Here we are. Once again this year, we’ve reached that point in the summer when we in the newsroom can finally say a word that, just a few days ago, seemed almost off-limits: CLOSED.
The Essential Guide to Italian Wine 2027 has concluded its hectic editorial phase. Or, to be precise, that part of the work that follows the tastings, consisting of re-tastings, reports from contributors, editing, cross-checking, updating company data, verifying prices, rechecking vintages, and the inevitable last-minute corrections.
It’s the least visible part of the guide’s work, but probably the one that takes the most time and requires the most attention. Because behind every page there are indeed months of tastings, but then weeks spent transforming all that material into organized, coherent, and—above all—useful information for our readers.
The numbers of the 2027 Guide
This year, there are1,347 wineries reviewed and 3,476 wines. These are significant numbers for an “essential” guide, reflecting not only the work that has been done but also—and above all—the variety and richness of Italian wine that we strive to showcase.
Within this vast selection, there are also910 wines recognized for their value for money The Essential Guideis not meant to be merely a showcase for the very finest Italian wines, buta practical tool to help you navigate your purchasesand discover bottles that offer great value at reasonable prices.
As is the case every year, June, July, and August were busy months. The tastings had begun much earlier, of course, and took us all over Italy to visit wine consortia, producer associations, preview events, trade shows, and wineries. Then the bottles gradually gave way to computers, and our work shifted almost entirely to the editorial office.
That phase is now over.
From the screen to paper
But finishing the writing of the guide doesn’t mean the work is done by any means. There are final checks on the layout, the final review of the proofs, and the final checks. These are the steps where we hunt for typos that slipped past previous readings, numbers that don’t add up, misplaced accents, or data that has changed in the meantime.
It’s that moment when you wish you could double-check everything one more time. And then again. At some point, though, you have to stop and give the final approval.
It’s a formula that still has its own special charm. Because with paper, there’s no “refresh” button. Once it goes to the printer, it stays there, in black and white. And even after all these years, we still eagerly await the first copy of the new guide, curious to finally see in print what we’ve only seen on our screens for months.
Meanwhile, the presentations are being organized
While part of the work is on its way to the printer, another process has already been underway for some time: the organization of the presentations.
Organizing these events involves contacting producers, gathering registrations, setting up tasting stations, coordinating wines. Sommeliers, venues, shipping, accreditations, and a thousand other details that tasting participants rightly don’t see.
This year there will be three events.
It begins Saturday, October 3, in Milan, at the Hotel Principe di Savoia. A week later, On Saturday, October 10, we’ll be in Rome, at Spazio Novecento. Finally, the Guide will cross Italian borders once again with its English edition. On Wednesday, October 21, we’ll be in London, at the Royal Horseguards Hotel.
Milan, Rome, and London will thus be the three stops where producers, industry professionals, enthusiasts, and readers can meet and, above all, taste many of the wines featured in the new edition.
From the Guide to the app
And the work doesn’t even end with printing.
The Essential Guide is now also available in digital format, and all the content from the new edition will be available on the DoctorWine app. Wineries, wines, scores, awards, information: the extensive database for 2027 will need to be updated so that users can access the new edition from a smartphone as well.
The print and digital versions follow different schedules and formats, but they both showcase the same work and, above all, the same wines.
An end that is already a beginning
Perhaps this is precisely the paradox of our “Guide” summer. Just when we can finally say that the Guide is finished, we’re actually already immersed in the next phase.
From tastings to the editorial office, from the editorial office to the printer, from the printer to the launch events. And at the same time, from print to digital.
For a few days, though, please let us at least enjoy the illusion that we’re done.
It’s August, after all.
