200 million. The project is divided into three “business units” - Compagnia del Mare, Compagnia delle Vigne, and Compagnia dei Sapori - founded by Francesco Cosulich, with Ettore Nicoletto as CEO and Sergio Albarelli as president. | |
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| | | With the harvest now over and the latest vintage resting in the cellars, it is time for Italian wine to reflect on the future, amid declining consumption, new lifestyles, climate change, and the need to compete on global markets. This is being done at the Merano WineFestival 2025, the “salotto buono” of Italian wine, which, until November 11, under the direction of patron Helmuth Köcher, brings together Italian and international food and wine excellence in Merano to meet professionals and enthusiasts from all over Italy among the vineyards of South Tyrol. A setting that sees the “red carpet” of the 34th edition, dedicated to “Vision: Wine & Food Creators” - the “creators of the food and wine world” who face many challenges, as Helmuth Köcher explained to WineNews. Helmuth Köcher - over 1,000 wineries (whose wines, more than 2,000 for the first time, will also be available for purchase, and who will meet buyers with ICE) and 130 food producers. But also 100 Italian wines competing for the “WineHunter Platinum Awards”, the 10 Italian “Cult Oenologists” 2025, and the “WineHunter Stars”, eight prominent figures in the world of food and wine who will be honored for their passion, dedication, and extraordinary commitment, with guest star Andrea Bocelli, tenor-vigneron with Bocelli 1831 in Lajatico, Tuscany, and WineNews among the award winners. | |
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| | | Perhaps it is because the sound of the cork popping out of the bottle is not so different from that of the racket hitting the ball, or perhaps it is because the round shape of the ball itself resembles bubbles, but the fact is that, once again, the “Nitto ATP Finals” tennis tournament, in Turin from November 9 to 16, alongside Jannik Sinner and the world’s greatest tennis champions, will feature Asti DOCG as the Official Sparkling Wine and Silver Partner. | |
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| | Combining production, beauty, hospitality, and experiences around wine has become a determining factor for the world’s largest wineries, for business, image, and affinity with those concepts of “goodness and beauty” that almost always go hand in hand. For several years now, “The World’s Best Vineyards” has been selecting the best wine destinations on the planet, with the top 50 wineries to be unveiled on November 19 at Amelia Park Wines in the host region of Margaret River, Western Australia (with WineNews invited to attend the event in person, ed.). But, while waiting to find out the top of the ranking, as always, there is a lot of Italy, with 6 wineries already in positions 100 to 51: in order, they are Castello Banfi, Arianna Occhipinti, Tenuta Cavalier Pepe, Marchesi di Barolo, Masi, and Casanova di Neri (in depth). | |
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| | The market calls, Garda DOC responds: with the amendment to the regulations published in the Official Gazette, the green light has been given for the 2025 harvest to produce a low-alcohol version (9% ABV) for Garganega-based whites (the first appellation to do so), the designation “Cremant” for sparkling wines, and more (in more detail). “This revision of the regulations represents a strategic step for our appellation. We are giving voice to a unique territory that combines winemaking tradition with a modern and international vision”, comments Consortium President Paolo Fiorini. | |
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