Sport & sparkling wine, winning duo: Prosecco Doc with Shockwave3 on the podium of Barcolana

A passion for sport, the beauty of Trieste and its Gulf, Italian sparkling wines sailing with the “wind in their sails”, and the perfect pairing with some of Italy most iconic gastronomic specialties proved to be a winning combination for Prosecco DOC aboard the Super Maxi 90 Shockwave3, which secured a podium finish at the Barcolana No. 58, held from October 2nd to 11th. At the end of a remarkable season and after a fiercely contested race, the flagship yacht of the Prosecco DOC Consortium crossed the finish line of the historic and prestigious international sailing regatta in second place, behind Arca. The result also marked a success for Italian sparkling wines strategic connection with sport )as WineNews will explain in a video which will be published online, ed), thanks to the partnerships developed by the Prosecco DOC Consortium, the driving force of Italian wine - with 667 million bottles sold, a consumer value exceeding 3.6 billion euros in 2025, and exports accounting for more than 82% of production. Over the years, the Consortium has helped fuel record-breaking growth and global enthusiasm for Italian wines through sporting partnerships ranging from the Milan Cortina Olympics and MotoGP to tennis and volleyball. And, under the banner of made in Italy and the “Connecting People” strategy, and with the presence of Amerigo Vespucci, the Italian Navy tall ship widely regarded as the most beautiful in the world, all of the more than 2,000 crews participating in the Barcolana received a bottle of Prosecco DOC in their race kit. The wines were provided by producers including Brilla!, Cabert, Cantina Montelliana, Cantine Maschio, Fantinel, La Gioiosa, La Marca, Masottina, Pitars, San Simone, Serena Wines 1881, Val d’Oca, Valdo, Villa degli Olmi and Viticoltori Ponte.
“We are delighted with this second-place finish, which rewards the extraordinary commitment of the Prosecco DOC Shockwave3 crew and everyone involved in the project. The Barcolana is a unique showcase for our denomination - said Giancarlo Guidolin, president of the Prosecco DOC Consortium - it is a regatta that brings together thousands of enthusiasts and carries the name of Prosecco DOC across the Mediterranean and around the world. Sailing is a sport that closely reflects our values: it respects the environment, harnesses the power of the wind, and embodies a maritime culture built on teamwork, passion and respect for nature, in line with the sustainability commitment we pursue every day in our territories”. The result crowned an exceptional season for Prosecco DOC Shockwave3, which had already claimed Line Honours with a record-setting victory in the 40th Brindisi-Corfu Regatta, overall victory in the Aegean 600 in the Aegean Sea, as well as triumphs in the Trofeo Due Castelli and the Trofeo Bernetti.
Also on board Prosecco DOC Shockwave3 to experience the excitement of the Barcolana, there were Sarah Fahr and Lucia Dalmasso, special guests and leading figures in Italian Olympic sport. For Fahr, a Prosecco DOC Imoco Volley athlete and Olympic gold medallist at the Paris Games, “it was a wonderful, engaging and spectacular experience. Coming from a family of sailors, I have taken part in many regattas over the years and sailing has always been part of my life, but having the privilege of joining the crew in such a historic race as the Barcolana gave me an unforgettable emotion. I would like to thank our naming sponsor Prosecco DOC for this opportunity and all my teammates on Shockwave for making me feel so welcome”. Dalmasso, bronze medalist in snowboard at the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Games and the new Prosecco DOC Brand Ambassador, said she was “very happy to begin this collaboration with Prosecco DOC and to have been a guest at the Barcolana. It is a special opportunity to experience a sport different from my own and to share the values that make sport universal: passion, determination, respect and team spirit. Beyond results, it is precisely this ability to bring people together that makes sport so special”. Also Swan 70 Flying Dragon competed on the water was the, supported by Prosecco DOC for many years and crewed by Olympic and world champions. Racing alongside owner and helmsman Camillo Galiano were tactician Andrea Trani, Olympic sailor and 470 Class world champion, and bowmen Lorenzo Pujatti and Fulvio Manuelli, who share the ORC World Champion title with Galiano.
On shore, the Prosecco DOC Lounge, located at Scala Reale overlooking Piazza Unità and furnished by Calligaris with the Prosecco DOC-Milan Cortina 2026 branding, hosted sommeliers for guided tastings and exclusive events. Highlights included the arrival of Alex Zanardi Obiettivo 3 Paralympic relay and the presentation of the Prosecco DOC Shockwave3 crew, featuring the special appearance of Lelio, Barcolana new mascot. But, above all, it was a venue where Prosecco DOC told its story through perfect food pairings with the Consortia of Montasio cheese, San Daniele ham and Mortadella Bologna, celebrating the excellence of made in Italy. It also marked another chapter in an exciting sailing season that will conclude next weekend in Venice with the Veleziana and VHC regattas, toasted with a glass of Prosecco DOC.