Category: Wine Tourism

Radici del Sud 2025: Celebrating the Roots of Southern Italian Wine and Food

The twentieth edition of Radici del Sud recently concluded spectacularly, marking another milestone for this renowned annual celebration of Southern Italian wine and culinary excellence. Held from June 4–9, 2025, at the historic former Distillery Paolo Cassano in Gioia del Colle, Puglia, this unique gathering brought together wine producers, international buyers, critics, journalists, and passionate consumers to celebrate and promote the authentic flavours of the South.

A Rich History of Southern Italian Wine Promotion

Founded in 2005, Radici del Sud (literally “Roots of the South”) was created to highlight the often-underestimated viticulture of Southern Italy. What began as a showcase exclusively for Apulian wineries has significantly grown over the years to include wines from all Southern Italian regions: Puglia, Campania, Calabria, Basilicata, Sicily, Molise, Abruzzo, and Sardinia.

The event’s mission remains unchanged: to highlight the unique identity of these wines and support producers in reaching international markets. This is achieved through professional tastings, B2B meetings, and conferences that emphasize sustainability and indigenous grape varieties such as Primitivo, Negroamaro, Aglianico, Nero d’Avola, and Greco.

The 2025 Event Experience

This year’s edition offered participants a complete immersion into Southern Italian wine culture. Guided tours on June 5 and 6 introduced guests to historic sites, local cellars, and Mediterranean cuisine at top restaurants. On June 7 and 8, structured B2B meetings paired producers with industry professionals, with about 20 wine producers featured in each session. These intimate exchanges allowed winemakers to tell the story of their wines and present full portfolios.

The festivities concluded on June 9 with a grand tasting featuring more than 100 wine and olive oil producers from Southern Italy. Open to both enthusiasts and industry specialists, this showcase gave importers and visitors the opportunity to discover new products while exploring the beautiful city of Bari.

Wine Competition and Quality Recognition

A highlight of Radici del Sud is its prestigious wine competition, where an international panel conducts blind tastings of hundreds of wines. The judges assess both technical excellence and the ability to express terroir and tradition.

This year’s tasting revealed exceptional quality across categories: Puglian rosés stood out with their bright character, Calabrian whites showed impressive complexity, and Southern Italy’s signature bold reds reaffirmed their distinctive intensity and depth.

Beyond Wine: Celebrating Culinary Heritage

Radici del Sud also celebrates the culinary traditions of the South with cooking shows, tastings, and presentations by chefs and food artisans. This holistic approach reinforces the deep connection between land, wine, and cuisine.

Wine Tourism in Puglia

Puglia has become a top wine tourism destination, as underscored by the event. Most wineries now offer tasting rooms and visitor facilities, while many provide integrated experiences such as cooking classes, wellness programs, vineyard dinners, sunset tastings, and grape harvest participation. With accommodations available at many estates, wine lovers can fully immerse themselves in the local terroir.

A Platform for Southern Italian Excellence

Over two decades, Radici del Sud has become a vital platform for showcasing the hidden gems of Italy’s southern wine regions. In an industry often dominated by northern and central Italian wines, it gives voice to the South, where sun, soil, and centuries of tradition create wines of remarkable character.

The 20th edition once again demonstrated that Southern Italian wines deserve recognition on the global stage. By highlighting authentic, terroir-driven wines and supporting local producers, Radici del Sud strengthens Southern Italy’s reputation as a source of distinctive, high-quality wines rooted in cultural and geographical heritage.

Filippo Magnani

Welsh Wine Industry Thrives Amid Climate Shifts and Strategic Innovation

In the rolling hills of Wales, a quiet revolution is underway. Once considered too cold and damp for viticulture, the Welsh countryside is now home to a burgeoning wine industry that is defying expectations and thriving amid climate shifts and strategic innovation.

As global temperatures rise, regions previously unsuitable for grape cultivation are experiencing longer growing seasons and milder winters. Welsh vineyards are capitalizing on these changes, planting varieties that flourish in cooler climates and investing in technologies that enhance yield and quality.

Dr Kate Gannon has researched the impact of climate change on UK wine, said warming temperatures meant Wales had become “more suitable” for wine production, but warned of challenges ahead.

Local winemakers are embracing sustainable farming practices, from organic soil management to water conservation techniques, ensuring that growth does not come at the expense of environmental stewardship. These efforts are not only producing exceptional wines but also positioning Wales as a model for climate-resilient agriculture.

The Welsh wine sector remains small compared to its English neighbour and is made up of micro-producers, but it has been growing rapidly. The Food Standards Agency Wales said 59 vineyards across the country were registered with them at the end of July.

The rise of wine tourism in Wales is another testament to the industry’s success. Visitors are drawn to the scenic vineyards, tasting rooms, and the stories of passionate vintners who are redefining what it means to produce wine in the UK.

With award-winning reds and sparkling wines gaining recognition, the Welsh wine industry is proving that innovation and adaptability can turn climate challenges into opportunities. As the vines of change continue to grow, Wales stands poised to become a key player in the global wine landscape.

Historic Shake-Up: Château Lafleur Exits the Pomerol Appellation

Château Lafleur announced a few days ago that it is withdrawing from both the Pomerol AOC and wider Bordeaux designation from the 2025 vintage, with all six wines in the Société Civile du Château Lafleur group set to become Vins de France.

Here are some excerpts from the Guinaudeau family Letter:

“Climate is changing fast and hard, that much is clear. The vintages 2015, 2019, and above all 2022, were all strong evidence of that. 2025 goes a step further. We must think, readapt, act.”

“Our decision-making and the resulting practices are in fact evolving much faster than what is authorised in our Appellations of Origine system.”

“Consequently, while maintaining the utmost respect for our fellow producers and the appellations of Pomerol and Bordeaux, we have decided to cease adhering to the appellations of Pomerol and Bordeaux beginning with the 2025 vintage.”

“The six wines of Société Civile du Château Lafleur will be designated as Vin de France beginning with the 2025 vintage.”

Raise Your Glass to New Zealand for International Pinot Noir Day – August 18th

There’s something irresistibly seductive about Pinot Noir. It’s the grape varietal that makes sommeliers swoon, winemakers sweat, and wine lovers fall head over heels. And while Burgundy may have long been considered its spiritual home, New Zealand has been quietly (and sometimes not-so-quietly) redefining the Pinot Noir conversation.

This August 18th, as the wine world raises a glass to International Pinot Noir Day, it’s the perfect opportunity to celebrate New Zealand’s most captivating red wine export.

Pinot Noir was first planted in the Wairarapa region of New Zealand’s North Island in 1883, but it wasn’t until 1987 that it was commercially released. By the 1990s, gold medals in Australia and London had propelled New Zealand Pinot Noir onto the global stage. Suddenly, whispers of a “new Pinot powerhouse” were spreading around the wine world.

“New Zealand Pinot Noir is something else,” says Charlotte Read, General Manager Brand at New Zealand Winegrowers. “It leads with a concentrated core of fruit, supported by a vibrant backbone of acidity thanks to our cool climate, and displays the hallmark fragrance and elegant, fine-grained tannins that great Pinots possess. It’s exciting to observe the distinct regional styles that emerge from differences in soil type and climate across the areas where Pinot Noir is grown in New Zealand.”

Pinot Noir is now among the top five most searched red varietals globally, with Wine-Searcher reporting an increase from 10.5% to 15.5% of total search market share. Within New Zealand, Pinot Noir accounted for 32.4% of wine searches in 2024, second only to Sauvignon Blanc.

And it’s not just hype; it’s in the glass. Lively acidity, silky tannins, and versatile food-friendliness make it a natural companion for a wide range of dishes, from roast chicken and salmon to mushroom risotto and duck confit. With more wine lovers gravitating toward fresher, chillable reds, Pinot Noir is perfectly suited to the modern table.

It’s no surprise that Pinot Noir has become New Zealand’s top red wine variety and the country’s second-largest wine export after Sauvignon Blanc, with over 1.5 million cases shipped annually to more than 100 countries. Exports alone reached $2.1 billion in 2024.

So, this International Pinot Noir Day, why not pour yourself a glass and discover why this grape has captured the world’s imagination?

My picks for the occasion:

  • Tarras Central Otago Pinot Noir – vibrant, rich, full-bodied and endlessly drinkable
  • Thornbury Pinot Noir 2019 – classic structure with a rich, fruit-driven
  • Lord Rutherford Pinot Noir 2013 – a cellar gem that showcases how gracefully New Zealand Pinot can age

Raise your glass, take a sip, and let New Zealand Pinot Noir remind you why wine can be both playful and profound!

EU Lifts Liquid Ban: Wine Bottles Now Permitted in Hand Luggage at Select European Airports

Recent advancements in aviation security technology have prompted the European Union (EU) to revise its long-standing 100 millilitre liquid restriction for carry-on luggage. This policy evolution, currently applicable in select European airports, has significant implications for passenger convenience, airport operational efficiency, and regional agri-food economies, particularly the wine and olive oil sectors.

The European Union has officially sanctioned the use of next-generation computed tomography (CT) security scanners capable of detecting liquid explosives without the need to separate or decant liquids during security screening. The European Civil Aviation Conference (ECAC) approved these devices in July 2025, marking a pivotal shift in airport security protocols.

Under the revised regulations, passengers travelling through airports equipped with these next-generation scanners by Smiths Detection, like Milan Malpensa, Milan Linate, Rome Fiumicino, Bologna, and Turin can now carry liquids, including wine, olive oil, perfumes, and creams, in containers of up to two litres in their hand luggage. This development effectively dismantles the 100-millilitre threshold that has been in place for nearly two decades.

While the measure is currently limited to airports utilizing scanners from approved manufacturers (e.g., Smiths Detection), broader EU-wide implementation is expected as more airports upgrade their systems. However, discrepancies may arise during multi-leg itineraries involving airports with outdated screening equipment.

The policy shift is anticipated to yield tangible benefits for the wine tourism and agri-food sectors. travellers, especially those without checked baggage, can now transport artisanal products directly from producers, avoiding the higher costs and limited selection of duty-free shops. The measure thus supports regional economies while enhancing the travel experience.