Don’t miss db’s Italy Report 2026, out now
Want to find out why fashionistas are drinking Franciacorta? Or whether Amarone producers are conforming to the consumer trend for lighter styles? Perhaps you know a sommelier looking to transform their pizza pairings from so-so to sublime? If so, we’ve got all this and more in this year’s Italy Report, which takes the temperature of the nation’s wine scene and finds it to be sizzling.
Since we produced last year’s Italy Report, the world has shifted on its axis. In February, the US and Israel waged war on Iran, tipping geopolitics (and fuel prices) into overdrive and compounding an already tense situation for Italian wine producers shouldering rising tariffs in the US, historically their lead market.
Thankfully, Italians are well-versed in navigating stormy seas and transforming pressure into opportunity. Take, for example, traditional method sparkling wine Franciacorta, often unfairly dubbed ‘Italy’s answer to Champagne’. The fizz might have a tiny production, but it has found a home among the glitterati, gracing the catwalks of Milan Fashion Week, and the red carpets of the Rome Film Festival and the Emmy Awards. One producer told db that the reason Franciacorta wines are a hit with A-listers is that the arts world and the wines “both celebrate the ability to transform complexity into something that appears effortless, timeless and unmistakably Italian”.
Away from the catwalk, Franciacorta is creating a buzz among Japanese consumers. In fact, the door to Japan is nudging open for Italian wineries across the board, so much so that a unique partnership has been forged between Italy’s Langhe and Yoichi in Hokkaido. The two regions have joined forces to mutually promote business and wine tourism opportunities, and share research in order to improve viticultural practices across continents.
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Another ‘in vogue’ offering is Vermentino, which gels perfectly with current consumer demand for lighter, fresh, vibrant wines at accessible price points. Buyers are questioning whether it could soon do the unthinkable and outpace sales of Pinot Grigio or Prosecco in key markets.
If there was one style of Italian wine that one wouldn’t have foreseen acquiescing to the trend for ‘lightness’, it is Amarone. But even this appassimento style, where the grapes are dried for more intense flavours, is undergoing a profound shift. Some producers are cutting their drying time in half, while others insist that winning over modern consumers requires changing their marketing approach, not their winemaking.
Arguably, the real test of a sommelier is not devising wine pairings for high-end Italian cuisine, but for the nation’s most popular export, pizza. In fact, the base, choice of cheese and the sauce used can all offer clues as to the perfect bottle to elevate a pizza.
With so much excitement in the category, Italian wine looks set to retain its ‘lustro’ in 2026. Subscribers to db can delve into the Italy Report 2026 here.
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