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<\/p>\nWith Vinitaly 2026 kicking off this weekend, Sarah Neish finds out what key Italian consorzi are prioritising for their white wines, to help buyers and sommeliers cherry-pick the perfect fit for their customers.<\/p>\n
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This Sunday 12 April sees the launch of Vinitaly 2026, which takes place in Verona across three days. If you\u2019re heading to the fair with white wines in mind, here is a breakdown of some of the key differentiators and priorities across some of Italy\u2019s key white wine regions. And for a further deep-dive into how to smash white wine sales targets, don\u2019t miss db\u2019s essential blueprint to success for Italian whites.<\/a><\/p>\n Garda and low-alcohol<\/p>\n Garda DOC, an appellation made up of 10 other DOCs including Bardolino, Custoza, Valpolicella, Soave, Lugana and more, is putting its low-alcohol credentials at the top of its list.<\/p>\n \u201cFor 2026, we will place particular emphasis on the low-alcohol segment, which reflects a clear evolution in global consumption trends and a growing interest in more balanced, contemporary lifestyles,\u201d Paolo Fiorini, president, Consorzio Garda DOC, told db. \u201cIt is a category that is gaining increasing relevance across international markets, particularly among younger consumers,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n It is vital, he added, for \u201cproducers to ensure that their wines respond to the tastes and expectations of a new generation of consumers.\u201d<\/p>\n According to Fiorini, Garda DOC will look to stay consistent on price this year. \u201cGarda DOC occupies a mid-range price segment, consistent with the denomination\u2019s positioning and competitive within the broader landscape of Italian white wines in international markets.\u201d<\/p>\n And rather than focusing on a single \u2018hero grape\u2019, the appellation is keen to promote its full range of authorised white grape varieties, most notably Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio and Garganega, alongside others such as Pinot Bianco, Sauvignon, Riesling, Cortese and M\u00fcller-Thurgau. \u201cThis diversity of grape varieties is one of Garda DOC\u2019s key strengths, allowing the territory to express a variety of styles while maintaining a consistent profile defined by freshness, elegance and drinkability,\u201d said Fiorini.<\/p>\n Indeed, something all the wines share is a deep connection to Lake Garda itself. \u201cThe strong link to place is the true distinguishing feature of the denomination. It provides identity and recognisability while celebrating the richness and diversity of grape varieties cultivated in the area,\u201d Fiorini said. Lake Garda, Italy\u2019s largest lake, is located between Lombardy, Veneto, and Trentino-Alto Adige. Formed by a glacier, it spans 370 km\u00b2, with a total shoreline of around 160 km, and reaches depths of 346\u2013350 meters.<\/p>\n In 2025 Garda DOC recorded strong growth, seeing a +20% year-on-year increase. \u201cTotal bottlings reached 175,352 hectolitres, equivalent to more than 23.3 million 0.75 litre bottles, and export markets remain a key driver for development,\u201d shared Fiorini. Last year, Garda DOC\u2019s total vineyard surface reached 2,358 hectares.<\/p>\n Gavi and versatility<\/p>\n With 1,600 hectares planted to white grape Cortese, the current commercial profile of Gavi DOCG is defined by the fact that 92% of its production is allocated to international markets. \u201cThis is a very high share, confirming the denomination\u2019s strong international vocation. Gavi is already an Italian white wine with a very strong export orientation,\u201d explains Maurizio Montobbio, president of the Consorzi Tutela del Gavi.<\/p>\n This year, Gavi DOCG, which is located within Piedmont, northern Italy, will place its biggest emphasis on the versatility of its wines.<\/p>\n \u201cGavi is not a wine for a single occasion, but one that can accompany an entire meal,\u201d stressed consorzio president Maurizio Montobbio. \u201cGavi is a contemporary white wine that reflects a modern taste, defined by precision, freshness and balance.\u201d<\/p>\n He also wants to drive home the notion that Gavi wines are about \u201caccessibility, but not simplicity\u201d.<\/p>\n One preconception, said Montobbio, \u201cis that Gavi is simply a classic, well-mannered white wine, but not particularly surprising. In reality, it is a multifaceted denomination. Gavi can be tense, fresh and immediate when young, but also deep, complex and capable of evolving over time. At a moment when consumers are seeking drinkability, identity and less excess, Gavi speaks a very contemporary language.\u201d<\/p>\n Sicily and organics<\/p>\n If a customer is looking for an organic Italian white you might like to point them towards Sicila DOC.<\/p>\n \u201cSicily is currently Italy\u2019s leading region in terms of organically farmed vineyard surface. Thanks to the island\u2019s naturally favourable climatic conditions, vineyard treatments can be kept to a minimum, supporting an increasingly sustainable approach,\u201d said Camillo Pugliesi, director, Sicilia DOC.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen it comes to Sicily, we are seeing growing interest in wines that combine freshness, a distinct Mediterranean character, and great drinkability, produced with an increasing focus on sustainability and environmental respect,\u201d Pugliesi added.<\/p>\n In Sicily, \u201cthe combination of varying altitudes, diverse soils, and strong maritime influence allows for the production of white wines with remarkable personality, defined by freshness, balance, and the ability to evolve over time,\u201d Pugliesi said.<\/p>\n Indigenous varieties such as Grillo and Lucido \u201cclearly demonstrate that the island can produce complex, versatile whites that are increasingly appreciated in international gastronomy.\u201d<\/p>\n Calling Grillo and Lucido \u201ctrue ambassadors of a territory\u201d, Pugliesi said that these two grape varieties \u201cembody the island\u2019s historical identity and are \u201chelping to strengthen Sicily\u2019s recognition in global markets.\u201d<\/p>\n Collio and rare soil type<\/p>\n Looking for a strong \u2018sense of place\u2019 story to share with customers? Collio\u2019s unique soil profile might just be it.<\/p>\n The hilly wine region in Friuli-Venezia Giulia, northeastern Italy, is increasingly promoting its \u2018ponca\u2019 soil.<\/p>\n \u201cTo solve the problem of market fragmentation and to differentiate our white wines from mass-market competitors, we are emphasising Collio\u2019s unique soil, known as ponca (a mix of marl and sandstone from the Eocene era) and the specific mineral salinity and structure that cannot be replicated elsewhere,\u201d Luca Raccaro, president, Consorzio Tutela Vini Collio, told db. Formed from the remains of a prehistoric seabed, ponca is rich in calcium carbonate, potassium, iron, and phosphorus, which all contribute to a wine\u2019s complexity, and bring a distinctive salinity to local whites like Ribolla Gialla and Friulano.<\/p>\n Because of this, he added, Collio \u201cis transitioning from being a producer of niche, quality wines to a territorial brand with a highly defined identity.\u201d<\/p>\n Longevity, too, is important for the region\u2019s whites. \u201cCollio white wines are not just for the current vintage; they are built to age, especially varieties like Friulano and Ribolla Gialla, which evolve beautifully over five to 10 years and even longer. This moves the brand into the fine wine category, competing with white Burgundy or aged Rieslings.\u201d<\/p>\n Custoza and quality wines for gastronomy<\/p>\n Custoza DOC, located in the Veneto, closed 2025 with 72,178 hectolitres bottled, \u201ca figure that marks substantial stability compared to the previous year, with a limited decline of around 1%,\u201d said Roberta Bricolo, president, Custoza DOC Consortium.<\/p>\n Across the appellation, the breakdown of white varieties is 32% Garganega, 23% Trebbiano Toscano, 13% Tocai Friulano and 12% Cortese. \u201cThe remaining 20% is made up of the complementary varieties permitted under the production regulations, including Manzoni Bianco, Pinot Bianco, Chardonnay, Riesling and Malvasia,\u201d said Bricolo.<\/p>\n Quality is the top priority, with the appellation taking clear steps to ensure this. Stocks of vintages prior to 2025 (the most recent harvest) are currently at an all-time low (13.7 thousand hectolitres). \u201cThis is the result of careful and prudent management of production and bottling, as well as the most recent amendments to the production regulations,\u201d said Bricolo. \u201cThese rules now allow for vintage blending limited to 15%, exclusively with wine from the immediately preceding year and only until 31 December of the harvest year.<\/p>\n Explaining the reasoning behind the changes, Bricolo said: \u201cToday, quality is no longer an optional element: it is an essential prerequisite. Without a solid quality base, it is no longer possible to engage credibly with the market. That said, the real challenge is not only to be sound in quality terms, but also to be recognisable, coherent and well positioned. Quality alone is no longer enough: it must be supported by identity, narrative and presence in the right contexts.\u201d<\/p>\n That presence lies largely in the on-trade. \u201cOur attention is on Custoza\u2019s ability to become part of people\u2019s real lives: at the table, while travelling and in moments of conviviality. Our work this year will focus strongly on Custoza DOC\u2019s ability to be perceived as a contemporary, distinctive and gastronomic appellation.\u201d<\/p>\n Related news<\/p>\n \n \n ![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/italy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/iStock-1174602027-640x427.jpg\")
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