Wine news for Sunday 30 June 2024.

Vineyards attacked by downy mildew: harvests halved in some areas. In the Oltrepo Pavese, the rainy climate favored the spread of downy mildew, leading to halved harvests. Continuous treatments are necessary to curb the fungal disease of the bunches.

Emidio Pepe, the visionary who gave new life to Abruzzo wine. Sofia Pepe tells the story of the sixty years of the Emidio Pepe company, celebrated in Brusaporto with tastings of old vintages. Velier, led by Luca Gargano, created the first protocol for natural wines with the "Triple A" (farmers, artisans, artists).

Three Tuscan brothers produce one of the best oils in Italy. Paolo, Simone and Beatrice Di Gaetano are points of reference in Tuscan olive growing. Their company includes a farmhouse, a vegetarian restaurant and exports oil all over the world, receiving awards such as "Best Medium Fruity" for the Riflessi Monocultivar Maurino.

Harvest 2024: «Start expected immediately after August 15th». In Veneto, the harvest will begin immediately after August. The vintage is characterized by early budding, modest flowering and lower fertility than in 2023. Fungal disease pressure is under control.

Signorvino opens a winery in Alghero. Federico Veronesi, responsible for the winemaking projects of the Oniverse group, announces the opening of a winery in Alghero, Sardinia. Furnished by Antonio Marras, the cellar is part of a larger project by the group.

The Region allocates 11 million for agricultural companies. The Region has allocated over 11 million euros to support agricultural companies in diversified investments such as agritourism, social agriculture and processing of agricultural products. Applications can be submitted starting July 25th.

Farinetti mediator in defense of Prosekar. Oscar Farinetti, entrepreneur, supports an agreement between local winemakers and the Prosecco Consortium for Prosekar, during the “Mare e Vitovska” event in Duino Aurisina.

Former employee spills thousands of liters of wine in Spain. A former employee has been arrested in Villaescusa de Roa, Spain, for deliberately spilling around 60,000 liters of high-quality wine, causing more than €2.5 million in damage.

Vertical agrivoltaic in Sicily: wine and clean energy. Cantine Vaccaro in Salaparuta, Sicily, uses double-sided solar panels to produce wine and clean energy. This technology saves space and does not create shadows on the vineyards.

Everyone down in the cellar: Crea talks about the research on wine. Crea organizes the “Tutti Down in the Cellar” event in Velletri dedicated to innovation and sustainability in the wine sector. Over 200 labels present and various activities for the public.

Wine tourism experiences: transforming cellar visits. With a 10.2% drop in exports from Lombardy wineries, wine tourism becomes central for wineries. Bresciano, with its excellent wines, is particularly interested in improving the offer for wine lovers.

Trip to Sicily with Planeta Cellars. Planeta celebrates 30 years since the first harvest. With seven wineries in five Sicilian territories, the company promotes cultural and tourist projects, telling its story that began in Ulmo, in Sambuca di Sicilia.

Franciacorta Festival in the Cellar 2024. An event spread throughout the Franciacorta area offering numerous initiatives including food & wine, sport, art and culture. The cellars open their doors to wine tourists for a unique experience discovering Franciacorta and its traditions.

Bon Wei: the Chinese restaurant that concludes with an excellent whiskey The Bon Wei Chinese restaurant in Milan, known for its haute regional Chinese cuisine, offers a unique experience with a selection of excellent whiskeys curated by Zhang Le. Since 2014, the owner's son has expanded the offer with a list of 300 wines and a selection of spirits for a captivating end to a meal.

Wine, Olympics 2024: 32 labels from 29 wineries at Casa Italia For the Paris 2024 Olympics, Casa Italia will offer 32 wines from 29 Italian wineries, representing all regions. The selection, curated by Luciano Ferraro and LT Wine & Food Advisory, demonstrates the quality and passion of Italian wine, promoting the uniqueness of Vigneto Italia.

Abissi: Bisson's sparkling wine aged in the depths of the sea. The bottles of Abissi, the sparkling wine from the Bisson winery founded by Pierluigi Lugano in Liguria, age 60 meters deep in the Baia del Silenzio. Since 2009, the winery has been refining its sparkling wines under the sea, an innovative method that has made Bisson one of the pioneers of underwater refining.

Calici in Tonnara 2024: wine, tradition and music in Portoscuso The fifth edition of “Calici in Tonnara” will be held on 5 and 6 July 2024 in Portoscuso, Sardinia. The event, organized by the Crew association and the Municipality of Portoscuso, will see the participation of 29 Sardinian wineries and will be characterized by wine, seafood, music and ancient traditions, with Tessa Gelisio as godmother.

Rosé wine: consumption and exports stable in 2022 Rosé, particularly appreciated in summer for its freshness, kept global consumption stable in 2022 with 19.6 million hectoliters (0.5% on 2021). The “Observatoire Mondo du Rosé” highlights the importance of this wine, which represents 10% of still wines, with a strong presence in Europe and the United States.

5 wines for the summer: freshness and refinement With the increase in temperatures and convivial moments, the selection of summer wines focuses on freshness. Among the recommended ones, a blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from the best corporate crus of Cazzago San Martino, characterized by notes of bergamot, snuffbox peach, chamomile and jasmine, with a tense and persistent taste.

Global warming reshapes the map of wine: Ireland converts to the vineyard Ireland is emerging as a new wine frontier thanks to climate change. In Wexford, Esperanza Hernandez founded The Old Roots Vineyard, with 11,000 vines planted nine years ago. This project demonstrates how global warming can offer opportunities for new wine territories.

Etna: less wine, more quality The Sicilian winemakers of Etna have adopted a strategy of reducing production to favor quality. By controlling the hectares dedicated to new plants, market inflation is avoided and the quality of the product is enhanced, a choice also sanctioned by ministerial laws.

Paris 2024: 32 Italian wines at Casa Italia During the Paris 2024 Olympics, Casa Italia will offer 32 wines selected by Luciano Ferraro and LT Wine & Food Advisory. The selection includes 16 reds, 10 whites and 6 rosés, representing the main Italian denominations and promoting the excellence of Italian wine in the world.

The oldest wine in the world discovered in Spain: it is two thousand years old. In Carmona, Spain, the oldest wine in the world, dating back two thousand years, was discovered. A glass urn containing wine was found in a Roman tomb. Experts from the Department of Organic Chemistry of the University of Córdoba confirmed the identification of the liquid as wine.

Wine: Giorgio Calabrese on moderate consumption Giorgio Calabrese, a nutritionist, underlines the importance of moderate consumption of wine, defining it as a health food. During the “In Vino Veritas” conference in Alessandria, he reiterated that it is abuse, and not moderate use, that proves harmful to health.

Meloni: “Building a sustainable future for wine” Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni inaugurated the OIV Ministerial Meeting in Franciacorta, celebrating one hundred years of the organisation. Meloni underlined the importance of the Italian wine sector and its role in promoting Made in Italy in the world.

Thanks for listening, we remind you that today's wine press review was offered by QUIDQUID. See you tomorrow.