From Pasqua to Caprai, from Nonino to Donnafugata, to great winemakers: Merano WineFestival awards

From the “Creativity Award” presented to Pasqua Vigneti e Cantine for their outstanding commitment to supporting contemporary art, to the “Pioneer Award” bestowed upon Marco Caprai, head of Arnaldo Caprai winery (now part of Angelini Wines & Estates), who set in motion the journey that transformed Montefalco and its Sagrantino into one of Italy jewel-like wine districts; from the “Vision Award” granted to Donnafugata for its ability to look ahead of the curve, not only in enhancing the value of Sicily diverse terroirs but also in reshaping the storytelling of wine, to the “Loyalty Award” presented to Nonino Distillatori, a tribute to a family-run enterprise that, under the leadership of Giannola Nonino and her daughters Antonella, Cristina and Elisabetta, has helped write the history of Italian grappa. Other accolades included the “Research & Innovation Award” for Rosset Terroir winery in Valle d’Aosta, the “Family Heritage Award” for the Ippolito family, at the helm of Calabria Ippolito 1845 winery, and the “Soul of the Land Award” for Consorzio Vini Sannio. These are just some of the “Honor Awards” presented to leading ambassadors of Italian wine at Merano WineFestival of “The WineHunter” Helmuth Köcher, which continues in Merano until tomorrow.
The event also celebrated the 8 “Cult Enologists” of 2026, from the late Franco Bernabei (who passed away in July) to Riccardo Cotarella, from Carlo Ferrini to Gianni Menotti, from Paolo Caciorgna to Gabriele Gadenz, from Alessandro Cellai to Luca D’Attoma, who was also honored as “Winemaker Star” among the WineHunter Stars. Other award recipients included winemaker Roberto Cipresso; Beppe Palmieri, maître and sommelier at Massimo Bottura Osteria Francescana in Modena, who received the title of “Wine Manager Star”; Giuseppe “Peppone” Calabrese, the well-known face of Linea Verde and recently appointed Ambassador of Italian Cuisine Worldwide by Italy Ministry of Agriculture, who was recognized as “Wine & Food TV Host Star” (the award was presented by WineNews editor Alessandro Regoli); Filippo Felluga, who accepted the “Wine Artist Star” award in memory of Livio Felluga; Master of Wine Cristina Mercuri, named “Communication Star”; and Jörg Trafoier of the Kuppelrain restaurant, who received the “Food Star” award.
Naturally, the Merano WineFestival also recognized excellence in the glass with its “Platinum Awards”. Among the winners (see focus) were four wines that, for the first time, achieved the perfect score of 100 points: Perlé Ferrari Trentodoc 2002 by Ferrari Trento, Alto Adige Terlano DOC Rarity 2013 by Cantina Terlano-Kellerei Terlan, Vernaccia di Oristano DOC Riserva 1998 by Attilio Contini Winery, and Vin Santo di Montepulciano DOC Occhio di Pernice 2012 by Avignonesi. Among the special awards, the “Dolcissimo Award” was presented to the two best sweet wines: Ansitz Waldgries Christian Plattner for 2024 Rosenmuskateller Mitterberg Igt, and to Kellerei Andrian-Cantina Andriano for 2024 Juvelo Gewürztraminer Passito Südtirol Doc. The “Radici Sostenibili Special Award” went to the association Graspo (Gruppo di Ricerca Ampelografica per la Salvaguardia e la Preservazione dell’Originalità Viticola), represented by Aldo Lorenzoni. Also Lola Toscani took the stage, daughter of the renowned photographer Oliviero Toscani, who was also a wine producer through Azienda Agricola Toscani in Casale Marittimo, on the Tuscan coast, now managed by his son Rocco Toscani.

Focus - Merano WineFestival: all the “Wine Hunter Award Platinum” 2026

Abruzzo
Hadrianum - 2025 Maecia Terre d’Abruzzo Igt

South Tyrol
Kellerei Terlan Cantina Terlano - 2013 Rarity Alto Adige Südtirol Doc (100/100)
Baron Longo Des Anton Liebenstein - 2015 Liebenstein Alto Adige Südtirol Doc
Cantina Tramin - 2022 Troy Alto Adige Südtirol Riserva Doc
Elena Walch - 2023 Grande Cuvée Beyond The Clouds Alto Adige Südtirol Doc
Kellerei Bozen - Cantina Bozen - 2024 Taber Alto Adige Südtirol Riserva Doc
Kellerei St. Michael-eppan - Cantina San Michele Appiano - 2022 The Wine Collection Alto Adige Südtirol Doc
Nals Margreid - 2022 Nama Alto Adige Südtirol Doc
Schreckbichl - Colterenzio - 2022 Lr Alto Adige Südtirol Riserva Doc

Basilicata
Cantina di Venosa - 2025 Verbo Basilicata Igt

Calabria
Ceraudo Roberto - 2025 Imyr Calabria Classico Igt

Campania
Cantina Del Taburno - 2022 Cesco Dell’Eremo Sannio Doc
Marisa Cuomo - 2024 Furore Bianco Fiorduva Costa D’Amalfi Classico Doc
Quintodecimo - 2021 Vigna Quintodecimo Taurasi Classico Docg

Friuli-Venezia Giulia
Lis Neris - 2024 Gris Friuli Isonzo Doc
Renato Keber - 2021 Collio Riserva Doc
Vie di Romans - 2024 Dessimis Friuli Isonzo Doc

Liguria
Buranco - 2021 Cinque Terre Sciacchetrà Riserva DOP
Lunae Bosoni - 2025 Etichetta Nera Colli di Luni Doc

Lombardy
Bosio - 2018 Girolamo Bosio Franciacorta Pas dosé Riserva Docg
Ca’ Del Bosco - 2016 Annamaria Clementi Franciacorta Pas dosé Metodo Classico Docg
Nino Negri - 2015 Castel Chiuro Valtellina Superiore Riserva Docg

Marche
Tenuta Villa Bucci - 2022 Villa Bucci Castelli di Jesi Verdicchio Riserva Classico Docg

Piedmont
Angelo Negro - 2021 Barbaresco Riserva Docg
Bersano - 2021 Generala Nizza Riserva Docg
Braida - 2022 Bricco Dell’Uccellone Barbera d’Asti Docg
Carlo Giacosa - 2023 Montefico Barbaresco Docg
Coppo - 2021 Pontiselli Nizza Docg
Domenico Clerico - 2022 Briccotto Barolo Docg
Elio Grasso - 2022 Casa Mate’ Barolo Docg
G.d. Vajra - 2022 Bricco Delle Viole Barolo Docg
Marchesi di Barolo - 2022 Barolo Docg
Montalbera - 2023 Il Fondatore Ruché di castagnole Monferrato Riserva Docg
Tenute Cisa Asinari dei Marchesi di Gresy - 2021 Gaiun Martinenga Barbaresco Riserva Docg

Puglia
Cantine Paololeo - 2025 Rosamora Salento Classico Igt
Gianfranco Fino Viticoltore - 2024 Es Salento Igt
Candido - 2022 Cappello di Prete Salento Igt
Terrecarsiche - 2022 Fanova Gioia Del Colle Riserva Doc

Sardinia
Attilio Contini - 1998 Vernaccia di Oristano Riserva Doc (100/100)
Antonella Corda - 2024 Antonella Corda Cannonau di Sardegna Doc
Argiolas - 2022 Turriga Isola dei Nuraghi Igt
Cantina Santadi - 2024 Case Delle Fate Nasco di Cagliari Doc

Sicily
Firriato - 2022 Cavanera Contrada Marchesa Etna Doc

Tuscany
Avignonesi - 2012 Occhio di Pernice Vin Santo di Montepulciano Doc (100/100)
Arillo In Terrabianca - 2021 Collezione di Campaccio Toscana Igt
Domini Castellare di Castellina - 2022 I Sodi di San Niccolò Toscana Igt
Duemani - 2020 Duemani Vènti Costa Toscana Igp
Fattoria Le Pupille - 2023 Saffredi Toscana Igt
Fèlsina - 2023 Fontalloro Toscana Igt
Fontodi - 2023 Vigna Del Sorbo Chianti Classico Gran selezione Docg
Fuligni - 2022 Brunello di Montalcino Classico Docg
Il Borro - 2020 Alessandro Dal Borro Valdarno di Sopra Doc
Isole E Olena - 2023 Cepparello 2023 Toscana Igt
Monteverro - 2022 Tinata Toscana Igt
Panizzi - 2022 Panizzi Vernaccia di San Gimignano Riserva Docg
Podere La Regola - 2022 La Regola Costa Toscana Igt
Poggio Al Tesoro - 2023 Sondraia Bolgheri Superiore Doc
Ridolfi - 2021 Donna Rebecca Brunello di Montalcino Classico Docg
Tenuta di Biserno - 2023 Biserno Toscana Igt
Tenute Silvio Nardi - 2021 Vigneto Poggio Doria Brunello di Montalcino Docg
Vecchie Terre di Montefili - 2021 Vinea Vecchia Chianti Classico Docg

Trentino
Ferrari - 2002 Ferrari Perlé Trento Extra brut Doc (100/100)
Resistenti Nicola Biasi - 2022 Vin De La Neu Vigneti delle Dolomiti Igt
San Leonardo - 2021 San Leonardo Vigneti delle Dolomiti Classico Igt

Veneto
Carlo Ferragù - 2019 Amarone della Valpolicella Docg
Ruggeri - 2024 Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Dry Superiore Docg
Veronese Beatrice - 2017 Loden Amarone della Valpolicella Riserva Docg
Zýmē di Celestino Gaspari - 2019 Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Docg

France
Champagne Encry - 2017 Encry Révélation du Terroir Grand Cru
Le Mesnil imported by Cantina Tollo - 2012 Champagne Blanc de Blancs Cœur de Mesnil Grand Cru

Georgia
Bediani Winery - 2022 Kisi Orange
Dekanozisgvili Winery - 2017 Appassimento Reserve

South Africa
Capelands Wine Farm - 2021 CR1 Redstone Grand Reserve