THE WINE MARKET IS HEALTHY. RUMORS SAY THAT COLLE MASSARI IS CLOSE TO PURCHASING POGGIO DI SOTTO, NEGOTIATIONS INVOLVING ANGELINI ESTATES IN VENETO AND PIEDMONT. OFFICIAL NEWS, ATTEMS OF FRIULI GOES TO FRESCOBALDI

If stock listings and money circulating around a sector mean a healthy economy, then the wine world is experiencing a second youth. For now, it’s only rumors, but the vox populi says Montalcino is in the middle of negotiations and possible investments: Colle Massari, the wine company headed by Claudio Tipa, uncle of Ernesto Bertarelli, who is the owner of Alinghi and two time winner of America’s Cup, whose interest in Poggio di Sotto, one of the historical Brunello companies (owned by Piero Palmucci), is close to becoming a definite acquisition.

The Montalcino winery - 12 hectares, 8 of which Brunello - has long been the target of Colle Massari and, according to insiders (the Ansa agency gave the news today, Ed.), the deal, between 10 and 15 million euros, has gone through. For a company that moved out of Tuscany, there is one coming to Tuscany: it is official that Attems in Friuli, one of the major Collio companies, is now entirely owned by Marquis Frescobaldi, one of the historical families of the wine world that has been the majority shareholder of Attems for several years. That’s not all. Going back in time, there is still an echo of the statements made by Jorge Doldi Ballesta, President of Tenimenti Angelini, looking to enter the top 20 Italian producers by acquiring two other companies, aiming at a rapidly spreading expansion. The course indicated points to Northern Italy, where they will try to bring a high-end Venetian company that produces Amarone, and not only, into the group, as well as an established brand of Barolo and other Piedmont denominations. And, let’s not forget the sensational sale of Contratto, the giant of sparkling wines in Piedmont, which went to the Rivetti brothers’ La Spinetta winery just last March. The market is sizzling, full of negotiations and who knows how many more are in progress, away from prying ears...