From the installation “Inside there is Italy” to OperaWine and the new Vinitaly Awards, the
58th edition takes shape between the exhibition center and the city center
This year too Italian Traditions follows Vinitaly from Verona, where from 12 to 15 April you
holds the 58th edition of the International Wine and Spirits Fair, one of the events
most relevant in the Italian wine calendar.
In the first days of the event, next to the exhibition program, a line emerges
clear: wine is presented not only as a product, but also in its connection with the
territories, catering and international markets.
At the entrance to Veronafiere, this line takes shape in a large bottle set up by the
Ministry of Agriculture, which bears the words “Inside is Italy” on the label. The
structure measures 30 metres long and 10 metres high and houses six statues from the
Uffizi Galleries and Palazzo Pitti, as well as 22 grape varieties chosen to represent the variety
Italian winemaking. This installation introduces one of the central themes: wine as part of
a broader heritage, linked to Italian history and culture.
The inaugural ceremony also confirmed the institutional weight of the event. In Verona they were
present, among others, the President of the Chamber Lorenzo Fontana, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister
Foreign Affairs Antonio Tajani, Agriculture Minister Francesco Lollobrigida and President
of the ICE Agency, Matteo Zoppas. The exhibition district is announced as sold out, with approximately
4,000 Italian exhibiting companies representing all regions, while Veronafiere
confirmation for 2026 of an incoming from 70 countries, with particular attention to the markets considered
more strategic.
Among the moments that marked the start of the 58th edition is OperaWine,
the appointment preceding the official opening of the salon. This year the selection signed
from Wine Spectator brings together 150 labels, with 45 debuts, and is organized into three paths —
Legacy Icons, Classic and New Voices — which bring together historic names and wineries plus
recent. In the territorial distribution, Tuscany stands out with 48 wines, Piedmont with 24, Sicily
with 15 and Veneto with 12. A selection that reflects the weight of the main production areas and,
at the same time, it combines established realities with younger ones.
On the awards front, the 2026 Vinitaly Awards introduce the new recognition this year
“Taste of Italy – Wine List Excellence”, dedicated to restaurants, wine bars and hotels that
promote Italian wine in Italy and abroad. Among the winners are La Ciau del
Tornavento, Pinchiorri Wine Shop, Ancient Wine Shop, Cracco and Roscioli Restaurant;
Outside Italy, places such as Babbo in New York, Felix Trattoria in Los Angeles appear,
Juliet in Toronto, Fasano in Sao Paulo and 81⁄2 Otto e Mezzo Bombana in Hong Kong. One
choice that also brings attention to catering and hospitality, central to the diffusion
of Italian wine even beyond national borders.
Outside the pavilions, Vinitaly and the City, scheduled for April 10-12, led to the
Verona city center tastings and events open to the public, accompanied by the show
“Inside there is Italy” in Piazza Bra, directed by Giuliano Peparini and starring
150 artists from the Peparini Academy.
With the city’s initiatives already concluded, attention now shifts to the fair days. It will be the phase
next of the event to offer a more complete picture of the 2026 edition.