Italy’s hot topics

Trading Italy's stars

David Kermode looks at the rise in popularity of Italy’s fine wines and why it’s all about Piedmont and Tuscany.

Future-proofing Prosecco

Prosecco continues to build momentum in the UK and power onwards on a global scale. Lucy Shaw looks at the trends that continue to revitalise this seemingly invincible category.

Italy bounces back

Despite another challenging year across the trade, the appetite for Italian wine is as strong as ever in the UK, James Bayley reports.

Domenico Clerico Tasting: 'Our wines are like Ferraris'

Like all great Italian institutions, Domenico Clerico’s small estate is a product of passion, producing wines with great personalities. 

Isole e Olena showcases new Chardonnay as Italian whites come to the fore

Yesterday (27 April), Paolo De Marchi of the Isole e Olena estate in Tuscany was in London to present a vertical tasting, albeit with a slightly unfamiliar lineup.

New generation takes the helm at Cantina Kurtatsch

The torch is being passed to the next generation at Italian cooperative Cantina Kurtatsch in the mountains of Alto Adige.

Prosecco DOC announces record shipments to UK

The Prosecco DOC Consortium announced record shipments to the UK in 2022, importing 130 million bottles, a 3.5% increase on 2021 volumes. 

Jascots adds Sartarelli to portfolio

Jascots Wine Merchants has added producer Sartarelli to its 750-strong portfolio, strengthening its Italian reach with this Marche-based estate.

Daou brothers turn attention to Tuscany

Daou Family Estates has expanded its reach with the purchase of an as yet unnamed property in Tuscany.

Chiaretto eyes Provence's crown

Chiaretto for Christmas? Sadly, despite more and more people drinking pink all year round, Italy’s bestselling Rosado Chiaretto di Bardolino didn’t grace many British dinner tables last December and won’t at Easter. A quick Google suggests some retailers stock it – Fortnums has two – but most main supermarkets and even The Wine Society draw a blank, suggesting the limited inroads it has made here. Which is frankly rather surprising, given the history of this wine, and the increasing popularity of the rather similar Provence rosé.

Cantina Toblino joins the Bancroft Portfolio

Bancroft Wines, the Uk-based importer and distributor, has added Cantina Toblino of Northern Italy to its portfolio.

Friday read: Paolo De Marchi leaves 'happy ghosts' at Isole e Olena

Justin Keay reports on a recent visit to Paolo De Marchi of Isole e Olena winery towards the end of 2022, in what turned out to be an elegiac trip. In 2022, De Marchi completed his last vintage after almost 50 years.

Maisons Marques et Domaines adds Tenuta Luce to UK portfolio

Tenuta Luce has announced that it will be commercially represented by Maisons Marques et Domaines in the UK market. 

Chianti Classico: A landscape of change

Chianti Classico is ramping up focus on its diversity as its new UGA Gran Selezione wines reach the market. Andrew Catchpole reports.

Chianti Classico: Respect for tradition, terroir and the planet

James Lawrence looks at how Chianti Classico has evolved to build sustainable winemaking practices and rigorous tasting processes into its traditions to premiumise its wines.

Prosecco DOCG launches Green Academy and Wine Tourism lab

To mark its 60th anniversary, the Consorzio of Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco DOCG has announced the launch of two new initiatives. The first is a research facility called, The Green Academy, which will enable producers to work more efficiently for the benefit of the region environmentally.

Friday read: The revival of Bardolino’s crus

Few Italian wine regions have had as much of a roller coaster ride as Bardolino, nestled up against the beautiful eastern shores of Lake Garda, where wine has been made since Roman times.

New limits on Etna to control invasive investment

New moves to limit Etna DOC (PDO) wine production volumes have been designed to maintain and control average grape prices, as a way of preserving the Sicilian mountain’s wine economy, its environment and viticultural heritage, the Etna DOC wine board has said.

Hundred-day Sicily harvest promises “excellent vintage”

Sicily’s hundred-day harvest concluded at the end of October on Mount Etna following months of “favourable” weather contributing to healthy grapes and ultimately an “excellent vintage”.