Wine Idea's wine news for December 21, 2024!

1. Emilia-Romagna protagonist at Vinitaly 2025 with Bottura and his wines

The 57th edition of Vinitaly (6-9 April 2025) will focus on Emilia-Romagna, which will present itself with the renovated Pavilion 1 and a special “birthday”: the 30th anniversary of Massimo Bottura's La Francescana . The three-Michelin-star chef will bring a starred restaurant to the Verona pavilions for the first time. It will be a unique opportunity to tell the story of the variety of the regional wine heritage: from Sangiovese Romagna to Malvasia del Piacentino, passing through the Lambrusco rosés and the local whites.

2. Drinking wine to lower cholesterol? The secret is moderation

A popular belief holds that a glass of red wine can benefit your health, especially your cholesterol levels. The “trick,” some studies explain, lies in the polyphenols and resveratrol contained in grape skins. If consumed in moderation, red wine can help improve HDL cholesterol levels (the “good” one), but you always need to take into account your lifestyle and overall calorie intake, as well as any medical advice.

3. Wine or beer? Hop drinkers would have a less healthy lifestyle

According to research presented at the Liver Meeting 2024 , beer drinkers tend to have a less healthy lifestyle than consumers of wine or other alcoholic beverages. In fact, they are more likely to smoke, be less physically active and tend to consume low-quality food. Those who prefer wine, on the other hand, on average adopt a more “Mediterranean” diet, with potentially beneficial effects also for the liver, as long as excesses are avoided.

4. Isi 2024 Call: 90 million euros for agricultural mechanization

The Isi Call, promoted by Inail , is back for 2025 and provides a total of 600 million euros (508 million last year), of which 90 million are earmarked for agricultural mechanization. The initiative aims to support projects that improve workplace safety and the environmental impact of companies, including wine-making ones. Micro, small and medium-sized enterprises in the agriculture, industry and services sectors can participate.

5. A new venue in Milan: a great sommelier opens an “artisan” wine bar

Inside the Mercato Isola in Milan, “Celeste” has recently opened, a micro-winery with a selection of artisanal and natural bottles. It is signed by Alessandro Perricone , born in 1988, with a curriculum in several starred restaurants and a “clean and linear” approach to wine. An opportunity to explore, in the center of Milan, labels from small producers far from large distributions.

6. La Tordera: from the ancient roccolo to the modern heroic viticulture of Prosecco

The La Tordera winery, in Vidor (TV), has its roots in 1918 when Bepi Vettoretti began cultivating vineyards on the hills of Valdobbiadene. Today, with a heritage of 82 hectares, the company led by the Vettoretti family has specialized in Prosecco Superiore Docg with a particular emphasis on environmental sustainability and a “zero impact” viticultural approach. The name La Tordera derives from a roccolo (a place for hunting thrushes) transformed into a symbol of the evolution from the peasant past to a modern vision of wine.

7. Two of the best Veronese wines for Christmas and New Year

The Vinetia guide by AIS Veneto has selected, among the perfect wines for the holidays, some Veronese excellences, including the Amarone della Valpolicella Riserva DOCG 2015 by Brigaldara, awarded with high scores. Those looking for a sparkling wine, on the other hand, can orient themselves on the Soave Spumante metodo classico or on a Custoza spumante, always mentioned among the choices of AIS Veneto to accompany dinners or to give as gifts.

8. A biofungicide against grey mould in vineyards: Mevalone approved

It is called Mevalone and is an antifungal composed of terpenes (natural substances extracted from plants) enclosed in microcapsules with Sustaine technology. Recently, it was included in the Organic Input List by FiBL (Forschungsinstitut für biologischen Landbau) in Germany, and this officially allows its use in organic farming, even in vineyards, to combat Botrytis cinerea (gray mold), the enemy of many grape varieties.

9. Alcohol Dealers, Beware of the Misunderstanding: the “hoax” is just around the corner

The debate over dealcoholized wines continues. Some enthusiasts say they bought a bottle labeled “Riesling” and tasted it without realizing it was dealcoholized, but still found it pleasant. The risk is confusing a true low-alcohol Riesling with a completely “no alcohol” version. This issue is at the center of tensions between wine purists and those who, instead, see an emerging market and a consumer base increasingly interested in reducing alcohol consumption.

10. Lambrusco and Champagne: more similar than you think?

A curious parallel links two apparently distant wine worlds: Lambrusco and Champagne . Of course, the grape varieties (Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier) have nothing to do with Lambrusco (Sorbara, Grasparossa, Salamino…), nor does the price positioning. But in terms of identity, they are both synonymous with conviviality, freshness and immediacy, choosing lightheartedness as a common value. And, ultimately, both wines are moving away from the idea of a “monopoly” on certain occasions.

11. Val d'Oca: Rive Signature in San Pietro di Barbozza

Cantina Val d'Oca launches the new Rive Signature line, with a Prosecco Superiore Docg Valdobbiadene Rive di San Pietro di Barbozza Brut 2023. The label stands out for its creaminess, citrus aromas and a marked mineral component. It is part of a range of 3 Rive that the company (600 members and 16 million bottles) dedicates to the most suitable expressions of the territory.

12. Quintessenz di Caldaro: the “top of the range” that tells the story of a territory

From the Cantina di Caldaro comes the Quintessenz line, the flagship of Kellerei Kaltern. Winemaker Thomas Scarizuola explains that the range comes from the most suitable plots in the 440 hectares cultivated by the 590 members. The aim is to enhance the quality of the Alto Adige territory through five classic varieties: Sauvignon, Gewürztraminer, Kalterersee Classico Superiore (Schiava), Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. The approach aims for continuity and innovation.

13. BiancaVigna and the “Rive di Ogliano” Extra Brut 2023

BiancaVigna, officially founded in 2004 by the Moschetta family, continues the winemaking tradition that began in the twentieth century. Rive di Ogliano Extra Brut 2023 is the new flagship label: a charming Prosecco, with a citrusy, savory profile and notes of white flowers. The company's total production amounts to 32 hectares for approximately 450,000 bottles, maintaining a style inspired by sustainability and elegance.

14. Cantina di Ramuscello: 12% members, 17 thousand euros of profit

Cantina Produttori di Ramuscello e San Vito (PN) closes with a profit of 17,000 euros, despite a year marked by hailstorms and drought. The number of members is growing, 12%, for a total of 173 suppliers and 970 hectares of vineyards managed. The cooperative, the second largest winemaking company in Friuli Venezia Giulia, is also among the pioneers of the production of certified vegan wine.

15. Among wine consumers, one in two in Italy

According to Istat data, there are 29.4 million wine consumers in Italy, equal to 50% of the population of 58.9 million. A stable number compared to 2023, but the frequency is changing: more and more consumers limit themselves to a special occasion or a few sporadic glasses. With the growth of health, the new generations tend to drink less wine, also favoring the rise of other drinks or “low/no-alcohol” versions.

16. Piedmont wine: exports and reds to hold the market

Among the most iconic territories in Italy, Piedmont maintains good signs on the export front, driven by red wines with a Denomination. On the international markets, Barbera d'Asti and the Langhe (with Barolo and Barbaresco) continue to shine, while the bubbles of Alta Langa gain space. 2024 ended with a generally satisfactory harvest and peaks of excellence in the years of important reds.

17. At the Tenuta di Capezzana, the history of Carmignano between wine, art and Medici

For almost a century, the Contini Bonacossi family has run the Tenuta di Capezzana in Carmignano, one of the oldest wine-producing areas (in 1716 it was included in the famous Bando di Cosimo III). With art collections and an award-winning tradition of Vin Santo, the Tenuta embodies a happy marriage between Medici history, agricultural experimentation and hospitality.

18. The Barolo Fair “Vinous Icons” arrives in New York

Antonio Galloni announces “Vinous Icons 2025” in New York from February 27 to March 1, an event that will bring together the world’s greatest expressions of wine: Elio Grasso, Produttori del Barbaresco , and other Italian big names (Bisol1542, Allegrini, Ornellaia, Tua Rita, Fontodi…) will be among the protagonists. An opportunity to highlight Italian quality on global markets.

19. From Romania to Romangia: Mariana Popa's winery relaunches Sorso and Sennori

Mariana Popa, born in Transylvania, at 43 years old leads Cantina Sorso – Sennori, a reality of 6 thousand quintals of grapes and 4 thousand quintals of wine with 30 labels. A journey that starts from a company in crisis and, through determination and entrepreneurial vision, today the “queen” of wine in this portion of Northern Sardinia carries forward a growth model tied to the territory.

20. Wine, the Italian cooperation at the forefront of dealcoholates

The State-Regions Conference approved the draft decree on dealcoholized wines. The Alliance of Agri-food Cooperatives (Agci Agrital, Confcooperative FedagriPesca and Legacoop Agroalimentare) expressed appreciation, indicating that Italy "catches up" with the main European competitors and can face an emerging market with greater enthusiasm. This opens a new frontier of products with low or zero alcohol content.

21. Caviro Group closes with a turnover of 385 million but reduces profits

The giant Caviro from Romagna, with 12,000 members and a turnover of around 385 million euros (down from 417 million last year), has approved the 2023-2024 budget. The results of the sparkling wine segment and the “Caviro Extra” circular economy model are good, while the data for still wines are less brilliant. The company aims to strengthen the “containers and bioenergy” line, among the strategic assets for the coming years.

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