This year, as has been the case for the past fifty-seven years, Verona transformed into the capital of wine in mid-April. The Verona exhibition center hosted a new edition of Vinitaly, the largest international showcase for Italian wine and food. From April 12th to 15th, the four thousand exhibitors had the opportunity to meet restaurateurs, importers, and distributors from 135 countries, with the aim of starting or strengthening collaborations that will bring Italian products around the world. Despite the current crisis, the event closed with a total attendance of over 90,000, confirming that the sector remains vibrant and attractive to both local and international audiences.

But Vinitaly isn’t just about business: it’s also a space for discussion and exchange, allowing us to reflect together on the implications of a constantly evolving market and future prospects. Round tables, tastings, and debates were central to all four days of the event, entertaining wine lovers and industry professionals. New this year was the introduction of a space dedicated to wine tourism, a meeting place reserved for industry professionals and others, where the state and future of wine tourism in Italy were extensively discussed, with meetings and conferences spread across the whole event. But this wasn’t the only new development for this occurrence originally dedicated exclusively to wine, which strives to innovate and become more inclusive each year. In previous editions, producers of outstanding Italian food and wine, as well as brewers, had already begun attending this event. In recent years, the art of mixology has gained increasing popularity, placing significant emphasis not only on spirits and distillates, but also on no- or low-alcohol wines. This latter category attracted particular interest at the recently concluded edition, with several producers presenting a wide selection of dealcoholized or low-alcohol wines, as well as other types of fermented beverages.

Vinitaly, however, doesn’t end within the gates of the fair, as over the years it has transformed from a business event to a pop event, with the off-site event “Vinitaly and the city,” dedicated to wine lovers and tourists passing through Verona. The city’s historic center was abuzz between April 10th and 12th, with over 50,000 visitors participating in tastings and events organized in Verona’s venues.

The large influx of people in Verona also encouraged the organization of other events, unrelated to Vinitaly and of lesser resonance. We had the pleasure of participating in the event organized by the Vi.Te Association at the Crowne Plaza Hotel on April 13th and 14th.

The “Vinegrowers and Territories” Association was founded in 2012 by a diverse group of wineries with the aim of introducing the world of natural wine and organic and biodynamic agriculture to the widest possible audience. This is a very specific concept of wine, born from the winemaker’s relationship with the surrounding environment, and one that sees minimal intervention in the cellar as the way to ensure the fruit of their labors reflects the authenticity of the grape, the terroir, and the vintage.

It was a pleasure for us to visit both of these events, which, as always, provide an opportunity to visit old friends, renew relationships, and discover new offerings that we may share with you in the future through our tours.

In short, Verona is the perfect place for wine lovers to visit in mid-April, as the range of activities, tastings, and opportunities to meet producers seems almost endless. Vinitaly (and everything related to it) returns in 2027 from April 11th to 14th, and we can’t wait to see what new features it will bring.