Wine Idea's wine news for January 9, 2025!

Awards and Rankings

1. The 10 best Pigato according to Gambero Rosso
   • Pigato confirms its leading role in Liguria with nine finalist labels and one that conquers the podium in the Gambero Rosso Vini d'Italia 2025 guide, alongside Vermentino, leader in terms of number of awards.

Market and Innovation

1. Santa Margherita Expands to the USA
   • Acquired Marsh Estate in Oregon, a 46-hectare property in the Yamhill-Carlton region, representing a new opportunity for Roco Winery, the American brand of Santa Margherita.
2. New opportunities for dealcoholized wine
   • The ministerial decree approved in December 2024 officially allows the production of dealcoholized wines in Italy. Carlo Petrini ( Slow Food ), however, invites to pay attention to sustainability and the additives used.
3. Value of agricultural land: regulatory news
   • Agricultural land valuation criteria are changing, influenced by economic, environmental and regulatory factors. A useful insight for those who own or intend to invest in agricultural properties.

Events and Training

1. Enozioni in Milan 2025
   • The Italian Federation of Independent Winemakers ( FIVI ) is organizing a tasting stand to promote the work of independent winemakers and sustainability in the wine sector.
2. VinoVita tasting course in Salvan
   • Giorgio Salvan offers a course that alternates theory and practice to learn to know and taste wine, with attention to road safety through an innovative format.
3. Mediterranean Wines Symposium in Perelada
   • The historic Spanish winery will host the first Mediterranean Wine Symposium on March 24, 2025, with the participation of producers from the main Mediterranean wine regions.

Market Trends and Analysis

1. 2025 Trends in the Wine & Spirits Sector
   • Proposta Vini predicts stable growth for the Italian market, with attention to sustainability and innovation. There is also a lot of space for dealcoholized wines, in line with new consumer sensibilities.
2. Italian Wine in Asia: Lights and Shadows
   • Despite the decline in exports to China (-11% in the first 9 months of 2024), Japan continues to represent a growing market (4%), while new outlets are emerging in South Korea and Singapore.
3. Black year for fine wines
   • The fine wines market recorded a decline of -9% in 2024, with Italy doing better than other countries (-7%). The causes include the decline in global demand and economic volatility.

Territories and Traditions

1. The architecture of the classic Amarone
   • The historic Bertani winery in Valpolicella continues to produce Amarone classico using traditional methods, reflecting respect for the territory and the coherence of its origins.
2. The new colors of Moscato di Canelli
   • Canelli confirms itself as one of the capitals of Moscato, with ideal soils to enhance the aromatic characteristics of this historic vine.
3. Sagrantino: the phenomenon of Marco Caprai
   • Marco Caprai is the protagonist of the relaunch of Sagrantino, a symbolic grape variety of Umbria, today appreciated internationally for its unique character.

Solidarity and Social Projects

1. Asti Cooperatives: The Strength of Solidarity
   • Despite the economic crisis, the Asti wine cooperatives have recorded solid results, with a total turnover of over 15 billion euros.
2. Let's unite 25: unconventional dinners in Vucciria
   • Four evenings in the historic heart of Palermo that combine cuisine, wine and mixology to celebrate conviviality and gastronomic innovation.

Criticisms and Opinions

1. Highway Code: Wine in the crosshairs
   • New penalties for drunk driving are creating confusion among consumers. The Italian Wine Union calls for promoting moderate and conscious consumption.
2. The no/low alcohol challenge in Italy
   • Despite the economic potential of the sector, the Italian market is slow to embrace low-alcohol wines and beverages.

Export and Geopolitics

1. Prosecco Exports Restart in Lebanon
   • After two months of war in the Middle East, the truce allowed the shipment of the first container of Venetian Prosecco to Lebanon, a sign of a gradual commercial recovery.
2. A winemaker from Piacenza in Germany
   • Nicola Libelli, a former student at the Agricultural Institute of Piacenza, is now responsible for the Dr. Bürklin-Wolf winery, famous for its high-quality Riesling.

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