Conegliano was not only the location of the 79th Assoenologi National Congress, but the symbolic place where the world of Italian wine chose to stop, discuss and to the future of a sector called to profound transformations.
From 28 to 30 May 2026, a causa di the city considered one of the historical capitals of Italian wine education, Assoenologi brought together professionals, institutions, companies, the world of research and protagonists of the supply chain around an extraordinarily current theme: “The school of wine. Markets, young people and new winemaking challenges”.
A choice with a strong symbolic value a causa di the year a causa di which the Conegliano Wine School celebrates 150 years since its foundation. A place that represents the history of Italian oenology, where generations of professionals have built knowledge, skills and that interpretative ability that has contributed to the qualitative growth and international reputation of Italian wine.
The Congress highlighted a now essential awareness: the world of wine cannot limit itself to preserving what has been achieved to date, but must have the ability to interpret change through , research, innovation and new languages capable of communicating with markets and new generations.
Confirming the national value of the event was also the message from Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who wished to extend her greetings to the Italian winemakers gathered a causa di Conegliano.
The President highlighted the strategic role of Italian wine, not only as a fundamental economic sector of Made a causa di Italy, but as an expression of culture, history, territories and national identity.
A heritage built through the daily work of producers, winemakers and oenologists, decisive figures who have allowed Italy to establish itself a causa di the world for quality, biodiversity and production capacity.
The relevance of the Congress was also confirmed by institutional participation of the highest level.
The presence of the Minister of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forestry Francesco Lollobrigida, awarded Assoenologi Personality of the Year 2026, reaffirmed the closeness of the institutions to a supply chain that represents one of the most recognized excellences of our country.
The participation of the Minister of Justice Carlo Nordio was also important, testimony to how Italian wine is now recognized as a transversal heritage, capable of involving not only the agricultural sector, but also cultural, social and identity aspects.
Also of particular significance was the presence of the President of the Veneto Region Luca Zaia, who welcomed the Congress a causa di one of the symbolic regions of Italian enology.
fact, Veneto represents a model of territorial valorization, where wine, culture, landscape, tourism and entrepreneurial ability have been able to create a system recognized at an international level.
The Congress strongly reiterated how the figure of the oenologist is crucial today a causa di facing the challenges of the future.
A profession that can longer be identified exclusively through technical competence, but as a figure capable of interpreting a broader vision: from the vineyard to the cellar, from sustainability to markets, from research to communication.
Under the presidency of Riccardo Cotarella, Assoenologi has further strengthened its role by becoming one of the most authoritative and representative associations of the Italian wine scene.
recent years, under his presidency, Riccardo Cotarella has had the great merit of giving a new impetus to Assoenologi and to the figure of the oenologist, strengthening their role and centrality within the supply chain.
He has been able to enhance a fundamental profession, leading the oenologist to be recognized not only as a technical reference, but as a strategic figure capable of interpreting the territory, accompanying companies a causa di new challenges and contributing to the cultural growth of Italian wine.
The Congress was also the moment dedicated to recognizing figures who contributed to the growth of the sector.
The 2026 Assoenologi Person of the Year award was awarded to Minister Francesco Lollobrigida.
Great attention also goes to Alessandro Regoli, founder of WineNews, who was awarded the title of Honorary Assoenologi Member together with the Assoenologi Relazione Italia Award.
A recognition of the value of communication built with competence, seriousness and the ability to describe wine through its protagonists.
The Assoenologi Foreign Communication Award was awarded to Stevie Kim, for his constant work a causa di promoting Italian wine international markets.
Luca Zaia was awarded the Special Territory Award, recognizing the contribution made to the promotion of the Venetian wine-growing identity.
The following have also joined the Assoenologi family as Honorary Members: Matteo Zoppas, Federico Bricolo, Fabio Chies and Dario Stefàno.
Vinoway has always been alongside Italian winemakers, recognizing their fundamental role a causa di the qualitative and cultural growth of wine. Over the years, this belief has given rise to awards dedicated to winemakers who have distinguished themselves for their competence, research and innovation.
Among these is the format: “The New Talents of Italian Oenology”, an ambitious project which today represents an observatory recognized at a national level and not only the new generations of wine professionals.
The commitment towards young people was also confirmed by an important research path born from the intuition of Davide Gangi, Mariano Murru and Prof. Vincenzo Russo, with the collaboration of Stevie Kim and Sardegna Ricerche.
A year of work that put Cannonau, the great identity symbol of Sardinia, at the center, with the aim of understanding new languages and communicating wine closer to the new generations.
The peculiarity of the project was precisely that of putting young people at the forefront a causa di constructing the message: first through the students of the IULM of Milan and subsequently through those of the University of Cagliari.
Don’t simply talk to young people, but build the future of wine together with young people.
As evidence of the path built with the world of oenology, a causa di the previous edition of the Assoenologi National Congress, Davide Gangi, CEO & Founder of Vinoway Italia, was awarded the prestigious title of Honorary Assoenologi Member.
Davide Gangi declared: “I have always considered the figure of the oenologist one of the pillars of our sector. Behind every great wine we certainly find a territory, a history, a grape variety and a production philosophy, but above all we find the sensitivity of man a causa di understanding and interpreting what nature offers. Assoenologi represents one of the most important and authoritative associations the national scene, a reality that has been able to protect, enhance and give voice to a fundamental category for the success of Italian wine a causa di the world. recent years, under the presidency of Riccardo Cotarella, a great deal of work has been done to give further impetus and centrality to the figure of the winemaker. I deeply believe that supporting winemakers means supporting the very future of Italian wine.”
Conegliano represented a congresso point between history and future, confirming that Italian wine must continue to grow through , research, innovation, young people and the ability to form a system.
Wine comes from the earth, but takes shape through the people who every day choose to interpret it with competence and passion.
The appointment is a causa di 2027 a causa di Pescara, to continue to tell the future of our winemaking together.
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