BolognaFiere more at the center of wine and its promotion, with the entry into Gambero Rosso

No longer a “supporting role”, but at least a “co-starring” one: this is the position that BolognaFiere has built for itself in the wine sector in particular, and in the agri-food industry more broadly. These are sectors that the Bologna exhibition group has always been involved in, but in recent years it has strengthened its presence through partnerships with major wine and food organizations, as well as through the acquisition of trade fairs and events in Italy and abroad. These moves are transforming the Emilia-based exhibition authority into one of the leading exhibition hubs in the sector. This journey, which has so far culminated in the acquisition of 49.9% of Gambero Rosso Holding (a new company whose remaining 50.1% is still owned by Class Editori, as previously reported here), is part of a deal that also provides for three of the twelve seats on the Gambero Rosso Board of Directors to be appointed by BolognaFiere, one of whom will serve as vicepresident. According to many observers, however, the move is already aimed at securing a majority stake in Gambero Rosso in the near future. Before this acquisition, BolognaFiere had already established a partnership with Slow Wine for the Slow Wine Fair, later extending the collaboration to Slow Food through Sana Food (with the two events running simultaneously from February 21st to 23rd, 2027). It also partnered with Fivi for the Independent Winegrowers Market (November 21st to 23rd, 2026) and with Excellence Sidi for the Champagne Experience (October 4th and 5th, 2026). BolognaFiere has also expanded beyond Italy borders through the acquisition of United Experience, which has already organized “Wine Experiences” events in London and Vietnam, with Mexico City scheduled next on November 5th and 6th, 2026. This wine and food portfolio also includes trade fair formats such as Marca (dedicated to private label products), iMeat (focused on the meat industry), Hip horeca Professional Expo Italia, Luv - Table Grape Fair (held at the Nuova Fiera del Levante in Bari), Expogusti, and others. In addition, BolognaFiere organizes exhibitions dedicated to sectors such as travel, collecting, and experiential activities, all of which can develop synergies with the wine and food industries.
BolognaFiere investment in Gambero Rosso Holding - which controls 51.1% of Gambero Rosso S.p.A., whose shareholder base currently includes 10% held by Class Editori, 20% by Alchimia S.p.A., the investment company led by Paolo Barletta, 1.5% by Gigi Salerno, while 17.3% is publicly traded - is considered by some analysts to be merely the first step toward BolognaFiere eventually acquiring majority control of the group. The acquisition required a significant investment, though not one that heavily impacts BolognaFiere balance sheet (5.7 million euros for a group that closed fiscal year 2025 with revenues of 306.7 million euros, up 12% over 2024, and Ebitda of 52.5 million euros, up 19% year-on-year and equal to 17% of revenues. Revenue growth also continued in the first half of 2026, reaching 200.8 million euros, a +4% increase over the same period in 2025. The company has also proposed a capital increase of up to 20 million euros, which will be submitted to shareholders at the meeting scheduled for September 29th, 2026). This investment further strengthens BolognaFiere position in the wine exhibition sector, which, despite the market challenges of recent months, remains central and among the most profitable segments of the Italian agri-food industry. It also makes BolognaFiere a major player in terms of wine-related exhibitors and visitors, even if through events that remain distinct and segmented by offering and target audience, whether wine enthusiasts and consumers or specialized trade professionals.
What is certain is that BolognaFiere, now a shareholder in a complex and influential organization such as Gambero Rosso (whose activities extend far beyond wine guides to include restaurant guides, education and training, a television channel, international promotional tours, and specialized media publishing), will have to manage new relationships with partners that may also be seen as competitors, or at least as operating in the same fields as Gambero Rosso itself, particularly Slow Food and Slow Wine. It will also need to navigate relationships with other exhibition organizations, such as Veronafiere, whose Vinitaly event in Verona and numerous international initiatives remain a cornerstone of Italian wine promotion worldwide, as well as ProWein by Messe Düsseldorf and Wine Paris by Vinexposium, all of which maintain long-standing collaborations with Gambero Rosso that are, at least officially, not currently under discussion.
This is particularly relevant because, although Gambero Rosso is a diversified organization in which wine represents only one component of a business strongly oriented toward food and gastronomy, the initial focus of the partnership, according to official statements and off-the-record discussions with industry insiders interviewed by WineNews, appears to be Gambero Rosso international wine promotion activities. By combining Gambero Rosso deep expertise and established reputation in the wine sector with BolognaFiere logistical and organizational capabilities, these activities could receive a significant upgrade, becoming even more attractive to wine companies and potentially enjoying stronger institutional support.
Meanwhile, while awaiting further discussions with the management of BolognaFiere, WineNews asked Lorenzo Ruggeri, editor-in-chief of Gambero Rosso, to comment on the news: “this is a great opportunity that comes at a crucial moment for Gambero Rosso. We are in the midst of preparations to celebrate our anniversary No. 40, which will take place on October 25th and 26th at La Nuvola in Rome, and we are working on the digital transformation of our editorial products. We have several new initiatives in the pipeline that we are eager to test, and we will enter this new phase with BolognaFiere with great enthusiasm. It is a meeting of different yet complementary strengths: we contribute ideas, content, expertise, and 40 years of knowledge of the food and wine world; BolognaFiere brings organizational strength, exhibition expertise, platforms, and an international vision. The wine industry today needs exactly this: synergies and serious, innovative projects capable of looking beyond the horizon”.
The first “official toast” to this new partnership will take place in Mexico City, where “Wines Experience & Fine Food” will make its debut on November 5th and 6th at Expo Santa Fe. “The event, aimed at Italian companies interested in expanding their presence in Latin America, is strengthening its positioning thanks to the collaboration with Gambero Rosso and a network of partners deeply rooted in the local market. Importers, distributors, buyers, restaurateurs, sommeliers, and food & beverage professionals will be at the heart of two days designed to encourage business meetings, market insights, and networking. The program will include masterclasses, seminars, guided tastings, networking opportunities, and the Blind Tasting Area, an anonymous tasting space that will allow wineries to gather data and feedback on the market positioning of their wines”, explains a note. Among the highlights of November 5th, there are two masterclasses organized in collaboration with Gambero Rosso. One will serve as the opening event, while the second will be held in the afternoon. Together, they will showcase ten wines selected from labels already imported and available on the Mexican market: two sparkling wines, three white wines, four red wines, and one meditation wine. The tasting experience will provide trade professionals with an overview of Italian winemaking excellence through its territories, indigenous grape varieties, and contemporary production styles, with particular attention paid to quality-to-price ratios and commercial opportunities. For each wine presented, the official Mexican importer and contact details will be provided, turning the masterclasses into a practical business tool for restaurateurs and industry professionals. The event will also feature a collective exhibition area organized by Ita - Italian Trade Agency, as well as Italia del Vino, a consortium that brings together some of Italy most important wine companies. The consortium includes 24 wineries, representing a combined turnover of 1.5 billion euros and approximately 15% of Italy total wine exports, among them Angelini Wines & Estates, Banfi, Bisol1542, Cà Maiol, Collis Heritage, Di Majo Norante, Diesel Farm, Donnachiara, Drei Donà, Duca di Salaparuta, Ferrari F.lli Lunelli, Gruppo Italiano Vini, Gruppo Mezzacorona, Herita Marzotto Wine Estates, Le Monde, Librandi Antonio e Nicodemo, Lunae Bosoni, Marchesi di Barolo, Medici Ermete & Figli, Mesa, Oniwines, Terre de La Custodia, Torrevento, and Zonin1821. This initiative targets the Mexican market, which in 2025 imported 56.7 million euros worth of Italian wine directly from Italy, a figure broadly in line with 2024 levels according to Istat data. Over the past fifteen years, wine consumption in Mexico has increased by 60%, and approximately 70% of the country wine consumption is supplied by imported wines, with Italy ranking as the leading supplier.