The talk show, hosted by the five winners and moderated by journalist Alessandro Milan, focused on the theme chosen for the award, “Progress and Conflicts: Paradoxes of the Present,” punctuated by the winners’ testimonies and stories.

The awards ceremony for the 44th Masi Prize was held yesterday, Friday 24 October, at Monteleone21, following the traditional signing of the Amarone barrel in the historic cellars in the heart of Valpolicella.

The five winners – Alberto Bombassei , an entrepreneur from Vicenza, Fabrizio Plessi , an international artist, and Federica Manzon , a writer from Trieste, for the Masi Civiltà Veneta Award ; José Vouillamoz , a Swiss ampelographer and geneticist, for the Masi Civiltà del Vino International Award ; Gilles Kepel , a French political scientist, for the Grosso D’Oro Veneziano – were the protagonists of the talk moderated by journalist Alessandro Milan .

Sandro Boscaini, Vice President of the Foundation and President of Masi , introduced the ceremony from the Monumental Fruit Store, Masi’s new wine tourism and experiential hub: “Monteleone21 is the new home of Amarone, but also a space where wine dialogues with art and culture. Today, we celebrate not only the excellence of the region, but Veneto’s ability to interpret the challenges of the contemporary world.”

Milan, inviting the award winners to the stage of the Agora, immediately entered into the heart of the conversation by introducing the common thread of this edition: “Progress and conflicts: paradoxes of the present” .

The theme, developed during the roundtable, explored one of the great contradictions of our time: if on the one hand, wars and conflicts arise from the need to assert an identity , on the other, rapid social, economic, cultural, climatic, and technological changes—including the transformations introduced by artificial intelligence—force humanity to confront the fear of losing that identity or, conversely, to build a new one. In this scenario, the technological dimension emerges as a force to be consciously governed , so that it does not escape human control but remains an instrument of human progress. Similarly, geographical borders, today more fluid, become spaces of fracture but also of redefinition, requiring conscious choices to transform conflicts into opportunities for growth, adaptation, and innovation.

The winners discussed these reflections.

Gilles Kepel , a profound expert on international dynamics, highlighted the fragilities of the Middle East as a mirror of global tensions, offering a timely reflection on the geopolitical framework and recalling the urgency of knowledge capable of guiding technological progress towards understanding between peoples, rather than towards new imbalances.

Federica Manzon reflected on the value of borders, which today have become both a place of encounter and rupture, and the relationship between creativity and artificial intelligence as a new terrain for the confrontation between freedom and limitation, highlighting how humanity must confront the construction or risk of losing its identity.

Fabrizio Plessi emphasized the role of art as a universal language capable of bridging differences, viewing technology not as a threat but as a tool for restoring emotion and humanity to the contemporary world.

José Vouillamoz turned his attention to the world of wine, where the challenges of climate change and global trade tensions require combining scientific innovation and biodiversity conservation, in a constant balance between progress and tradition.

Speaking in a video message, Alberto Bombassei recalled his Venetian roots and the value of innovation as a bridge between past and future, capable of supporting humanity in managing global and local changes.

After the talk show, Sergio Valente , Masi’s importer in Taiwan , was awarded the Targa Giorgio Boscaini , an award that for over forty years has rewarded friendship, collaboration and contribution to the success of the brand and the promotion of Venetian values.

At the end of the event, the winners of the Venetian Civilization and the Civilization of Wine awards were presented with the precious bottles of Amarone Costasera , made by Venetian master glassmakers and silk-screened in gold, while Gilles Kepel was awarded the Grosso Veneziano, a gold creation by master goldsmith Alberto Zucchetta .

Scenic walks through the vineyards to admire the spectacular autumn foliage. Creative workshops, sensory activities, lunches with the winemaker, and tastings of traditional desserts and products are also available.

MTV Cellars invites wine tourists to drink responsibly and offers visitors a mini wine quiz to celebrate Wine in Moderation Day.

It’s the time of year when the vines turn red and the cellars come alive again: this is the backdrop for Cantine Aperte a San Martino 2025 , an event celebrating the pleasure of informed, authentic, and engaging tastings during the wine festival of the latest harvest. From November 1st to 11th, the producers of the Movimento Turismo del Vino will open their doors to experience autumn together and discover all the stories linked to San Martino’s Day, one of the most beloved holidays in the rural calendar that celebrates the arrival of the new wine.

This spirit of conviviality and love for the land is renewed every year thanks to the producers of the Movement and the numerous organised activities, suitable for all enthusiasts, from beginners to families and anyone who wishes to learn about the territories, traditions and people who make each wine unique.

Stroll among the rows to discover the most fascinating views of each region, colored by the autumn foliage, verticals of new and old vintages. For the little ones, there will be creative workshops related to leaf and chestnut gathering.

Then, dinners with the winemaker in front of the fireplace and wine tastings paired with traditional local delicacies: in Veneto, tradition calls for the delicious “zaeti,” golden biscuits with raisins, and the Venetian dessert “Cavallo di San Martino,” a shaped and decorated shortcrust pastry. In Emilia-Romagna, they prepare “la pagnotta di San Martino,” a peasant cake with sultanas and nutmeg, while in Romagna, the “biscotto di San Martino” is a must, crumbly and fragrant thanks to the anise seeds, perfect for dipping in new wine.

In Tuscany, we find the “schiacciata di San Martino,” a sweet focaccia, and the “Sanmartini,” small dry biscuits flavored with sweet wine or anise. From the Marche region, we find the “lonzino di fico,” a salami-shaped dessert made with dried figs, almonds, cocoa, sapa (a kind of grape must), and mistrà (a kind of grape must). In Umbria, we find the “Pan Caciato di San Martino,” with raisins, walnuts, and pecorino cheese. Abruzzo celebrates the saint with various focaccias: the “pizza coi quattrini,” so called because of the small coin hidden inside as a symbol of good luck; the “pizza di San Martino,” sweet and flavored with aniseed; and the “pizza scima,” rustic and unsalted. In Lazio, tradition calls for the “pizza rietina,” a focaccia enriched with must and dried fruit, while in Campania, the “pizza di San Martino” is transformed into a hearty potato pie. Moving down to Calabria, we find “San Martine”: shortbread biscuits filled with dried figs, walnuts, hazelnuts, almonds, and cooked wine. In Sicily, the star is the “biscotto di San Martino,” rustic and flavored with fennel seeds or anise. In Sardinia, “papassinos,” sweets made with grape must, almonds, walnuts, and raisins. But hot chestnuts still dominate the table, and there’s no shortage of typical local cheeses and cured meats.

“Cantine Aperte a San Martino is much more than a wine event ,” emphasizes Violante Gardini Cinelli Colombini, President of MTV. “ It’s an invitation to slow down and experience the exciting autumn atmosphere with a shared and mindful toast. It’s no coincidence that this year, too, our event is linked to Wine Moderation Day on November 8th. In our cellars, wine becomes a language of discovery and unity that should be experienced with balance and participation. Promoting this approach means remembering that every wine is a concentration of culture, landscape, and emotion, so that we can fully appreciate it.”

Embracing the message of promoting moderate drinking, the Movement once again emphasizes the pleasure of responsible tasting, promoting tasting as a gesture of balance and respect not only for oneself and others, but also for wine and its producers. Wine tourists visiting the MTV cellars during Cantine Aperte a San Martino will also be offered a mini-quiz created with Wine in Moderation . It’s a way to test their knowledge of the rules of good drinking and perhaps learn something new.

Follow the wineries’ programs on www.movimentoturismovino.it

Abruzzo: Eight Abruzzo wineries will welcome wine tourists to their vineyards and cellars, celebrating responsible drinking and rural culture. Guided tastings, creative workshops, moments of conviviality around the fireplace, and meetings with producers to hear all the stories behind the latest harvest are included.

Friuli Venezia Giulia: 38 wineries ready to celebrate San Martino together, with tastings paired with traditional Friulian products, visits to centuries-old parks, tastings of old and new vintages, chestnut picking, lunches and dinners with the winemaker, tours of the barrel cellar, and many other events in the vineyards and cellars to fully experience the autumn atmosphere.

Piedmont: Mazzetti D’Altavilla awaits you for all eleven days, including wine and spirits tastings, guided tours of the cellar, the barrel room, and nearby attractions. Then, continue with pairing sessions featuring Piedmontese specialties and specially designed menus.

Tuscany: Camigliano, Villa Le Prata, and Fattoria La Maliosa will lead you on a discovery of autumn flavors and the wines of the latest harvest. Vertical tastings of great vintages, chocolate pairings, blind tastings led by the producer, and dinners featuring traditional products, including local extra virgin olive oil, homemade jams, and local cheeses, all enjoyed by the warmth of the fireplace. Some wineries also offer overnight stays and a fresh, wholesome breakfast.

Veneto: Four wineries in the region will open their doors to enthusiasts to share this fascinating moment of the winemaking season. The program includes nature walks, chestnut picking, guided tastings paired with local products and local extra virgin olive oils, and lunches and dinners with the winemaker to celebrate the new wine and the end of the harvest. Some wineries will also offer special creations and gifts, perfect as gift ideas for Christmas.

This year the calendar of tastings of quality Umbrian wines – with six wine shops involved and 25 member companies – is enriched by two starred events with Passiti, fortified and noble mold wines.

Discover the excellence of winemaking in the green heart of Italy up close: this is the spirit of “ It’s Time for Wine ” and “ Passiti, fortified wines and noble molds towards the stars ,” a series of tastings dedicated to promoting quality Umbrian wines directly on their territory, designed to introduce the Umbrian public to regional wine products.

” In order to support the consumption of Umbrian wines and raise awareness of the region’s denominations, typologies, and varieties, we cannot ignore local efforts, ” comments Umbria Top coordinator Gioia Bacoccoli . ” There’s still much to discover about the world of regional wine, and with the support of Umbrian professionals and a keen eye on the younger generations, we’re constantly working to ensure that every Umbrian consumer can be an ambassador for their favorite wine .”

“It’s Time for Wine” is now in its third edition, featuring a calendar of events hosted at six Umbrian wine shops. This traveling event, organized in collaboration with MTV Umbria, offers in-depth information, storytelling, and tastings. This year, starting October 20th and running through November 16th , the six wine shops will once again host a promotional and informational corner featuring four to five wines from the 25 participating Umbria Top member companies .

The wines will be available to wine shop customers throughout the week for free tastings and samplings, curated by the winemaker. Each week will conclude with a guided tasting led by food and wine critic Antonio Boco , who will explain the wines, their terroirs, and their distinctive characteristics. The producers will be present, explaining the uniqueness of their products and the quality they champion.

In addition, this year’s new event is “Passiti, fortified wines and noble molds towards the stars,” a two-part experiential journey celebrating the excellence of Umbrian sweet, passito, and fortified wines, paired with exclusive creations by fellow Umbrian Michelin-starred chefs Luca Vissani of Casa Vissani and Giulio Gigli of Ristorante UNE . The chefs will create a five-course menu designed to enhance the pairing of Umbrian sweet, passito, and molded wines throughout the meal, according to their own concept and style. The pairing wines will be provided by Umbria Top member wineries. The evenings will be hosted by food and wine journalist Francesca Granelli .

The events are organized under the umbrella of Umbria Wine Academy , a format created by Umbria Top that took shape in 2024 and is increasingly taking shape as an educational tool to be implemented through various activities, both locally and nationally and internationally, for information and education on quality Umbrian wine with a view to promoting informed and cultural wine consumption.

Below is the schedule :

The tour will kick off on Thursday, October 23rd at Casa Vissani, a restaurant led by Michelin-starred chef Luca Vissani, son of the celebrated Gianfranco Vissani, on the shores of Lake Corbara, between Orvieto and Todi, and will continue with a series of weekly appointments at various wine bars throughout the region.

From 20 to 26 October, the initiative will stop on the shores of Lake Trasimeno, starting on Friday 24 October with the evening in Castiglione del Lago dedicated to Trebbiano Spoletino and its DOCs, with tastings at the Enoteca Il Cantinone , signed by Colle Uncinano, Antonelli, Perticaia and Scacciadiavoli .

In the same week, Sangiovese and its denominations will be the protagonists at the Emporio Vini e Specialità in Amelia, where on Saturday 25 October there will be tastings of labels from the Lungarotti, Il Botto, Duca della Corgna and Di Filippo wineries.

The following week, from October 27th to November 2nd, it will be the turn of the Enoteca La Loggia in Orvieto, which on Thursday October 30th will host an evening entirely dedicated to Montefalco Sagrantino DOCG, with wines from Terre de la Custodia, Cesarini Sartori, Fongoli and Tudernum .

From November 3rd to 9th, the spotlight will shift to Foligno and Perugia, where on Friday November 7th the Enoteca Giò will host an event dedicated to regional denominations which also include rosés from native grape varieties with the proposals of Madrevite (Gamay), Castel d’Alfiolo (Dolcetto), Terra Sapori Umbri (Sangiovese) and Terre Margaritelli .

In the same week, the Enoteca Bernetti in Foligno will offer its tasting evening on Saturday 8 November, featuring Ciliegiolo in the DOC and IGT Umbrian wines from the Ruffo della Scaletta, Pomario, Leonardo Bussoletti and Cantina Giovannini companies.

From November 10th to 16th, the event will be held in Terni, at the Le Clos Wine Shop and Educational Center , where on Friday November 14th a tasting will take place dedicated to the denominations that include Grechetti, with labels from Montevibiano, Roccafiore, Cardèto and Tenuta Freddano .

The autumn season concludes on a high note on Thursday, November 27th with the second Michelin-starred event at the UNE restaurant (Capodacqua, in the province of Perugia).

Events at the wine shops begin at 6:00 PM. Reservations are required. Reservations can be made by contacting the individual wine shops. Dinners at Michelin-starred restaurants can be booked on the restaurants’ websites or by contacting them. 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 tasting table and the masterclasses A great event dedicated to the Barbaresco MGAs and the comparison with other wines from the great Piedmontese grape variety.

It takes place in Alba and is the fourth edition: the event has officially entered the general program of the Alba International White Truffle Fair and has moved its date to the weekend starting Friday, November 1st.

This is “The Great Terroirs of Barbaresco,” an event created by Go Wine and scheduled for October 25th and 26th in Alba, in the elegant Calissano and Fenoglio Rooms of the Hotel Calissano, during the 95th edition of the Alba International White Truffle Fair.

The event aims to tell the story of a great wine like Barbaresco through its territory, the different geographical denominations (crus), and meetings with its producers, highlighting the differences and riches of the various sites of the denomination.

A tasting to explore, firsthand, the richness of the production area, the peculiarities of the distinct geographical indications, and to inspire tasters and the public to reflect on the importance of the “land-territory” factor in the greatness of a wine like Barbaresco.

The program includes tastings in the presence of the wineries and exclusive masterclasses.

Here is the list of wineries featured in the tasting

Adriano Marco and Vittorio – Alba

Angelo Negro – Monteu Roero Bera – Neviglie Cascina Alberta – Treiso Cascina Bruciata – Barbaresco

Cascina Chicco – Canale Cortese Giuseppe – Barbaresco Francone – Neive Grasso F.lli – Treiso Marchesi di Barolo – Barolo Piazzo Comm. Armando – Alba Pio Cesare – Alba Producers of Barbaresco – Barbaresco

Rizzi – Treiso Tenuta San Mauro – Castagnole delle Lanze Taliano Michele – Montà

The Faces of Nebbiolo in Piedmont. Other expressions of the Nebbiolo grape will be presented at the tasting: a wine bar will select wines from the Barolo, Roero, Nebbiolo d’Alba, Albugnano, and Alto Piemonte appellations. This compendium aims to expand the event’s offerings to the general public who will visit Alba this weekend.

MASTERCLASSES OF THE GREAT BARBARESCO TERRORIMS

Saturday, October 25th

2:00 PM The 2022 Vintage – Comparing Terroirs (Tasting of 6 Wines)

4:00 PM Barbaresco compared with great Italian reds (tasting of 6 wines)

For those who would like to delve deeper into the tasting experience, two Masterclasses are scheduled for Saturday, October 25th: at 2:00 PM and 4:00 PM. The first will explore the terroir of Barbaresco through the latest vintage. The second will compare Barbaresco with other great Italian reds. Both masterclasses will feature six wines for tasting.

Click at the bottom of the page to book. For information, please contact stampa.eventi@gowinet.it