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News from Italy

- new, vinous hotels in the Maremma
– Ruffino sale
– Berlusconi the vigneron

Daniel Thomases, the American wine sleuth in Florence, has sent the following report.

A few pieces of news from here, more on matters non-vinous than vinous. Things are rather in the doldrums, the market is very difficult at the moment, particularly for the (too) many Italian wines which have arrived at rather high prices after two or three important vintages. At certain price points consumers are apparently looking for name recognition, and it's hard to say they're wrong.

Antinori has opened a new hotel near their...