Spain and Germany to boost its size.The Dutch lender has been active as a retail bank in Italy since 2001 and it is a leading digital bank in the country serving 1.275 million clients It is currently looking to expand its deposit base by offering a 4% return for a year on new accounts opened before the end of May.($1 = 0.9236 euros)Reporting by Amy-Jo Crowley in London Additional reporting by Elisa Martinuzzi and Valentina Za Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab , opens new tab Browse an unrivalled portfolio of real-time and historical market data and insights from worldwide sources and experts. , opens new tabScreen for heightened risk individual and entities globally to help uncover hidden risks in business relationships and human networks. © 2025 Reuters. All rights reserved Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker Connecting decision makers to a dynamic network of information, people and ideas, Bloomberg quickly and accurately delivers business and financial information, news and insight around the world The bank will boost its annual payout ratio to 85% through 2027, doubling the dividend distribution of the previous three-year plan, it said in a statement on Wednesday. Popolare Sondrio is targeting about €1.8 billion in cumulative net profit in the 2025-2027 period. Free NewsletterUK Join the newsletter that everyone in finance secretly reads BPER Banca is causing a stir in Italy’s banking sector with a surprise 4.3 billion euro all-share buyout offer for Banca Popolare di Sondrio This daring move by BPER Banca is designed to broaden its reach tapping into strategic partnerships with its primary shareholder owning roughly 20% of both BPER and Pop Sondrio aims to expand BPER’s network to better distribute its insurance products The offer targets at least a 35% stake plus one share for control offering a 7.8% premium to Pop Sondrio’s shareholders with an exchange of 29 new BPER shares for every 20 Pop Sondrio shares This potential buyout aligns with BPER's aggressive expansion strategy exemplified by its acquisition of 600 branches following the Intesa Sanpaolo-UBI Banca merger and its takeover of Carige This proposal emerges amid Italy's rising unsolicited bid activity significantly influenced by the sale of Monte dei Paschi di Siena's stake For markets: Italian banks eye new territories Strategic moves by Italian banks like BPER are reshaping the financial scene, with players like UniCredit and Monte dei Paschi di Siena pursuing expansion. This trend of consolidation hints at a future featuring fewer, larger banking giants, potentially offering broader services but reducing competition. The bigger picture: A colossal shift in European banking. Italy's merger activities reflect a wider European trend towards banking consolidation, driven by the pursuit of efficiencies and scale in a competitive market. As these banks grow, they can compete more effectively internationally, potentially impacting European financial policies and cross-border banking trends. 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So Here’s How To Invest In Cybersecurity.Theodora Lee Joseph, CFA Apple And Amazon’s Results Were Sturdy, But Their Future Looks A Little Less So Theodora Lee Joseph, CFA which has always been seen as in need of a partner and which had been looking at BPM with no option but to bid for Mediobanca.Unipol's Cimbri had offered to join forces with MPS but Italy's conservative government spurned an offer that came from a camp traditionally close to left-wing politics in Italy.($1 = 0.9639 euros)Reporting by Valentina Za and Andrea Mandala; Editing by Emelia Sithole-Matarise and Jane Merriman The dates displayed for an article provide information on when various publication milestones were reached at the journal that has published the article activities on preceding journals at which the article was previously under consideration are not shown (for instance submission All content on this site: Copyright © 2025 Elsevier B.V. please click the box below to let us know you're not a robot Get the most important global markets news at your fingertips with a Bloomberg.com subscription. Join the newsletter that everyone in finance secretly reads. 1M+ subscribers, 100% free. ING Groep is considering an acquisition of Italy's Banca Popolare di Sondrio, potentially challenging a 4.3 billion-euro offer by BPER Banca. For markets: Italian banking rivalry heats up. The potential battle over Banca Popolare di Sondrio could energize Italian banking stocks, attracting investors drawn to high-stakes mergers and acquisitions. With BPER's substantial offer and ING potentially countering, there's an air of suspense around escalating competition and strategic moves within Italy's banking industry. The bigger picture: A new era for European banks. This emerging rivalry signals broader changes in Europe's financial sphere, possibly triggering a wave of consolidation. ING's successful move could inspire similar strategies across the continent, with banks tackling economic challenges and regulatory changes while pursuing growth through strategic acquisitions. the Modena-based bank said in a separate statement.($1 = 0.9634 euros)Reporting by Andrea Mandala in Milan and Gursimran Kaur in Bengaluru; Editing by Shounak Dasgupta and Valentina Za Reporting by Romolo Tosiani; Editing by Jan Harvey BPER Banca has launched a €4.3bn ($4.4bn) all-share bid to acquire Banca Popolare di Sondrio intensifying Italy’s banking consolidation Italy’s BPER Banca has launched an all-share bid valued at approximately €4.3bn to acquire smaller competitor Banca Popolare di Sondrio This bid is seen as part of the ongoing consolidation wave in the crowded Italian banking market, reported Wall Street Journal BPER Banca announced late on Thursday its offer of €9.527 per share for Banca Popolare di Sondrio a 6.6% premium over Wednesday’s closing price The takeover bid by BPER Banca adds to a series of recent merger and acquisition activities in the Italian banking landscape Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena made an unexpected $14bn bid for Mediobanca Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis UniCredit also put forward a bid for Banco BPM with Banco BPM itself looking to acquire asset manager Anima Holding BPER Banca chief executive Gianni Franco Papa stated “A deal with Banca Popolare di Sondrio would create a more solid banking group with significant scale in terms of clients geographic footprint and synergies.” BPER Banca has a client base of over five million served by more than 1,500 branches and nearly 20,000 employees as of the end of last year The acquisition would add approximately 900,000 customers and around 4,000 employees to its operations Banca Popolare di Sondrio’s board of directors is scheduled to meet on Tuesday to consider BPER Banca’s proposal which was described as unsolicited and not earlier agreed upon The merger would result in a lender with a net profit exceeding €2bn by 2027 and a return on tangible equity nearing 15% The bank aims to finalise the deal in the second half of the year and fully integrate Banca Popolare di Sondrio by the end of 2025 Give your business an edge with our leading industry insights View all newsletters from across the GlobalData Media network © REUTERSItaly’s BPER Banca announced a €4.3bn all-share bid for rival Banca Popolare di Sondrio late on Thursday the latest in a series of consolidation moves within the country’s banking sector BPER is proposing an exchange of 29 newly issued shares for every 20 BPSO shares tendered representing a 7.8 per cent premium on Thursday’s closing prices Plus: NatWest posts strong Q1 profit ahead of full privatisation Plus: BNY ups office mandate to four days a week Plus: BoE warns of higher loan loss provisions linked to US tariffs Plus: Erste Group in talks to buy 49% stake in Santander Bank Polska The country's fourth-largest listed bank last night announced an offer of 1.45 newly issued shares for every share of Pop Sondrio with the aim of acquiring control and carrying out a 'business combination' to consolidate its position in northern Italy The offer carries a premium of about 6.6 percent over Bper's official share price the day before the announcement and 7.8 percent over yesterday's closing prices "With a very strong acceleration in recent months the Italian financial and banking sector has been characterized by an important phase of consolidation in which both domestic and international players are involved," a statement said "It has therefore become of fundamental importance for the offeror - and more generally for medium-sized banking operators - to implement an aggregative process that will allow them to achieve competitive and dimensional strengthening objectives in line with current trends," it adds Bper and Pop Sondrio share the same major shareholder which holds just under 20 percent of the two banks with which the insurance group has distribution agreements The offer is aimed at acquiring at least a stake of more than 50 percent in Pop Sondrio Bper reserves the right to partially waive this condition as long as it comes to hold at least 35 percent plus one share of the target bank because given the shape of its shareholding structure this stake allows it to exercise a dominant influence The Ops is estimated to be completed in the second half of 2025 with full integration between the two institutions expected by the end of the year From the merger Bper estimates to achieve a net profit to 2027 of up to more than 2 billion euros Gross annual revenue synergies are estimated up to 100 million while total integration costs are expected to be around 400 million Yesterday Bper also reported its fourth-quarter results which closed with net ordinary income of 296.3 million The BoD will propose the distribution of a dividend of 60 cents per share double the dividend distributed on fiscal year 2023 Monday - Friday 9am-12pm / 2pm-6pm GMT + 1 All financial news and data tailored to specific country editions Helping Shape the European Financial Services Industry Since 2002 The proposed merger seeks to accelerate growth and enhance value for stakeholders by combining two institutions with similar business models and overlapping customer segments Italy’s BPER Banca has announced a €4.3bn all-share takeover bid for rival Banca Popolare di Sondrio (BPSO) marking the latest in a series of consolidation moves within the country’s financial sector which shares its largest stakeholder insurance group Unipol with BPSO has proposed an exchange offer of 1.45 newly issued BPER shares for each existing BPSO share Based on the official share prices as of 5 February 2025 representing a 6.6% premium over its latest closing price and a 10.3% premium over its three-month weighted average The bank has set a minimum acceptance threshold of more than 50% of BPSO’s share capital to secure majority control it reserves the right to proceed with a lower acceptance level of at least 35% which would still allow BPER to exert significant influence over BPSO If BPER acquires more than 90% of BPSO’s shares it has stated that it will not restore the free float necessary for regular trading the integration is expected to generate cost and revenue synergies while maintaining stability within the newly formed banking group BPER estimates that the combined entity will achieve a net profit exceeding €2bn by 2027 with a return on tangible equity (RoTE) approaching 15% The group will maintain a strong presence in Italy’s most economically developed regions BPER CEO Gianni Papa said: “This transaction represents a unique opportunity to create a leading banking group in Italy with two complementary banks that have coherent business models and shared values “The new group will benefit from a significant scale in terms of clientele creating further value for all stakeholders of both institutions.” BPER’s board of directors has approved the voluntary public exchange offer Subject to regulatory approval and other conditions the transaction is expected to be completed in the second half of 2025 with full integration expected by the end of the year Give your business an edge with our leading Future Banking View all newsletters from across the Progressive Media network © Business Trade Media International Limited This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page The operation is part of the 3 billion euro financial package launched by the European Investment Bank in 2024 The European Investment Bank (EIB) has subscribed to a €150 million covered bond issued by Banca Popolare di Sondrio mobilising over €300 million to support Italian agricultural SMEs with a particular focus on green projects and for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and Mid Caps operating in the agricultural and bioeconomy sectors in Italy The operation is part of the €3 billion financial package launched by the EIB in 2024 to support innovation and sustainability in agricultural businesses with a particular focus on young farmers and women-led companies “This agreement is an important step in our commitment to supporting agricultural SMEs in Italy We want to provide concrete resources to promote growth and innovation aiming for a more sustainable and resilient future for the agricultural sector,” said EIB Chairman and CEO stressed: “We are proud of this initiative that strengthens our collaboration with the EIB and allows us to concretely support the Italian agro-industrial sector We work with the Luigi Luzzatti consortium to ensure widespread distribution of financing with a particular focus on the most disadvantaged regions” which also involves other banks of the Luigi Luzzatti consortium will ensure widespread distribution of funds with a third of the resources earmarked for projects in disadvantaged areas and another third committed to initiatives related to climate action and biodiversity protection Italian agricultural SMEs will be able to benefit from favorable financial conditions thanks to the intervention of the EIB helping to stimulate new investments and employment opportunities in the sector Read also other news on Nova News Click here and receive updates on WhatsApp Follow us on the social channels of Nova News on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, Telegram The others of the 18th round: Bergamo-Botticino, Lyons-Rovato, Brixia-Pieve, Colorno-Bologna. Ranking: Giacobazzi 67, Brixia 59, Bologna 52, Bergamo 47, Rovato 43, Lyons 42, Colorno 40, Sondrio 35, Pieve 30, Botticino 28. Reporting by Alberto Chiumento and Alessandro Parodi setting very strict conditions to use the money for an acquisition instead.($1 = 0.9228 euros)Reporting by Valentina Za in Milan and Giuseppe Fonte in Rome; Editing by Jan Harvey gave up the doses by transporting them hidden inside the oral cavity Anti-drug operations by the State Police of Imperia and Sondrio with numerous arrests and the seizure of large quantities of drugs is carrying out a precautionary custody order issued by the GIP of the Court of Imperia against dozens of people held responsible for conspiracy in the sale of narcotic substances with the aggravating circumstance of the large quantity The blitz constitutes the epilogue of a long and articulated investigation conducted by the policemen of the Flying Squad with the coordination of the Public Prosecutor's Office which allowed to unhinge a vast network of drug sales with ramifications in Liguria and Piedmont is carrying out some precautionary measures in prison as part of an anti-drug investigation activity coordinated by the Public Prosecutor's Office with the aim of defeating a criminal association formed by subjects of African origin dedicated to the sale of drugs like cocaine and heroin with white or black wrapping depending on the type of drug Journal of EthnopharmacologyCitation Excerpt :Because of its long history of safety as a treatment for inflammations and skin wounds (Loggia et al. there are numerous reports describing its use for many ailments: in the treatment of inflammations of internal organs for convulsions and for inflammations of the oral and pharyngeal mucosa; Calendula tea was used as an eyewash for nappy rashes and other inflammatory conditions of the skin (Safdar et al. officinalis as a medicinal plant is in the treatment of wounds as seen in numerous ethnopharmacological studies: in Lithuania (the Samogitia region) and northern Italy (Valfurva Sondrio Province) the leaves are used for compresses (Petkeviciute et al. 2015) and an oil or ointments are made from its flowers (Dei Cas et al. while in a Transylvanian Hungarian Csángó village in Romania the flowers are used to make an astringent cream (Papp et al. Ethnopharmacological surveys of medicinal plants in Peru (Nor-Yauyos Landscape Reserve of Nor-Yauyos-Cochas) have shown that an infusion of C officinalis flowers is used as an antifungal and antiseptic for wounds (Rehecho et al. while on the Iberian Peninsula (Basque country) petals are used to make an ointment for wounds and cuts (Menendez-Baceta et al. Journal of EthnopharmacologyCitation Excerpt :Urtica membranacea Whole plant for stimulating milk production in cattle SUR for Urtica dioica in some Italian regions (Dei Cas et al. We mentioned only 4 uses of plants for curing animals marked as “vet.” The Republic of Albania is a small country which borders the eastern side of the southern Adriatic Sea and looks towards Puglia It has one of the oldest winemaking histories in the world landlocked country at the southern end of the Eurasian Caucasus – the mountainous region between Europe and Asia Austria is enjoying a renaissance as a modern wine producing nation Grüner Veltliner and Riesling are the flag bearers Azerbaijan is a small country located in the Eurasian Caucasus As in neighboring Georgia winemaking here appears to date back thousands of years Better known for its vodka and grain spirit-based production than wine Belarus is a landlocked country in the north of Eastern Europe Belgium is better known for its traditional abbey-brewed beers than its wines but this small northern European country does produce a small quantity of wine each vintage Bosnia-Herzegovina is a country in the east of southern Europe also referred to as Bosnia and Herzegovina It does not produce a significant quantity of wine although it does have a few thousand acres of productive vineyards Bulgaria has a long history of viticulture and its modern wine industry is introducing regions The Crimea is a peninsula in Eastern Europe almost entirely surrounded by the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov dating back at least to the classical Greek period Croatia has been making wine for well over two thousand years the last three decades have seen a steady rise in quality The Mediterranean island of Cyprus lies 50 miles off the coast of Turkey In wine terms it is best known for the dessert wine Commandaria a wider range of styles and grape varieties are coming to the fore the western half of the former Czechoslovakia is better known for its beer than its wine though the latter is also produced in reasonable quantities Denmark is one of the three northern European countries which make up Scandinavia The brewing of beer dominates production of alcoholic beverages Estonia is a country in the Baltic region of northern Europe far north of the latitudes in which grapes can reliably ripen and the nation is better known for its beers and vodkas Finland is a northern European country located on the eastern side of the Scandinavian Peninsular The majority of alcoholic beverages produced in Finland are beers and spirits distilled from grain France is arguably the wine world's most important country and home to famed regions such as Bordeaux For centuries it has produced wine in a wide variety of styles in greater quantity than any other country Georgia is one of the world’s oldest winemaking countries The red grape Saperavi and the white grape Rkatsiteli are the key varieties grown here Germany's best Rieslings are some of the greatest whites in the world while fine wines are also made from a number of other red and white grape varieties Beer brewing is also a key part of the culture here Greece has been home to a winemaking industry for at least three thousand years Nowadays it combines tradition with modernity using both native and international grape varieties Hungary's wine industry is best known for Tokaj and Bull's Blood But its wine portfolio is much broader in terms of wine styles Iceland is an island nation in the North Atlantic Ocean located around 900 kilometers (550 miles) north of Scotland's Orkney Islands There is little chance of successful viticulture being carried out on the volcanic island Ireland is an island off the west coast of Britain The following description majors on the beverages produced in the Republic of Ireland It has a rich and diverse wine heritage and a bewildering diversity of both grape varieties and wine styles Kosovo is a region of south-eastern Europe once an autonomous province within the former Yugoslavia Kosovo had a substantial acreage of productive wine-bearing vineyards Latvia is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe The country once held the Guinness World Record as the world's most northerly commercial open-air vineyard known as Vina kalns ('wine hill') Liechtenstein is a tiny country hidden away among the Alps the country's most noteworthy vineyard is terraced into a rocky outcrop topped by the 1000-year-old Schloss Gutenberg Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe between Belarus and the Baltic Sea bordered by Latvia to the north and Poland to the south The country's best known alcoholic produce is its vodka Luxembourg (officially the 'Grand Duchy of Luxembourg') is a small nation in northern Europe covering just over 2,500 square kilometers (960sq miles) Only 1 percent of this is given over to viticulture Malta is a small island (25 miles / 40m long) in the central Mediterranean Ocean just 80km (50 miles) south of Sicily Viniculture here dates back to the early 16th Century when the Knights of Saint John of Jerusalem arrived on the island bringing with them centuries of winemaking tradition Moldova is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe and one of several former Soviet states in this region Moldova ranks among the most significant wine regions of Eastern Europe Montenegro is a small country on the western side of the Balkan Peninsula The wine industry here is best known for its intense deeply colored red wine made from the Vranac grape variety The Netherlands is a country in northern Europe The latter is the name of the ancient county in the western Netherlands Norway is a Nordic country located on the western side of the Scandinavian Peninsula but it also borders Finland and Russia at its far-northern edges is a new and perhaps surprising addition to the list of wine-producing nations Although viniculture is very much in its infancy here and has yet to make any mark on international markets But in the last decade or two it has gained acclaim for its new wave of rich with reds from the Douro Valley particularly prominent Romania lies at the crossroads between Central Europe and South-eastern Europe Its wine industry makes use of a broad portfolio of indigenous and international red and white grape varieties Russia is the largest country in the world covering over 17 million square kilometers (6.5 million square miles) although only the country's southernmost lands are capable of supporting quality viticulture is geographically the largest of the former Yugoslav states Serbian wine is not often seen on international markets although there is no question that the country has the potential to produce world-class wines Slovakia's vineyards are mostly clustered around Bratislava and scattered eastwards along the border with Hungary The eastern fringe of the Tokaj wine region lies in Slovakia Slovenia is a small European country with a long history of wine production Despite the cultural and political turmoil that has besieged the Balkan states over the past century one which has been particularly successful since the country gained independence from former Yugoslavia Spain is home to more hectares of vineyards than any other country and has a national wine output exceeded only by France and Italy Though a wide range of wine styles are made Tempranillo is by far the dominant grape variety Sweden is a country located on the Scandinavian Peninsula in northern Europe Winemaking here is very much in its infancy making up a fraction of one percent of the nation's total alcohol production Switzerland is not widely known as a wine-producing nation largely because the Swiss keep much of their output to themselves The white Chasselas grape is the specialty here Turkey may well be where wine production first began Today the country grows more grapes than almost any country on earth The United Kingdom is best known for its beer It also has a small wine industry which has undergone recent expansion particularly with respect to sparkling wine production Ukraine is a large Eastern European country with a long but potted history of wine production although the country is more readily associated to the production of grain-based spirits (horilka) Canada is famous for its high-quality ice wines but powerful Cabernet blends and aromatic dry Rieslings are also key features in the country's wine portfolio But wine has been made here for longer than anywhere else in the Americas The Vitis vinifera vine came to Mexico with the Spanish conquistadors in the 16th Century The United States is home to many quality wine regions though its global reputation still rides on the success of California and the Napa Valley in particular Whiskey distilling and beer brewing are both integral parts of American culture Argentina is the largest producer of wine in South America its principal grape variety; in recent decades they have together risen to global prominence Bolivia has an extreme high-altitude wine industry in which around 75 percent of production is devoted to red wine its winemaking origins date back to the 16th Century arrival of the Spanish Brazil has a burgeoning wine industry led by its sparkling wines though Cachaça is still its best known export beverage Chile occupies a thin strip down the western coast South America and is home to an enviable variety of wine terroirs and styles it is best known for Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot Colombia is situated at the north-western corner of South America though the country's rum has a higher profile Ecuador lies on the Pacific coast of northern South America There are only a few hundred hectares of vineyards; rum and beer are produced in much greater volumes Guyana is a country located on the Atlantic coast of northern South America It is well-known for its production of rum and cultivation of sugarcane Spanish-speaking country in central South America The country is more famous for its rum than its wines alhough it does produce more than seven million liters (1.85 million US gallons) of wine each year Peru is a Spanish-speaking nation in western South America Suriname is a country on the north-eastern coast of South America but a small amount of winemaking does in fact take place Uruguay is the fourth-largest wine-producing country in South America Wine grapes have been grown here for more than 250 years although commercial vineyards were first established in the second half of the 19th Century in terms of production of alcoholic beverages The bottlings from Diplomático and Ron Santa Teresa have gained particular acclaim around the world Belize is a small country on the eastern (Mediterranean) coast of Central America The Caribbean is not known for its wines (grape vines do not thrive in the tropical climate) though the region is the undisputed home of rum Costa Rica is a country in Central America and sits on the isthmus between Panama (to the south) and Nicaragua (to the north) The country's key alcoholic beverages are beer and rum Guatemala is a small country in Central America Although it is far from competing with Jamaica sugarcane and the rum produced from it are some of Guatemala's main exports Given Nicaragua's location at the western edge of the Caribbean it is hardly surprising that its key alcohol production comes from sugar famous as the land link between North America and South America It is also home to one of the world's largest tropical rainforests Australia is a leading wine producing country its climatic and geographical range offers versatility Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay lead the way Fiji is an island country in the South Pacific Ocean There are over 330 islands (110 are inhabited) plus many hundreds more islets New Zealand is known globally for its aromatic Sauvignon Blanc whites but it also makes a range of acclaimed cool-climate wines from Pinot Noir and Chardonnay to Bordeaux blends and Syrah Norfolk Island is a tiny island located in the Pacific Ocean located almost exactly half-way between New Caledonia and the northern tip of New Zealand Although technically part of the Commonwealth of Australia (Sydney lies 1050 miles / 1700km to the south-west) the island has a high level of self-governance is one of the world's least-known wine regions grape wine is made on this tropical island China vies with several countries as the world's sixth largest producer of wine by volume Its best producers are gaining international recognition India is a rapidly emerging wine economy in terms of both production and consumption with the potential to become a significant player Whisky and spirits distillation has a longer history Indonesia is a Southeast Asian country made up of 33 provinces spread across more than 13,000 individual islands there are wines made in Indonesia: not from imported must or juice but from grapes grown in the island's small number of vineyards though its modern industry has mostly developed in the last few decades The Judean Foothills and Galilee are the largest regions though grape wine has been made there for several centuries Beer and whisky production have also become established in the last hundred years Jordan is a country in the Middle East (or Western Asia as it is officially labeled by the UN) bordered by Iraq and Iran to the east The country takes its name from the Jordan river which since biblical times has been a vital source of water in this desert area Kazakhstan is a large trans-continental country: the vast majority of it lies in Asia but its western extremities cross over into eastern Europe Though it has a very long history of wine production vodka is the principal alcohlic beverage here Lebanon has an ancient wine culture and a modern industry dating from the 19th century Its vineyards are concentrated mostly in the Bekaa Valley The Republic of Myanmar (or Burma) produces a minute quantity of wine unlikely as that might seem to the outsider in this hot has been home to tiny plantings of wine-producing vines since the late 20th Century The high-altitude Himalayan climate is not particularly suited to Vitis vinifera vines so local wines are made from a combination of honey The Philippines is a complex group of islands in Southeast Asia indigenous wines are produced from a variety of fermented crops including fruit South Korea is a country at the far eastern extremity of East Asia situated on a large peninsula which juts southwards from north-eastern China Sri Lanka is an island off the southern tip of India Syria is a mid-sized country in the western Middle East (also known as the Near East) situated between the eastern edge of the Mediterranean Sea and the deserts of Iraq is located at the centre of the Indochina Peninsula there are also a number of rum producers with the wine industry beginning to gain international notice Vietnam is one of a number of East Asian countries which have appeared on the wine radar since the turn of the century Although its growth is far from rapid and nowhere near as dramatic as that of neighboring China Vietnam's wine production is steadily increasing Algeria is a large country in the Maghreb geographical region of north-west Africa Though an Islamic nation it has a remarkably extensive area under vine Though today much of this focuses on table grape production it is still the second largest wine producer in Africa Cape Verde (officially Cabo Verde) is a small archipelago nation off the coast of West Africa originally colonized by settlers from Portugal in the 15th Century and has a long history of wine production Egypt is home to some of the oldest winemaking traditions on Earth Madagascar is a large island off the south-east coast of Africa it lies almost entirely within the southern tropics creating an ideal climate for sugarcane cultivation and rum maturation Mauritius is an island nation located in the Indian Ocean about 2000 kilometers off the south-east coast of Africa the country has a long history of rum production Morocco's wine industry retains a strong French influence over six decades from independence bordered by the southern Atlantic Ocean to the west South Africa to the south and Botswana to the east produces only very small quantities of grape wine Wines made from pineapples or palm sap are more common in this tropical nation Pinotage and Chenin Blanc have been its signatures Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc are also widely planted despite not having an international reputation as a wine producer is actually home to the second largest wine producing region in Sub-Saharan Africa (after South Africa) The history of wine production in the country is relatively recent and roughly grew in tandem with the independence of Tanganyika and its merger with Zanzibar in the 1960s Tunisia is a North African country with a long (if not consistent) history of wine production Despite being a predominantly Muslim country the wine industry here makes over 40 million liters of wine per year and there is no cultural tradition of winemaking have at least one producer making wine from hibiscus flowers Zimbabwe is rarely cited as a wine region of note the southern African nation's wine industry has been gradually growing and evolving This page is currently under development as we change its function Read about the best known regional styles and find the most popular signature style wines The first impression one has of Sondrio is that of a little Alpine city; orderly Visitors immediately understand that they are in a special place: it’s no accident that Sondrio was among the top 10 cities chosen by a 2018 survey (Il Sole 24 Ore) on quality of life and was also awarded the title of “Alpine City” in 2007 it sits at the bottom of a valley delimited by the Rhaetian Alps and the Orobian Pre-Alps which bless the city with spectacular colors and scents every Spring and Fall The heroic drywalled terraces embrace a town that is still in touch with its farming roots generous wines and traditional dishes whose aromas recall the mountains The historic city center features the ancient seats of noble houses churches and characteristic rural houses in stone in the picturesque neighborhood of Scarpatetti To promote and valorize its natural and enogastronomic excellences Sondrio hosts many events combining sports Italy - October 2020 - On Sunday 11 October the new “Oratorio San Rocco” was inaugurated in Sondrio after fifteen months of work to rebuild the structure The project was made possible thanks to funding from the Cariplo Foundation and a fundraiser the oratory is managed by the Salesian community and is inserted in the educational-pastoral context of the parish of Sondrio presided over the Eucharistic celebration in the courtyard of the Salesian Institute at the end of which all the participants moved to Piazza San Rocco for the speeches of Fr Giuliano Giacomazzi Superior of the Lombard-Emilian Province ( ILE) a representative of the Cariplo Foundation Cantoni said the blessing prayer and placed the crucifix on the walls inviting participants to also look at the image of St ANS - “Agenzia iNfo Salesiana” is a on-line almost daily publication the communication agency of the Salesian Congregation enrolled in the Press Register of the Tibunal of Rome as n 153/2007 This site also uses third-party cookies to improve user experience and for statistical purposes By scrolling through this page or by clicking on any of its elements