Great Italian wines are back in the spotlight with the Wine Top Tastings curated by AIS Lazio and a packed calendar of exclusive tastings organised within Casa Barolo.

In Rome from Monday 8th to Sunday 14th September in Piazza di Siena, Villa Borghese.

The return of Vinòforum, the most important food and wine event in Central and Southern Italy, is drawing ever closer. From September 8th to 14th, it will launch an immersive journey through great wines, signature dinners, the best of the world of pizza, and many other excellent products. There will be 3,200 labels available for tasting from 800 producers from across the country, transforming the 16,000-square-meter Piazza di Siena into a vast wine arena. This stunning location, in the heart of Villa Borghese, will host the most important Italian wine producers, with the participation of wineries, consortia, and institutions.

“This year too, Vinòforum will represent the ideal stage for describing the richness and variety of the Italian wine heritage, ” underlines Emiliano De Venuti, organizer and CEO of Vinòforum.   Thanks to the exceptional quality of the participating wineries and the expertise of the professionals involved, every evening we will offer tastings of our country’s great wines, combining attentive and informed tasting, direct contact with the producers, and the pleasure of sharing and sharing a glass of wine. At a time when the wine industry increasingly requires concrete connections, we believe it is essential to build a dialogue between those who produce wine and those who consume it. Vinòforum was born with this very spirit: to bring together producers, enthusiasts, and industry professionals by creating a cultural and educational space capable of spreading the true culture of Italian wine and food.

For a journey into the world of wine excellence, the Wine Top Tastings will be essential: exclusive masterclasses featuring the great wine regions as protagonists, described by producers and expert tasters from the Italian Sommelier Association of Lazio , valuable partners of Vinòforum.

A program of meetings that will range from tasting the iconic wines of Valpolicella , to the charm of the bubbles of the great Italian sparkling wines and iconic champagnes, passing through the aromatic notes of the excellent Caribbean rums and concluding with the red wines from beyond the Alps : the refinement of Bordeaux, the depth of Burgundy and the character of Rhône.

For enthusiasts who want to delve deeper into the technical foundations of wine tasting, AIS Lazio will host a series of events focusing on grape varieties, tasting techniques, and perfect pairings.

Following the success of last year’s edition, Casa Barolo , the space created by La Strada del Barolo and the great wines of the Langhe, returns to Vinòforum 2025. It offers a journey through this precious region with seven double-tasting events showcasing all the expressions of the appellation. On one side, there’s Barolo Essential, every evening at 8:00 PM, offering an overview of the grape’s many facets, from pure Nebbiolo to Barolo Classico and the Barolo Crus. These tastings are complemented by Wine Tasting Experiences, starting at 9:30 PM, each evening focusing on a different theme. The weekend will be dedicated to vertical tastings of Barolo Crus and blind tastings, giving wine lovers the opportunity to test their senses and make the tasting experience even more immersive. The best tasting will win a free bottle of Barolo.

The first Tuscan company to receive recognition from the German magazine, it achieved 18th place in the world rankings.

Cantina Vignaioli del Morellino di Scansano was awarded Best Wine Cooperative in Italy in the CO-OP 2025 competition organized by the German magazine Weinwirtschaft, one of the most authoritative European publications specialized in the wine sector.

The company from Scansano (Grosseto) is the first Tuscan cooperative to receive the award , standing out among 25 Italian candidates – with the exception of Alto Adige, which has a separate ranking. At an international level, the winery ranked 18th in the Top 21 Weltweit , the ranking of the best wine cooperatives in the world. The award ceremony was held on Wednesday 25 June in Deidesheim, Germany.

“We are proud to represent Maremma and Tuscany in such a high-level international context – declares Benedetto Grechi , President of Cantina Vignaioli del Morellino di Scansano –. Being awarded as the best cooperative in Italy fills us with satisfaction: it is a very important achievement, the result of a journey that has seen us climb the rankings over the years and that comes from a collective effort, from the dedication of the members and the technical team and from a strong and authentic territorial identity”.

Since 2010, Weinwirtschaft has selected the best Italian wine cooperatives every year by evaluating six wines representative of the current vintage , divided into specific categories: two white wines and two red wines with a price under 10 euros, two premium labels and two regional specialties, including at least one still wine. The references presented by Cantina Vignaioli del Morellino di Scansano for the selection were: Scantianum Vermentino Toscana Igt and San Bruzio Vermentino Superiore Maremma Toscana Doc for the white wines, Roggiano Morellino di Scansano Docg Biologico and Capoccia Ciliegiolo Riserva Maremma Toscana Doc for the reds, Sicomoro Morellino di Scansano Docg Riserva and Poco per Pochi Rosso Toscana Igt for the regional specialties.

Weinwirtschaft also assessed the cooperatives’ commitment to sustainability , rewarding those entities that stand out for reducing their environmental impact. In this context, Cantina Vignaioli del Morellino di Scansano has been active for years, initially by joining the National Program for the Evaluation of the Environmental Footprint , and subsequently by obtaining the Carbon Footprint and VIVA Sustainable Wine certifications . In July 2018, the European Union also awarded Morellino di Scansano Docg the PEF ( Product Environmental Footprint ) certification , which evaluates the environmental footprint along the entire supply chain, from the vineyard to the disposal of the packaging. The installation of a photovoltaic system in 2014 – expanded this year with the aim of covering up to 70% of the energy requirement – and the adoption of more sustainable packaging contributed to this important milestone.

Founded in 1972, Cantina Vignaioli del Morellino di Scansano brings together approximately 170 producer members. Born with the aim of enhancing local wine and promoting local development, the cooperative has invested in quality criteria since the 1980s, anticipating market developments and contributing to the growth of the Morellino di Scansano denomination. A far-sighted choice that has rewarded the work of the Cantina over the years, leading it to represent one of the main players in the Tuscan wine sector today.

participation of Mattia Vezzola, oenologist and soul of the Costaripa winery, at the prestigious conference “Matinée Technique 2025” organized by the Groupe ICV Provence, a world reference point in oenological research on rosé wines.

For the first time, the excellence of Italian rosé winemaking meets the expertise of French rosé at the ICV.

An important chapter opens for Italian viticulture: Mattia Vezzola , oenologist and soul of the Costaripa winery, was the first Italian invited to speak at the “ Matinée Technique 2025 ” conference, an event organised by the Groupe ICV Provence , the most authoritative institution in French rosé wine research.

The 2025 edition examined the impact of climate change on viticulture, with particular attention to water stress in vines , the selection of new rootstocks , the fight against parasites such as cryptoblabes , and the effects of unwanted sulfur odors in wines, and finally a return to a topic that is always cutting-edge, a focus on the extraordinary organoleptic and structural aspects derived from fermentation and aging in white oak barrels for excellent rosé wines . Mattia Vezzola brought his fifty years of experience to an ancient vision that is still profoundly refined, innovative, as well as rare and risky.

Vezzola shared with about 60 fellow winemakers the path that has allowed Costaripa to be considered one of the most authoritative voices in the “rosé from dedicated viticulture” panorama, illustrating the work carried out in the cellar of Moniga del Garda, in the heart of Valtènesi.

A work that starts from a comparison and a shared conviction with his friend Patrick Léon , an extraordinary French oenologist. “To produce great rosés, you need to pursue the same philosophy that is applied to Champagne wines, the exact same viticulture and the exact same oenology, ” said Mattia Vezzola.

“ The result of this vision is the expression of the olfactory sensory profile and texture of Valtènesi RosaMara , which represents its most complete value. ”

“ Provence, today the world epicenter of rosé, has always contributed to the value of a project that has its roots in Valtènesi in 1896. Here we have preserved and innovated centuries-old practices, giving life to an “extraordinarily gentle” rosé that speaks of identity, territory and vision .”

Participation in the Matinée Technique is not just a personal recognition: it is a tangible sign of how Valtènesi is confirming its leading role in the segment of “rosé from dedicated viticulture”, which has nothing in common with the excellent rosés of the rest of the world.

The invitation from the ICV team is a tribute to the vision of Costaripa, today a point of reference on the international scene. “ RosaMara is among the most fascinating wines; it is perhaps the project that has best brought together the tradition of my family with the value of the magic of Lake Garda, ” concluded Mattia Vezzola.

NEXT INTERNATIONAL DATE: JULY 8 WITH THIRTY SECONDS TO MARS 17TH EDITION Piazza Medford – Alba.

An inauguration with a bang last night at the Collisioni festival in a packed Medford square along with long queues , of almost two kilometers, which filled the City of Alba and transformed it into the beating heart of the Italian music scene with the concert of Gigi D’Agostino preceded by Roberto Molinaro , an Italian producer active since the 90s, known for his techno and eurodance style, who has collaborated with Eiffel 65 and Gabry Ponte. Gigi D’Agostino was entrusted with the grand opening of the 17th edition of the festival, protagonist of a long show lasting over 3 hours, in a great party of the Piedmontese summer overflowing with an audience of all ages: from ” Lento Violento ” to his many great successes, Gigi D’Agostino made the entire Piazza Medford dance to the rhythm of his music.

The next event is expected to be the international date on Tuesday 8 July, opened by Les Votives , a Milanese band with a “chic rock” sound inspired by the 60s/70s, with a contemporary touch, who won second place at X Factor in 2024, to continue with the highly anticipated live performance of Thirty Seconds to Mars , the world-famous, multi-platinum band made up of brothers Jared and Shannon Leto .

The concert in Alba will be a great opportunity not to be missed, to listen to their most iconic songs, as well as the new songs released in the latest album “ It’s The End Of The World But It’s A Beautiful Day” released on September 15, 2023 by Virgin Records .

The Collisioni lineup continues on Saturday 12 July with Shablo Joshua Mimì Tormento. The evening will continue with Sayf, a young Italian-Tunisian rapper from Genoa who mixes street rap and songwriting with his own style and great originality in a unique mix, capable of making him one of the most promising voices on the Italian rap scene today.

The night of Collisioni will be lit up by Irama , an artist loved by a transversal audience, capable of exciting young and old, who will enchant Alba with a memorable live and with all his hits that, to date, have earned him 53 Platinum and 4 Gold records and over 2.5 billion streams, consecrating him as one of the most successful artists in the current Italian music scene. His will be an engaging show that will transform the stage of Collisioni into a place of sharing and intense emotion for all fans.

This year too, there will be the appointment with the ‘Giornata Giovani’ of Collisioni , which in recent years has characterized the program of the festival, capable of making it an event capable of tuning in with the public of young and very young people, listening to new languages, breaking down intergenerational barriers. Four artists will be the protagonists of the Giornata Giovani in collaboration with Banca D’Alba who, on Sunday 13 July , will set the audience alight with an exceptional line-up and a marathon of over 5 hours of non-stop music : the first to take the stage of the Festival will be Promessa , the young rapper from Milan whose peculiarity is knowing how to rap very well, without necessarily having to bend to the musical trends of the moment with an old school tendency in an innovative key. His EP ‘Vite Sgrammate’ has totaled more than 1 million streams in less than a month since its release.

Next on stage will be Nabi , an artist born in 2004, a native French speaker, originally from Guinea Conackry. Before moving permanently to Milan, he lived in Paris, a city that gave him numerous influences. The singles “Felicità” in collaboration with Néza, “Guérrila” and “Plaquette” have allowed him to position himself among the most interesting emerging faces on the scene.

The Youth Day will then continue with the live performance of the highly anticipated Kid Yugi, a reference artist for the very young who blends rap and urban music with literary and important quotes, creating a unique and innovative mix. His 2024 album ‘I nomi del Diavolo’ was the most listened to album in the world in the first three days after its release on Spotify (Top Albums Debut Global Chart) as well as being certified 4x Platinum and having sold over 200,000 copies.

Finally, Sfera Ebbasta , the Trap King with 230 Platinum and 32 Gold Records, as well as a solid multigenerational fanbase that is close to 5 million followers on Instagram, will close the seventeenth edition of Collisioni with a great live show. Undisputed record holder of sales and sold outs, he returns to the stage of Collisioni to bring his story in music to Alba, from his origins to global fame, passing through his return to the block with his latest album ‘X2VR’ , already five times Platinum.

COLLISIONS MEETS LoST-EU

The collaboration with the LoST-EU project , dedicated to the promotion of Italian dairy excellence in Italy and Europe, continues this year. In the hospitality area of Collisioni, the guests of the event will be told the stories and unique qualities of its basket of DOP cheeses : Murazzano, Roccaverano, Ossolano from Piedmont, Puzzone di Moena from Trentino, Strachitunt from Lombardy, Vastedda from Valle del Belice and Pecorino Siciliano from Sicily, and last but not least Provolone del Monaco from Campania. A new great opportunity to raise awareness among the general public, especially young people, on the topic of sustainability, respect for traditions and the environment , key themes of the LoST-EU project, which all eight excellent DOPs in the basket have in common. The public will thus be able to appreciate the philosophy of LoST, which has as its main aim that of stimulating people to reflect on the current food distribution systems and to learn about the good practices to adopt every day , as consumers, by choosing fair and sustainable products.

COLLISIONI is made possible thanks to:

Ministry of Cultural Heritage; Piedmont Region; City of Alba; CRC Foundation; CRT Foundation; Banca d’Alba; Inalpi Dairies; Italy Good Wines; S.Bernardo; Cia; Kaoss/Nicese Brewery; Galup; Compral; Coca Cola; Baratti&Milano; Costadoro; Michelis; Asti Spumante Docg Consortium; Alba Traders Association; Basko; Ironika