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

From Valpolicella Classica to Oltrepò Pavese, from Valdobbiadene to Trentino and Friuli: we glimpse characterful Amarones, elegant sparkling wines, fragrant whites, and reds with structure and personality.

Masi recounts a significant vintage, characterized by a balance between climatic challenges, great qualitative potential, and new prospects for value.

The notes from the Masi Technical Group confirm a complex and varied climate trend this year too: after a month of June characterised by high temperatures – with peaks above 37°C – July brought with it intense thunderstorms and localised hailstorms in some areas of the North East. However, the effects on the overall quality of the grapes remained limited thanks to careful agronomic management .

Overall, the harvest schedule is expected to be a few days later than 2024, but is still in line with the previous decade. Production appears overall more stable than 2024, and the quality and quantity of the grapes are positive .

In Valpolicella Classica, we are looking with thoughtful optimism both at the upcoming harvest in the lower hills and at the one that will follow in the higher crus, where the grapes are eagerly awaiting ideal climatic conditions during the delicate drying process. Meanwhile, attention remains focused on the progressive development of sugar and phenolic ripeness, which in many Northern Italian vineyards is presenting itself at optimal conditions.

Particularly positive signals are coming from the Canevel vineyards in Valdobbiadene , where the balance between acidity and sugars suggests a sparkling wine of refined elegance, as already verified in the Casa Re estates in the Oltrepò Pavese and in the first Vermentino harvests in Val d’Orcia .

From Trentino to Oltrepò, up to the Prosecco hills, there is a feeling of great balance and the potential for a great vintage .

” We’re also seeing anomalies from climate change in 2025: increasingly unpredictable conditions that are putting the vineyards to the test, although fortunately this year hasn’t had a negative impact on our areas on average. But it’s precisely in these situations that historic territories, like Valpolicella Classica, demonstrate their full value, thanks to the synergy between soil, native grape varieties, and traditional practices,” emphasizes Sandro Boscaini , President of Masi , known as Mister Amarone. Today, however, the challenge is no longer limited to agronomics. The market remains fragile and selective due to geopolitical uncertainties, penalizing tariffs, restrictive regulations, and alcohol consumption policies that risk compromising the cultural and economic value of wine. In this complex context, having an excellent product is no longer enough. We must transform this excellence into concrete value through a clear strategic vision, strong cohesion among producers, and effective communication that can convey and defend the unique heritage of our wine. Only in this way can we overcome current challenges and ensure a sustainable future for the sector.

MASI SITES IN VENICE AND TUSCANY

Veneto – Valpolicella: In the Classico area, grape ripening is proceeding steadily, with healthy, uniform bunches. Monitoring shows a gradual increase in sugar and phenolic levels.

The harvest is upon us: it’s expected to begin in the first ten days of September in the lower hillside areas, including Campofiorin , the Serego Alighieri vineyards in Gargagnago, and the legendary Vaio Armaron . Subsequently, the harvest will move to the higher hillside vineyards, the Costasera vineyards, and the prestigious Amarone crus, such as Mazzano , Campolongo di Torbe , and Vaio dei Masi . Once the harvest is complete, the drying process will begin, an equally crucial moment for producing red wines with great structure and longevity.

Veneto – Lake Garda: The vineyards of Tenuta Canova in Lazise faced challenging weather conditions, with thermal stress caused by temperatures exceeding 37°C on some days in June and a light hailstorm in July. Despite this, the phenolic ripening of the Corvina, Rondinella, and Corvinone grapes is proceeding steadily, reaching the expected peak around September 8th.

Veneto – Soave: Following a light hailstorm in early August, a partial loss of production was recorded. However, in many vineyards, the damage was limited, and the grapes are in excellent health and quality. Harvesting, strictly by hand, will begin in the last ten days of September, both for the Soave Classico Levarie and the organic Colbaraca vineyard.

Veneto – Lugana: The yield is in line with the historical average, while the grapes are very healthy and of excellent quality, suggesting an excellent vintage. This result rewards the rigorous commitment to organic management of the Lunatio vineyards.

Veneto – Valdobbiadene: The Tenuta Canevel vineyards are in the pre-harvest phase, and everything points to an extraordinary vintage in terms of quality: the grapes are perfectly healthy, with ideal analytical parameters. The harvest will begin in the first ten days of September with the picking of the grapes destined for the DOCG sparkling wine line made with the exclusive Metodo Setáge, and will then continue with the Terre del Faé and Campofalco crus.

Trentino – Rovereto: At the Conti Bossi Fedrigotti Estate , the grapes for the Conte Federico Trento DOC sparkling wine have already been harvested since mid-August, with excellent yields and quality. The Pinot Grigio harvest for Pian del Griso and the Chardonnay for Vign’Asmara are currently underway. The harvest of red grapes, including Teroldego and Marzemino, for the red wines Fojaneghe and Mas’Est , will begin in a few days.

Friuli Venezia Giulia – Castion di Strada: In the first ten days of August, some hailstorms hit the Grave del Friuli hills, partially affecting the Castion di Strada estate, but without compromising the overall quality of the grapes. Harvesting began on August 19th with the Pinot Grigio destined for Masianco, and will continue from early September with the other white and red varieties. The grapes are generally well-balanced and have good sugar and phenolic concentrations.

Oltrepò Pavese: At the Casa Re estate , the Pinot Noir harvest began on August 16th. The grapes destined for the production of Moxxè del Re – Pinot Noir Metodo Classico Oltrepò Pavese DOCG – present analytical values fully in line with the required technological maturity. All indicators point to a vintage to remember.

Tuscany: in Val d’Orcia, on the Tenuta dei Poderi del Bello Ovile Serego Alighieri estate , which has been organically farmed for years, it’s been an excellent year for Vermentino, which is already being harvested, as are the Sangiovese, Canaiolo, and Ciliegiolo vineyards, where the harvest is scheduled for early September.

“Harvest Festival 2025”: a highly anticipated event at Masi Tenuta Canova

A highly anticipated and popular event by Masi Wine Experience: the “Festa della Vendemmia 2025” on September 19th. Masi Tenuta Canova , in Lazise del Garda, will open its doors to enthusiasts eager to experience the grape harvest firsthand, sharing this ancient art with the agronomists and winemakers of the Technical Group and wearing the special “Masi Vendemmia 2025” T-shirt provided to all participants . The experience will be rounded out with a tour of the drying loft, the cellars, and the Masi Wine Discovery Museum. To top off the day, a tasting dinner featuring select wines will also be featured on the plate.