“Wine Enthusiast’s Wine Star Award” 2026, here is Italy of wine in nomination

From Avignonesi, the historic winery in Renaissance Montepulciano, the home of Vino Nobile, owned by Virginie Saverys, who has transformed it into Italy largest biodynamic estate and earned it a place among the nominees for “European Winery of the Year”, to Paolo Saracco, Piedmont “Master of Moscato”, nominated among the “Winemaker of the Year” candidates; from Ethica Wines, the Italian wine importer in the United States led by ceo Francesco Ganz (and partly owned by Isa-Istituto Atesino di Sviluppo, the investment company of the Diocese of Trento), nominated among the “Importers of the Year”, to Varvaglione 1921, the “guardian” of indigenous grape varieties from Puglia and Campania, headed by the Varvaglione family and nominated among the “Environmental Advocates of the Year”, the “defenders of the planet”. These are Italy wine industry nominees, announced today in the 2026 “Wine Star Awards” of the renowned American magazine “Wine Enthusiast” (whose contributors from Italy include Danielle Callegari, Jeff Porter and Michael Laudenslager, ed), one of the most prestigious recognitions awarded by international wine critics to individuals and wineries that have made an exceptional contribution to the beverage world, with the awards ceremony scheduled for January 2027.
Consumer and trade impact in the wine and spirits sector, commercial success, corporate or brand vision, and the ability to set new trends are among the factors considered for nomination to the “Wine Enthusiast Wine Star Awards”, with particular attention paid to the United States, where Italian wine has long enjoyed enormous popularity and prominence, and which represents the leading market for Italian wine exports.
This is certainly the case with Avignonesi, the historic producer of Vino Nobile di Montepulciano through which Virginie Saverys has dedicated herself to enhancing the value of the Tuscan territory, turning it into Italy largest biodynamic estate. In 2022, the company also achieved B Corp certification. While Sangiovese remains at the heart of production, the estate has also introduced Canaiolo, Colorino, Ciliegiolo, and Mammolo to enrich its range of indigenous grape varieties. Every initiative is guided by principles of ethical agriculture, cultural responsibility, and a stewardship philosophy focused on caring for and protecting the land, an especially fitting approach for an estate with a 500-year winemaking tradition.
Paolo Saracco embodies the era of “craft Moscato”, of which he is widely regarded as the master in Piedmont. The core of his approach lies in 15 vineyard areas treated as true crus, each vinified separately to express the terroir at its best. His almost obsessive attention to technique results in wines with moderate alcohol levels and remarkable versatility in food pairings.
Among the major wine importers, Miami-based Ethica Wines is headed by ceo Francesco Ganz and specializes in the international trade of premium Italian wines (and it is also minority-owned, but at 35%, by Isa-Istituto Atesino di Sviluppo, the financial arm associated with the Diocese of Trento, ed). With a sales force of 70 people operating throughout the United States, as well as across the rest of the continent and in Asia, Ethica has spent the last decade promoting Italian wine culture among consumers, media, and industry professionals. Its trade-focused division alone organizes more than 500 events per year.
Finally, the legacy of Varvaglione 1921 lies in the revival and promotion of indigenous grape varieties such as Susumaniello and Negroamaro. For four generations, culminating in the current generation headed by Mimmo Varvaglione and his wife Maria Teresa, together with their children Marzia, Angelo, and Francesca, the family has worked to preserve winemaking history and study climate resilience. Alongside significant investments in renewable energy and sustainability, they have established a vineyard dedicated to biodiversity: an experimental field hosting more than 500 Mediterranean and Balkan grape varieties.