Wine Enthusiast Magazine

Wine Enthusiast Magazine is one of the most respected and quoted authorities in the world of wine and spirits. We feature the hottest trends in everything related to wine. Our seasoned editors do the work for you, with over 700 expert ratings and reviews in each issue. Plus, in-depth features on all aspects of cocktails, spirits, beer, inventive wine and food pairings, trendy recipes, savvy travel features, and more.

THE ITALY ISSUE 2026

Wine Enthusiast Magazine

ITALY, FROM THE MOUTHS OF BABES • Italian history captured my children’s attention faster than any gelato.

VINITALY 2026 • The 58th annual Vinitaly wine and spirits exhibition took place over four days in April, capping a year of uncertainty surrounding tariffs. More than 90,000 attendees from over 130 countries gathered in Verona to discuss the best path forward for Italian wine. The prevailing sentiment was one of overwhelming optimism, grounded in a long history of innovation and perseverance.

THEORY OF EVOLUTION • Always reverent but never stagnant, Montefalco Sagrantino is evolving how it shows up in the glass.

STRAWBERRY FIELDS • This fresh take on the classic cobbler will transport you to the Roman countryside.

THE BIG CHEESE • Parmigiano-Reggiano reigns supreme in the cheese world, and the right wine reinforces its claim.

SUMMER SIMMER • A seafood lover’s delight, this Ligurian stew is light enough for warmer weather.

NEWS FROM THE BOOT • The biggest breakthroughs and bold moves in Italian wine this year.

TUSCAN YOUNG GUNS • Unburdened by the past, ambitious winemakers in the Maremma are carving out space for themselves.

ITALY’S NEXT GREAT WHITE • The rise of Derthona was driven by bold viticulture and smart marketing, transforming a near extinct Piedmont grape into a flagship wine with DOC dreams.

ANDIAMO! • If you’re not making it to the Amalfi Coast this summer, fear not. The 2026 Italy Issue’s Buying Guide is a portal that will take you to Sicily, Lake Como, and everywhere in between. The nearly 600 Italian wines reviewed come from over 80 appellations, and almost 50 bottles received a score of 95 points or higher. Load up on the aperitivo snacks and dive into these wines.

JUKEBOX BLUES • One of the best parts of bars is disappearing without a sound.

THE OTHER SARDINIA • Beyond its glamorous beaches, the island’s interior holds ancient secrets and incomparable, undervalued wines with great potential.

FOODS OF SARDINIA

HOLY SMOKES • Umbrian farmers are reviving a unique winemaking tradition that was once on the brink of extinction.

NORTH by NORTHEAST • A wine-powered tour through Friuli-Venezia Giulia, a region full of hidden treasures waiting to be uncovered.

THE HILLS ARE ALIVE • VALLE D’AOSTA’S WINES HAD ALMOST DISAPPEARED, ONLY TO BE REVIVED IN THE 1970s WITH A WHOPPING 19 GRAPE VARIETIES.

VALLE D’AOSTA GRAPE VARIETIES

THE BEST WINERY RESTAURANTS IN THE WORLD • We never say no to a cheeseboard. But when you want to pair your tasting-room visit with a memorable meal, book a table at one of these 57 destination restaurants.

BEST NEW RESTAURANT DESIGN • Two intersecting lens-shaped discs, each 120 feet across, hover above a panorama of some of Hungary’s most exalted vineyards. Like a watchman’s eyes, the structure evokes the 24/7 guards who protect Hungary’s famed Holy Crown. Architect Péter Bordás of Hungary’s BORD Architectural Studio sought not to integrate the structure with nature but to stand in reverence of it. “What I create should not touch the untouchable,” he says. Built as much to accommodate Padi restaurant and bar as the winery itself, it’s a sublime ode to the great wine, hospitality, and dry humor that epitomize modern Hungary.

BUYING...