The future of wine at “Merano Wine Festival” No. 35 among tastings, science and culture

Excellence in the glass, with an eye on the future. From consumption trends, research and criticism, to a better understanding of the dynamics shaping a sector undergoing deep change, including through insights provided by a new dedicated observatory set to be launched. These, in short, are the key strengths of the edition No. 35 of Merano WineFestival, which will take place at the Kurhaus in Merano from November 6th to 10th. The event was presented today in Rome at the prestigious Sala Caduti di Nassirya of the Italian Senate, with Senate Vice President Gian Marco Centinaio acting as host, alongside Helmuth Köcher, founder of Merano WineFestival and known as “The WineHunter”, as well as, among others, Matteo Zoppas, president of the Italian Trade Agency (ICE), and Luigi D’Eramo, Undersecretary at the Ministry of Agriculture. A historic event, of which WineNews will serve as media partner, will feature five days of festival activities, with 810 companies showcasing more than 2,600 products for tasting, and over 100 producers from 21 countries. The first major announcement for this year edition, unveiled by Köcher, is the creation of the Merano Wine Observatory, which will become operational in 2027 with the aim of analyzing, interpreting and anticipating changes in a sector increasingly challenged by both geopolitical and climate-related developments.
“Merano WineFestival is not just about tasting wines - underlined Helmuth Köcher - it is also about looking to the future. The slogan I wanted to launch, that ‘the future of wine passes through Merano’, is a reality. This event seeks to showcase the biodiversity, elegance and appeal of all wine territories, while also giving space to market trends. One of the most important, according to many producers as well, is the rise of low-alcohol wines, which are helping bring younger consumers closer to wine. Through the Observatory, we want to understand how wine will be produced, sold, consumed and perceived in 5, 10 or 20 years”.
“Merano WineFestival is one of the most important wine events in Italy and beyond. Presenting its thirty-fifth edition in the Senate demonstrates the attention that institutions pay to this event, which serves as a showcase for the excellence of our country, both in food and wine”, said Senate vicepresident and Lega senator Gian Marco Centinaio. He added: “Those who visit Merano WineFestival do not only have the opportunity to taste high-quality wines and gastronomic products, but also to speak with producers, deepen their understanding of the territories of origin, and, ultimately, appreciate the history and roots of a product that is inextricably linked to the place it comes from. We must continue to focus on these aspects in order to build the right communication around wine. This is fundamental because we need to encourage informed and quality wine consumption, even among those who are not experts or sommeliers”.
“The promotional activity carried out by Merano WineFestival on behalf of companies and territories is extremely important - added Matteo Zoppas, president of the Italian Trade Agency, in his message - thanks also to the additional resources made available by the Government, including through the Wine Task Force promoted by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, we have doubled our incoming activities in Merano, recognizing the increasingly strong international vocation of this event. We must create more opportunities for supply and demand to meet, not only for large companies but also for small and medium-sized producers. As Ice, we continue our mission through trade fairs in Italy and abroad, business missions and our network of 90 offices worldwide. We must continue to support Italian wine, which is worth just under 8 billion euros in exports out of Italy total exports of 643 billion euros. It deserves ever greater support and assistance, while companies should be enabled to benefit from all the measures available to our entrepreneurs”.
Another major announcement made during the Senate presentation was the unveiling of the four wines that, for the first time since the award inception, achieved a perfect score of 100/100 in the “WineHunter Award Platinum”. The highest rating was awarded to four iconic labels, each representing distinctive territories and winemaking traditions: Alto Adige Terlano Doc Rarity 2013 bby the renowned Cantina Terlano, described as “the expression of a winemaking philosophy that has made Cantina Terlano a benchmark for the extraordinary ageing potential of South Tyrol great white wines. A testament to the ability of Italian white wine to challenge time and transform it into beauty”; Vernaccia di Oristano Doc Riserva 1998 by Attilio Contini, which “tells the story of an ancient, deep and deeply rooted Sardinia. A culture, a memory and a winemaking heritage that deserve to be passed on to future generations”. Vin Santo di Montepulciano Doc Occhio di Pernice 2012 by Avignonesi, one of Tuscany leading wineries, described as “a liquid narrative of time: rare, contemplative and capable of transforming an ancient Tuscan tradition into an experience of remarkable modernity. One of the most fascinating and precious expressions of Tuscany Vin Santo heritage”. Trentodoc Perlè 2002 by Ferrari Trento, an icon of Italian sparkling wine and of Trentino celebrated “Mountain Bubbles”, because it “tells one of the great stories of Italian sparkling wine, born in early twentieth-century Trentino from the vision of Giulio Ferrari. Proof that Italy finest sparkling wines can stand the test of time and compete with the world leading expressions of Metodo Classico”.
Looking more closely at the programme, Merano WineFestival will open on November 6th with an international inauguration ceremony. The highlight will be a ceremonial toast connected live with Tokyo, where the first edition of Merano WineFestival Japan will be taking place simultaneously. The day will also feature “TasteTerroir - bio&dynamica”, dedicated to organic, biodynamic and natural wines, as well as wines produced from Piwi grape varieties. The spotlight will also be on sustainable viticulture, amphora winemaking, underwater ageing, outstanding expressions of Riesling and, finally, the “Cult Oenologist” excellence program, dedicated to Italy leading winemakers selected by Helmuth Köcher: the late Franco Bernabei, Carlo Ferrini, Luca D’Attoma, Riccardo Cotarella, Alessandro Cellai, Gianni Menotti, Paolo Caciorgna, Paolo Vagaggini and Gabriele Gadenz. At the same time, the Puccini Theater will host the WineHunter Award Platinum ceremony, including the presentation of five special Honour Awards and the recognition of the “Cult Oenologist”. The day will conclude with the traditional Gala Dinner at the Kurhaus, organized in collaboration with Teritoria, the collection of more than 300 Maisons and Tables sensationnelles across Europe chaired by Alain Ducasse. The dinner will take guests on a journey through five territories and five distinct interpretations of elegance: from purity, interpreted by chefs Sara Bertocchi and Fabrizio Molteni (Frosch), to the bond between territory, roots and memory expressed by chef Massimo Spigaroli (Antica Corte Pallavicina, One Michelin Star); followed by harmony in the first course created by chef Arcangelo Tinari (Villa Maiella, One Michelin Star), character through the cuisine of chef Giacomo Devoto (Locanda de’ Banchieri, One Michelin Star), and finally beauty in the dessert by chef Anna Ghisolfi, who leads the restaurant bearing her name.
The evening will also feature the presentation of the 5 “WineHunter Stars” for 2026, awards celebrating the personalities who illuminate Italy food and wine scene. winemaker Roberto Cipresso will receive the Winemaker Star; Beppe Palmieri, maître-sommelier of Osteria Francescana, the Wine Manager Star; Giuseppe “Peppone” Calabrese the Wine & Food TV Host Star; the Wine Artist Star, dedicated to the memory of Livio Felluga, will be presented to his son Filippo Felluga; while Cristina Mercuri MW, the first woman in Italy to earn the Master of Wine title, will receive the Communication Star.
From November 7th to 9th, the Festival will fill the Kurhaus with more than 350 wine estates in the Wine Italia section, over 100 producers from 12 countries including Lebanon, Moldova, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Brazil, Argentina and South Africa in Wine International, and more than 120 selected labels showcased in the WineHunter Area, served by the sommeliers of Fisar Alto Adige.
Among the new features, there is the “Next Platinum” selection, showcasing products that have reached the highest level within their award category, alongside wines awarded the Gran Medaglia d’Oro at the Mondial des Vins Extrêmes, the international competition organized annually by Cervim, the leading authority in heroic and mountain viticulture. From November 6th to 9th, the GourmetArena will host 150 companies presenting gourmet products, beers and spirits from across Italy, together with a packed schedule of showcookings and food-and-wine pairings. The area will also include the No-Low Alcohol section, focused on emerging trends in low- and no-alcohol beverages, and the WineHunter Rosé Selection, dedicated to the finest expressions of rosé wines. The WineHunter Masterclasses will return to the rooms of Hotel Terme Merano, while dedicated B2B networking spaces such as the “WH Buyers Club” and the “ICE Buyers Area” will provide further opportunities for professional exchange and business development.
As already noted, Merano WineFestival will also serve as a platform for discussion, reflection and in-depth analysis of the sector. Organized in collaboration with the International Viticulture & Enology Society (IVES), Connected Reality and ForTeam, the “Breath and Cry of the Earth” Summit will return in 2026 and will take place on November 6 at the Puccini Theater. The program will open with remarks by Helmuth Köcher and Julien Dumercq, Director of IVES (International Viticulture & Enology Society), followed by presentations of five scientific research projects in the fields of viticulture and oenology. Contributors will include Francesco Mirone and Sara Zanella from the Interdepartmental Centre for Viticulture and Enology Research at the University of Padua, Valeria De Rosa from the Centre for Agriculture, Food and Environment of the University of Trento, Matteo Migliorini of the University of Verona, and Emanuele Boselli of the Free University of Bolzano. The Merano WineFestival program will also feature a series of events dedicated to exploring compelling stories from the world of wine. The program begins on November 6 at the Puccini Theatre, where Laura Donadoni will present the European project “Grapes of Change”, aimed at promoting gender equality in the wine sector. On November 7th, in the Zedern Lounge at the Hotel Terme Merano, Camilla Lunelli, a member of the leadership team at Ferrari Trento, will present “Un’arte di famiglia” - “A Family Art”, the book published yesterday by Sperling & Kupfer, in which she recounts her personal and professional journey, from international cooperation work in Africa to her return to Trentino and the family business. This will be followed, in the same venue, by Chiara Giorleo, who will present “Vino, donna. Storie e passioni di 90 protagoniste del cambiamento” - “Wine, Woman. Stories and Passions of 90 Women Driving Change”, a collection of interviews with leading female figures in the wine world, published by Luciano Pignataro. Later that day, the Women Museum will host “Voices in the Glasses”, a celebratory toast bringing together the historical heritage of the city museum and the indigenous wine excellence championed by the Women of Wine of South Tyrol. On November 8th, the Zedern Lounge will host the presentation of “South Tyrol in a Glass. Winegrowers of the Burgraviato”, edited by Mario Vacca and published by Edizioni Nisroch. This will be followed by the launch of the latest edition of “I Vini del Cuore” - “Wines of the Heart” by Olga Sofia Schiaffino, featuring a foreword by Marco Sciarrini. Finally, journalist and sommelier Antonella Amodio will present the new edition of “Calici & Spicchi. World Atlas of Pizza and Wine in 100 Pairings”. All of this will unfold under the banner of “elegance and beauty”, the guiding theme and key message of the edition No. 35 of Merano WineFestival, according to Helmuth Köcher.