ITALY’S FINE WINES GAIN GROUND AS VALUE PLAY FOR COLLECTORS

Italian fine wines are gaining momentum among Australian collectors and drinkers, with new data from showing a surge in interest driven by value, versatility and a new generation of producers.

Long dominated by France, the premium wine conversation is beginning to shift, with Italy increasingly positioned as a compelling alternative for both drinking and collecting.

According to Langtons, the category is benefiting from a combination of factors, including its breadth of styles, strong food affinity and more accessible price points compared to traditional European benchmarks.

“Italy has always offered fine wine fans an incredible range of wines with finesse, nuance, expression of terroir, ageability, rarity, and heritage,” said Langtons General Manager Tamara Grischy.

“There’s no doubt the Italian wine category is gaining momentum in 2026… While the French have long dominated the fine wine space in Australia, we’re seeing Italy become a strong contender as the go-to for both drinking and collecting.”

The shift is being reinforced by changing consumer preferences, with Langtons reporting increased demand for indigenous Italian varieties and lighter, food-first styles such as Nerello Mascalese from Etna and modern Chianti Classico.

This aligns with the broader rise of Mediterranean-style dining in Australia, where wines are expected to complement a wider range of dishes rather than dominate them.

Langtons buyer Zach Nelson said the category’s versatility is central to its appeal.

“Italian wines often have a distinct, savoury edge making them an ideal pairing for a variety of cuisines,” he said.

The move towards Italian wines also comes as prices for traditional French regions continue to climb, particularly in Burgundy, prompting collectors to look elsewhere for value without compromising on quality.

Italy’s key regions, including Piedmont and Etna, are increasingly seen as offering that balance, with premium wines available at comparatively accessible price points.

Nelson said value is now a defining factor for buyers in 2026.

“Value is the key driver for Australian fine wine consumers… Italian wines are offering exactly that at an impressive array of price points to suit any budget,” he said.

The category is also proving attractive for newer collectors, offering what Langtons describes as “accessible prestige” and a more open entry point compared to the exclusivity often associated with Bordeaux.

Wines such as Brunello di Montalcino and Nebbiolo-based expressions are increasingly being positioned as entry points into cellar-worthy collections, combining ageability with relative affordability.

At the same time, a new generation of Italian producers is reshaping the category, moving away from heavier, oak-driven styles towards wines that emphasise site expression and vibrancy.

“There’s definitely a ‘new guard’ of Italian winemaking… stripping away the makeup… to let the raw, vibrating energy of the site speak,” Nelson said.

Langtons is also expanding its offering in the category, including exclusive access to wines from family-owned producer Boroli, alongside a broader selection spanning Piedmont, Veneto, Sicily and Tuscany.

The company will showcase the category further at its upcoming Italian Collection Masterclass and Tasting in Sydney, featuring more than 50 wines from 23 producers across four key regions.

For collectors and drinkers alike, the message is clear: Italy may have been overlooked, but it is no longer under the radar.

Luxury British watchmaker Bremont is about to make history.

Later this year, the brand will become the first British watch company to place a timepiece permanently on the Moon through a collaboration with American aerospace company Astrolab.

The mission centres on Astrolab’s FLIP rover (FLEX Lunar Innovation Platform), which will carry a Bremont Supernova Chronograph aboard Astrobotic’s Griffin Mission One.

The rover is scheduled to land in the Nobile region near the lunar south pole no earlier than summer 2026, launching from NASA’s Kennedy Space Centre in Florida.

Unlike watches that have previously accompanied astronauts into space, this one won’t be coming home. The Supernova Chronograph will remain on the Moon as a permanent artefact, integrated into the FLIP rover’s chassis via a custom-engineered tile plate.

The timing carries extra weight. The White House has tasked NASA with establishing a Coordinated Lunar Time by the end of 2026, a consistent, atomic-clock-based standard for navigation and communication on the Moon. Bremont’s watch will land in the same year that lunar time itself comes into being.

“We are incredibly excited by the prospect of becoming the first British watch brand in history to go to the Moon and stay there indefinitely,” said Davide Cerrato, CEO of Bremont.

“Bremont and Astrolab share deep synergies in their values, particularly around innovation, exploration, and a relentless pursuit of new frontiers.”

Astrolab founder and CEO Jaret Matthews said the mission was designed to prove technology can survive the Moon’s harshest conditions.

“This mission is all about demonstrating critical technologies in the harsh environments found at the lunar south pole. We look forward to putting the Supernova through the ultimate engineering test.”

Before launch, both the watch and the rover must pass a gruelling testing regime known as Spacecraft Protoflight Qualification, covering structural, thermal and electrical performance under conditions more severe than the mission itself will demand.

The process follows what Astrolab calls a “Test Like You Fly” philosophy.

The mission also marks the debut of Supernova, a new collection that sits above Bremont’s existing Supermarine, Terra Nova and Altitude lines, and introduces Space as a fourth universe alongside the brand’s established Sea, Land and Air categories.

The 41mm Supernova Chronograph is built from 904L stainless steel, with a multi-faceted decahedral black ceramic bezel and a three-dimensional dial inspired by the geometry of spacecraft solar arrays.

It runs on Bremont’s chronometer-rated BC77 movement, with a 62-hour power reserve and an exhibition case back.

A full-scale FLIP rover will be on display at the Bremont booth at Watches & Wonders Geneva, which opens on April 14, the brand’s third consecutive year exhibiting at the show.

ITALY’S FINE WINES GAIN GROUND AS VALUE PLAY FOR COLLECTORS

Italian wines are emerging as a serious contender for Australian collectors, offering depth, rarity and value as French benchmarks continue to climb.

Bremont has become the first British watch brand bound for the lunar surface, launching its new Supernova collection alongside a groundbreaking mission with aerospace company Astrolab.