December 2025 closed the year by reflecting a wine sector shaped by political tensions, regulatory transformations, cultural reflections, and economic reports looking ahead to 2026. A month in which wine returned to the center of public debate, involving denominations, international markets, new production identities, and the use of public funds.
WINEMAG INVESTIGATION INTO THE CONCOURS MONDIAL DE BRUXELLES AND THE PUBLIC SPENDING SUPPORTING IT
The issue of public funding marked the end-of-year agenda. The exclusive Winemag investigation revealed that over one million euros in state resources were allocated to the Italian sessions of the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles. A revelation that sparked political debate, with criticism from former minister Gian Marco Centinaio regarding the use of funds. In Calabria, wine appears to have become fertile ground for obtaining substantial public funding. However, the discovery of nine previously unknown grape varieties in the Southern Italian region brings focus back to the need for immediate protection of ampelographic heritage.
At the European level, the agreement on the EU Wine Package leaves significant questions unanswered: from vineyard uprooting to partially dealcoholized wines, reflecting a vision of agriculture that many observers consider more defensive than evolutionary. This debate is intertwined with regulatory clarification on denominations for dealcoholized and low-alcohol wines and the Italian Ministry’s decree giving the green light to the production of this category.
DENOMINATIONS, IDENTITY AND TERRITORIES
December was also the month of identity choices. In Oltrepò Pavese, Metodo Classico finds unity under the new name Classese, while in Serbia, Prokupac, the symbolic grape and wine of the Balkans, begins a process of redefinition. Winemag’s attention also turns to Dalmatia, where Prošek is recognized as an autonomous entity and historic sweet wine, not an “Italian-sounding” version of Prosecco.
In Italy, Assovini Sicilia spoke of a 2025 harvest of great quality and territorial identity, with Cantine Brugnano joining the association. Regarding Piedmont: the 2025 harvest recorded production drops but high quality profiles. In Lombardy, Ascovilo reports high quality, but a market under pressure. Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore Docg closes 2025 with growth, up 8% with 98 million bottles.
CORPORATE NEWS AND PASSING THE TORCH
Numerous corporate developments occurred. Nico Conta leaves the presidency of Enrico Serafino 1878. Cantina Settecani closes 2025 with growing revenues (+8.7%) and expanding exports. Cavit looks to the markets with different strategies, while the Ukrainian market returns to growth in imports, with Italy as the leader.
December also marks anniversaries and new releases: Biondi Santi releases Brunello 2020, Riserva 2019–1983, and Rosso 2023. Villa Capezzana celebrates 100 years of Carmignano. Querceto di Castellina celebrates 80 years and Tenuta Casenuove turns 10 in Chianti Classico. Tenute del Leone Alato celebrate 10 years of Costa Arènte and 20 of Duemani.
EVENTS, MARKETS AND INTERNATIONAL SCENARIOS
On the international front, Vinitaly debuts in Thailand, strengthening the Asian presence of Italian wine. ProWein Düsseldorf 2026 announces a new strategic setup. The wine market looks to exports amidst new opportunities and logistical challenges, as highlighted by international brokerage operators.
Among the events, Durello & Friends 2025 relaunches the Monti Lessini Doc. In Central Italy, Marche Top Wines 2026 sees the alliance between Consorzio Vini Piceni and Istituto Marchigiano Vini, while La Terra Trema announces its return to Milan in 2026. However, it will be at a new venue, following the eviction from the historic Leoncavallo site in Milan.
CULTURE, CONSUMPTION AND MEMORY
Wine closes the year by reaffirming its cultural essence. Francesco Sorelli defines it as “the molecule of civilization.” Federvini and Assoenologi welcome the UNESCO recognition of Italian Cuisine. At Christmas, Italians spend 3 billion on food and drink, favoring tradition. There is also reflection on the role of professionals, from the new Alcohol and Health column launched by Winemag—with the first focus on the health of tasters—to the tasting secrets shared by MW President Rod Smith.
December also marks a loss: the passing of Nicola Sarzi Amadè, founder of a historic wine and spirits distribution company. A month of closure and reflection, summarizing a complex 2025 and raising deep questions about the future of wine, between identity, market, and political choices. All summarized in the year-end editorial by Winemag director Davide Bortone: Once upon a time there was wine: Europe uproots vineyards instead of evolving.
DECEMBER 2025 WITH WINEMAG
- Italy, over 1 million euros in public funds for the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles
- Concours Mondial Bruxelles, Centinaio: “Public money spent without logic”
- Calabria: new eldorado for publicly funded wine events
- Calabria, nine unknown grape varieties discovered: “Immediate protection needed”
- Once upon a time there was wine: Europe uproots vineyards instead of evolving
- Wine professionals and health. How to avoid the “taster’s belly”?
- Prošek is not an Italian-sounding version of Prosecco: the best from Dalmatia
- The Albanian Sommelier Association turns 20
- Querceto di Castellina: 80 years with L’Aura in the mouth
- Assovini: “Sicily 2025 harvest of great quality and territorial identity”
- Cantine Brugnano joins Assovini Sicilia
- Biondi Santi: Brunello 2020, Riserva 2019-1983, and Rosso 2023 on the market
- 10 years of Tenuta Casenuove in the heart of Chianti Classico
- Wine is “The molecule of civilization” in Francesco Sorelli’s book
- Italian wine between exports, market evolution, and new prospects
- The 2025 vintage according to Gaja: reduced quantities, slow ripening and structured wines
- Durello & Friends 2025: character and outlook for Monti Lessini Doc
- Agreement on the EU Wine package. Doubts over vineyard uprooting and partially dealcoholized wines
- Classese: Oltrepò Pavese united on the new name for Metodo Classico
- Vinitaly debuts in Thailand: new outpost for Italian wine in Asia
- Granaccia, the challenge of Ligurian red wines: 5 to try
- ProWein Düsseldorf 2026: new setup and strategic vision for the sector
- Tara White Wine 3 2022: a Sauvignon Blanc in the Atacama Desert
- Italian Cuisine UNESCO Heritage: Federvini and Assoenologi celebrate
- Villa Capezzana 1925: 100 years of Carmignano in the glass
- Ukraine wine market recovering: imports growing, Italy leader
- Maison Perrier-Jouët: unprecedented 2025 harvest
- Nico Conta leaves the presidency of Enrico Serafino 1878
- 2025 harvest in Piedmont: production down, high quality and new market challenges
- Prokupac, new identity in Serbia for the symbolic grape and wine of the Balkans
- Le Tenute del Leone Alato: 10 years of Costa Arènte and 20 of Duemani
- New visual identity for the Consorzio Vini del Trentino
- Barbera Preview 2025: how Asti and Nizza Docg will be
- Carmine Coletta elected president of Sannio Consorzio Tutela Vini
- Wine brokers: “International transport crisis changes export rules”
- La Terra Trema returns to Milan in 2026, but not at Leoncavallo. Here is where
- Best Rosso di Montalcino 2024, 2023, 2022 | Benvenuto Brunello 2025
- Dealcoholized and low-alcohol wines: use of denominations clarified
- Torre di Terzolan: the Amarone in amphora that tells the story of Val Squaranto
- Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco DOCG, 2025 growing: +8% and 98 million bottles
- Marche Top Wines 2026: Consorzio Vini Piceni joins forces with Istituto Marchigiano Vini
- Christmas, 3 billion spent on Italian tables: Made in Italy tradition wins
- Nicola Sarzi Amadè dies, founder of historic wine and spirits distribution
- Tasting like a Master of Wine: secrets from MW President Rod Smith
- Want to act French? Christmas menu with French wines from the supermarket
- 2025 harvest in Lombardy, Ascovilo: “High quality, market under pressure”
- Cantina Settecani closes 2025 with growth: revenues +8.7%, expanding exports
- Dealcoholized wine production decree in Italy: green light from the Ministry
- Wine in 2025: a year told month by month by Winemag
