FESTIVAL OF FESTIVALS AND BARBERA D’ASTI WINE FESTIVAL.

With the arrival of autumn, the Barbera d’Asti and Monferrato Wines Consortium presents a calendar of events that will see Asti, with its squares and palaces, become the center of a series of events celebrating Asti and Piedmontese wines for ten days. In September, the spotlight will be on the Douja d’Or (September 12-21) , which will see the Consortium take center stage in Piazza San Secondo , in a space managed in synergy with the Langhe Monferrato Roero Tourism Board , with tastings, meetings, and in-depth sessions that will bring the public closer to the winemaking soul of Monferrato.

” The Consortium’s participation in the Douja d’Or confirms its ongoing commitment to promoting and enhancing its protected designations, an authentic expression of a region uniquely suited to winemaking, ” says President Vitaliano Maccario. ” The Douja is a celebration open to all, bringing together enthusiasts, families, young people, and professionals in a shared experience of culture, flavor, and conviviality, which strengthens the international visibility of Monferrato’s excellence .”

As part of the Douja d’Or, the Consortium will host several key events. Wednesday, September 17th, will feature “Barbera and Monfrà. Flavors of Piedmont,” in collaboration with Coldiretti Asti. The star of the show will be Monfrà , a Piedmontese sandwich created in 2015 to showcase local produce and the region, which over the years has become a symbol of local conviviality. For the occasion, Chef Domenico Sorrentino will create a special version dedicated to the Douja d’Or, served with a glass of Barbera d’Asti DOCG.

On Friday, September 19th, the “Cocktail in red” event will see Nicola Mancinone guide the public through the surprising mixological interpretations of Barbera, but not only that, a new proposal based on Grignolino will also be presented.

On Sunday 21 September, the rich programme will continue from 10:00 to 12:00 with a talk entitled ” Piedmontese Breed between Origins, Sustainability and Taste ” by Coldiretti, after which it will be possible to taste some dishes based on this Italian excellence paired with the Consortium’s wines; a synergy of flavours that are symbols of the Asti and Piedmont regions.

Finally, the prestigious headquarters of the Asti Chamber of Commerce in Piazza Medici will host two masterclasses dedicated to the Barbera grape , led by expert Costantino Gabardi, who will explore its characteristics, versatility, and evolution. The two events will conclude with a tasting of Roccaverano DOP cheese, a combination that will take guests on a journey through the aromas, flavors, and charm of the region.

In addition to these events, a tasting stand with labels from member producers will be available throughout the event, offering the public a complete overview of the denominations protected by the Consortium.

All information on the events calendar and how to book individual appointments are available on the website: https://www.doujador.it/

September will also feature the Festival delle Sagre (September 13-14), a highly anticipated event that annually brings thousands of visitors to Asti, attracted by the grand parade and the opportunity to taste wines from the Consortium and its member companies. For the occasion, the Consortium will be present with a stand in the center of the Campo del Palio square , the beating heart of the event, where the public can discover and appreciate the various protected appellations through a dedicated tasting stand.

Autumn will continue with the Barbera d’Asti Wine Festival, scheduled for November (November 9-10), when the colors of the hills, the autumnal atmosphere, and the scent of truffles create the ideal setting to celebrate Barbera and the wines of Monferrato. The Douja d’Or, Festival delle Sagre, and Barbera d’Asti Wine Festival are three distinct yet interconnected events, capable of transforming wine into an experience, a celebration, and an opportunity for socializing, reinforcing the dynamic and welcoming image of Monferrato.

During the three-day “UmbriaWine” Umbria Top actively participates in the event by bringing the Radici 2025 project to life “at home”, after the great success at Vinitaly, with a masterclass combined with a visit to Perugia Sotterranea and a permanent tasting area, where every day the regional quality wines of 33 wineries will be the protagonists.

There are only a few days left until UmbriaWine 2025 , the Umbrian wine festival scheduled for September 12th to 14th in the iconic squares of Perugia’s historic center. Now in its third edition, the event confirms its commitment to promoting regional wineries and producers, promoting wine culture with the support of the Perugia Foundation. Umbria Top is once again a partner of excellence for the event.

” We are thrilled to be participating in UmbriaWine again this year, ” says Gioia Bacoccoli , coordinator of Umbria Top. ” The festival is a unique opportunity to showcase Umbrian wines and present our Radici 2025 project, which recounts the history, culture, and traditions of regional viticulture, “on-site.” We firmly believe that initiatives like this are essential for promoting the quality of our producers and bringing the public, including younger audiences, closer to the culture of wine .”

Umbria Top will have a dedicated stand in Piazza Italia , where visitors can taste quality wines from member wineries for free. By purchasing a tasting kit at the festival ticket office, you can receive two tokens every day from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM. One token can be used at the Umbria Top station, manned by an AIS sommelier, and the other can be returned to the stand of one of the 33 member wineries attending the event to taste another glass of their appellation wines. The stand will offer a journey through the glass with different themes: Friday will be dedicated to Umbrian sparkling wines with “Toast to UmbriaWine!”, Saturday to white wines with “Shades of Umbria: Liquid Light,” and Sunday to rosés and reds with “Shades of Umbria: Emotions in Color.”

The program also includes moments of in-depth study.

On Friday, September 12, at 5:30 pm, immediately after the inauguration and ribbon-cutting ceremony, Piazza della Repubblica will also host a talk entitled “The Umbrian wine sector: synergies, perspectives, and opportunities from the EU, institutions, and local authorities.” Speakers will include representatives of regional and municipal institutions, academia, and industry professionals: Simona Meloni , Councilor for the PNRR, agricultural and agri-food policies, tourism, and sport for the Umbria Region; Andrea Stafisso , Councilor for Economic Development and Trade for the Municipality of Perugia; Fabrizio Croce , Councilor for Tourism, Historic City, Live Entertainment, and Urban Creativity for the Municipality of Perugia; David Ghromann , Councilor for the Environment, Green Areas, and Urban Regeneration for the Municipality of Perugia; Antonio Allegra , professor at the University for Foreigners of Perugia; Olivier La Rocca , CEO of the Brussels-based company Europartners Srl, and Massimo Sepiacci , President of Umbria Top. The meeting will be moderated by Luca Dalla Regina, wine communicator.

The discussion will focus on opportunities for the regional wine sector, from European calls for proposals to institutional strategies, with particular attention to wine tourism and the connection between Perugia and one of the region’s most distinctive agricultural products.

On Sunday, September 14th, at 5:00 p.m., in the cloister of the Cathedral of San Lorenzo , Umbria Top will host the masterclass “Native Grape Varieties – The Roots of Quality Wines,” led by Alberto Palliotti, professor of General Arboriculture and Tree Cultivation at the University of Perugia, supported by AIS sommelier Annachiara Baiocco . The masterclass will include a tasting of four grape varieties: Pecorino, Trebbiano Spoletino, Tostolello, and Grero. The masterclass will include a guided tour of Underground Perugia , offering participants an exclusive journey through archaeology and wine culture, from the ancient Roman decumanus to the triclinium of a domus, from the Cyclopean Etruscan walls to the temple area beneath the Acropolis, where wine transcended its convivial function, taking on a sacred value. The tasting is limited to a maximum of thirty places, subject to reservation.

This year UmbriaWine will host 33 wineries that are members of Umbria Top: Agricola Casaioli, Antonelli San Marco, Benedetti & Grigi, Blasi Cantine, Cantina Baldassarri, Cantina Berioli, Lungarotti, Tenuta Castelbuono, Arnaldo Caprai, Roccafiore, Semonte, Cantine Briziarelli, Cesarini Sartori, Chiorri, Daniele Rossi, Duca della Corgna, Fattoria di Monticello, Goretti, Le Cimate, Leonucci, Monte Vibiano, Perticaia, Pucciarella, Scacciadiavoli, Tenuta dei Mori, Tenuta Vitalonga, Tenute Baldo, Terre de la Custodia, Terre de’ Trinci, Terre Margaritelli, Tudernum, Vetunna and Villa Bucher.

With tastings, masterclasses, experiential tours, and opportunities for discussion, UmbriaWine 2025 confirms its position as a key event for presenting the identity, excellence, and future of Umbrian wine. UmbriaTop’s initiatives are part of the initiatives promoting certified Umbrian products promoted by the UmbriaTop Wines Cooperative as part of the CSR Umbria 2023-2027 measure – intervention SRG10 “Promotion of quality products.”

The Go Wine! Wine Festival returns at the end of September, featuring the wineries of the Langhe, Roero, and Monferrato municipalities.

Alba’s historic center becomes a “wine route” for two Sundays!

The Go Wine Wine Festival returns to Alba again this year! This is the 27th edition of the event, which showcases the most representative wines of the Langa and Roero regions in the city’s historic center .

The event brings together wineries from the municipalities of Langa and Roero , maintaining its festive character, evoking the time and joyous nature of the grape harvest. Local promotion organizations, wineries, wine shops, and producer associations are also present. For several years, participation has also been extended to wineries from municipalities in the Monferrato area.

Tastings confirmed to open from late morning!

On both days, from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., producers, organized through the participating municipalities, will present their products for tasting and promote their local traditions and events. The event will begin at 11:00 a.m.! From the celebrated Barolo and Barbaresco, the region’s flagship wines, to the other noble wines of the Langhe and Roero: Nebbiolo d’Alba, Roero, Roero Arneis, Barbera d’Alba, Dolcetto d’Alba, Dolcetto di Diano, and Dolcetto di Dogliani, and many more. It promises to be an extraordinary tasting experience with many labels represented: a unique opportunity to discover new and diverse products, to savor the charm of a tour through the historic city center, and to discover the distinctive characteristics of the hills surrounding Alba.

Some collateral events enrich the general program and will be presented over the next few weeks.

Starting with the Go Wine Lounge, which we introduce below. Visitors can enjoy tastings (both along the Wine Route and in the Go Wine Lounge) by purchasing a glass and a bottle, and then choosing and comparing the wines offered for tasting. Wines can also be purchased directly from the producers present.

Loredan Gasparini presents two special box sets that pay homage to Cortina, the Belluno Dolomites, and Venice.

Four collectible bottles of Venegazzù Montello Asolo DOC housed in two limited-edition boxes created for the 2026 Winter Olympic Games.

This is the latest development from Loredan Gasparini, the Palla family’s winery located on the slopes of Montello. These wines feature labels featuring the multi-colored, stylized graphics created by Franz Lenhart , one of the leading exponents of early 20th-century Italian advertising poster art, depicting Cortina and the Belluno Dolomites , and Venice and the Lido . The labels for this wine pay homage to the posters collected over seventy years by Ferdinando Salce, who later donated to the Italian state the largest collection of advertising graphics in existence, now on display at the Salce Collection National Museum in Treviso. The project was conceived in collaboration with Design Associati, a communications agency and graphic design studio based in Treviso.

Venegazzù Montello Asolo DOC embodies the history of the area’s red wines. It was one of the first examples of Bordeaux blends made in post-war Italy. At that time, Count Loredan had begun to envision creating a great red wine aged in large barrels from Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and Malbec, thus giving rise to this Riserva that has become the emblem of the area. Today, Venegazzù expresses the fascinating irony typical of the soils of this small subzone. In the glass, it expresses notes of red fruits and spices, while on the palate it is balanced and elegant. A highly distinctive wine that embodies all the characteristics of Montello.

Loredan Gasparini : the company’s history began in 1973, when Giancarlo Palla inherited the legacy of Count Pietro Loredan, a member of the Montello family that had given the Republic of Venice three doges. Giancarlo not only brought new impetus to the region, contributing to the worldwide diffusion of Venegazzù wines, but also introduced the culture of sparkling wine to the area, traditionally associated with red wines. He was the first to recognize the extraordinary quality of Montello, not only for the production of full-bodied, ageable wines (Venegazzù, the company’s historic headquarters, is the only Cru in the Montello appellation) but also for vibrant sparkling wines. For several years, the winery has been a member of the Italian Federation of Independent Winemakers. www.loredangasparini.it

Design Associates, innovation and design culture

A communications agency and graphic design studio in Treviso, Veneto. Lovers of paper, print, materials, art, history, and typefaces, and, above all, promoters of bold, impactful ideas. They understand graphic design as a dialogue and perfect synthesis between form and content. Passion, ongoing research and experimentation, and above all a deep admiration for Italian design culture, have led design-associati to develop new typeface series, design objects like ConcreType (concrete letters) and MagazWine (a magazine/bottle), and to explore an area of communication they conceive of as editorial branding. Research, ideas, and design—this is design-associati.it. www.design-associati.it