Wine Idea's wine news for October 12, 2024!

Brunello di Montalcino: revolution in evaluations with the Masters of Wine The evaluation system of Brunello di Montalcino has changed: it will no longer be an internal commission judging it, but a team of Masters of Wine, both Italian and international. The innovation will be introduced in the preview of 14-18 November 2024 with the 2020 vintage.

Two Lebanese winemakers brave war to produce natural wine Claudine and Michelle, two Lebanese winemakers, continue to produce natural wine despite the ongoing war between Israel and Hezbollah. While the population flees from southern Lebanon, they continue to harvest grapes, demonstrating how life and winemaking endure even in the most difficult times.

Perfect Pairings: Discovering the Wines of Podere Sapaio on Isola del Giglio Podere Sapaio, located in the Bolgheri area, is renowned for producing organic wines such as Sapaio and Volpolo. These wines, made from grapes such as Cabernet Franc and Merlot, have won numerous awards and are the perfect pairing for those who want to explore high-quality wines.

Grand Gold Medal for Michele Lauriola: Best Red Wine from Central-Southern Italy Michele Lauriola, with the Tintilia del Molise Doc "San Mercurio" 2022, obtained the Grand Gold Medal at the "Mondial des Vins Extrêmes" competition. It is the only red wine from Central-Southern Italy to receive this prestigious recognition, a great achievement for Molise viticulture.

Umberto Callegari of Terre d'Oltrepò: “Bottlers are the past” In an interview, Umberto Callegari, CEO of Terre d'Oltrepò, comments on the change in the wine consortium and the controversy surrounding the exit of bottlers from the council. Callegari highlights the importance of the supply chain and quality as new pillars for the future of the territory.

Cantina Fappiano: the young Falanghina that conquers Sannio Cantina Fappiano of San Lorenzello, led by Mario Fappiano, is among the new protagonists of change in Sannio. Its Falanghina del Sannio 2022 has obtained the Tre Bicchieri del Gambero Rosso, an award that confirms the success of this young company.

Wine in GDO: over 3 billion euros in turnover In large-scale distribution, wine continues to grow in value, even if volumes are decreasing. According to NielsenIQ, turnover exceeds 3 billion euros, with an increase in sales of sparkling wines and low-alcohol wines. These data were presented at the Milano Wine Week.

UIV: Urgent renewal in the wine sector The Italian Wine Union opposes unconditional eradications and supports measures such as the containment of yields and the promotion of low-alcohol wines. The organization expresses these positions ahead of the October 14 meeting in Brussels to discuss future European wine policies.

Gambero Rosso 2025: Italy's best wines awarded The 2025 edition of Gambero Rosso's Vini d'Italia guide has expanded the awards for Orvieto and Tuscia Toscana, but has left critics perplexed by the poor representation of young producers and the absence of new talent in the Cesanese category.

Eco-sustainable wine: experimenting with bananas Farmers and producers are innovating in the wine sector, trying to create eco-sustainable wines using bananas. This new frontier of organic viticulture aims to respect the environment and reduce the use of chemical pesticides.

2024 Harvest: 39.7 million hectoliters of wine in storage According to the “Cantina Italia” report by the Ministry of Agriculture, as of September 30, 2024, there were 39.7 million hectoliters of wine in Italian cellars, a figure in line with the data from the previous month, but 7.2% lower than last year.

Wine Sales Down in the U.S. U.S. wine sales fell 6% in the 12 months to August 2024, with inventories down 8%. Consumption trends are changing, creating concerns for the U.S. wine market in 2025.

Alessandro Campatelli becomes owner of the Riecine winery Alessandro Campatelli, former winemaker and director of Riecine, becomes the owner of the historic Chianti Classico winery. With a vision focused on enhancing the territorial characteristics, Campatelli strengthens the identity of the winery, focusing on quality and innovation.

Lautaro Martinez launches his wine line "Cittanina" Inter striker Lautaro Martinez has launched his wine line, Cittanina, produced with his partner Agustina Gandolfo. The wines are a tribute to Argentina and represent the values and roots of the couple.

Morellino di Scansano Sicomoro Riserva 2021: excellence of Maremma Morellino Sicomoro Riserva 2021, produced by Cantina Vignaioli di Scansano, is an example of the quality achieved by Maremma wines. Matured in barrique, this wine represents one of the flagship labels of the cooperative winery, which has over 200 members and a production of 5 million bottles.

Canelli: Moscato becomes Riserva Canelli, famous for its UNESCO underground cellars, introduces Moscato Canelli Riserva, thanks to the work of the Moscato di Canelli Producers Association. The recent "Canelli Città del Vino" event highlighted the potential of Moscato and Riesling, in a vertical that explored the 2015 vintage.

Historia Antiqua: the story of a family and a territory in Manocalzati The Historia Antiqua winery, in Manocalzati in the province of Avellino, is the fruit of a family passion that is intertwined with the Irpinia territory. Officially founded in 2006, the winery carries on a winemaking tradition that dates back to the 1990s.

Thief arrested for theft in a cellar in Salaparuta The Sciacca carabinieri arrested a 53-year-old man for theft in a cellar in Salaparuta. The man, along with other accomplices, was stealing copper and winemaking equipment, but was stopped after a chase along the provincial roads.

Valtellina wine aims high: “Dare more” The Consortium for the Protection of Valtellina Wines, led by Mamete Prevostini, wants to give a new boost to the wine sector by involving institutions and the local community. The goal is to team up and dare more to bring Valtellina viticulture to new levels of excellence.

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