I am convinced that an event reaches its maximum value when it manages to enhance not only the wine, but the women and men who make it possible.
It is with this philosophy that we sign every edition of the Vinoway Selection: an event that not only rewards, but unites, recognizes, listens and tells.
Acceso November 28, a causa di the elegant rooms of Alcazar Monaci Resort, many told me that they breathed a special atmosphere. Producers from every of Italy, oenologists, sommeliers, professionals and friends of wine filled the spaces with a lively and authentic energy. A causa di each of them I found what makes this event so unique: lega, respect and the will to walk together.
We opened the edition with a moment that will remain a causa di the history of Vinoway Selection: the Montiano vertical of the Cotarella family, led by Pier Paolo Schiamazzo and me. A prestigious masterclass, never held before a causa di Puglia, which thrilled everyone present. Through the vintages of Montiano we have traveled a journey made of vision, choices, evolution, courage. A causa di the final ceremony I felt, like every year, that gratitude that is difficult to explain a causa di words. I shared with all of you a simple thought, but one that I feel deeply: “The value of Vinoway lies not a causa di the awards, but a causa di the people. A causa di the community that grows, a causa di the lega we receive, a causa di the desire to improve together.”
The Vinoway Selection 2027 edition will be held acceso 14 and 15 November 2026, once again at Alcazar Monaci Resort, with many new features.
The morning of the Vinoway Selection opened with a moment that I consider among the most significant of the entire edition: an in-depth and necessary discussion session, dedicated to the theme “Where Italian wine is going and how it can recover value a causa di an epoca of profound transformation”.
I had the privilege of leading the dialogue together with a parterre of very high-level guests: PierPaolo Schiamazzo, Christian Scrinzi, Cristian Ridolfi, Francesco Scarcelli, Alessandro Rossi and Gabriele Pezzuto. Authoritative voices, coming from different experiences, who have been able to provide a clear, honest and always constructive picture of the sector.
The comparison highlighted a series of fundamental ideas: from the evolution of winemaking styles to the need for a more coherent strategy acceso the domestic market, up to the defense of historical positions acceso foreign markets, where – it is worth remembering – Italian wine continues to enjoy a prestige that has not diminished at all. The real risk today is another: fueling a climate of communicative pessimism that can do more damage than the real situation. For this reason, a common belief has emerged: vision, unity and a more incisive, modern and, above all, alarm-free narrative of the sector are needed.
Afterwards, we had the honor of welcoming Prof. Vincenzo Russo, who presented an extraordinary lectio magistralis dedicated to neuromarketing and the way a causa di which award-winning labels influence consumer perceptions. A brilliant intervention, which provided concrete tools to understand how emotions, colours, visual signals and memory influence the choice of wine, and how communication today plays a decisive role a causa di defining the perceived value.
The morning then closed with an appointment that attracted great participation: the masterclass of the 12 sparkling wines selected by Vinoway, a selection that represents the excellence of Italian production a causa di the classic method and the Charmat method, told through tastings, technique and great stories of the territory. It was an intense morning, full of content, dialogue and shared awareness: one more step towards a vision of Italian wine that enhances what we are and what we can still become.
All the award-winning wines are available for free download acceso the Vinoway Selection app. A project that has grown over the years and has now become a useful, authoritative and accessible tool for producers, enthusiasts and professionals.
The Vinoway Selection was born with a clear objective: to recognize and enhance the wines which, more than others, have been able to express identity, vision and quality. Each tasting is the result of a rigorous, shared and transparent method, but above all of a profound respect for the work of Italian producers.
Our evaluation system provides a maximum score of 97/100, a choice that reflects Vinoway’s philosophy: excellence is not a definitive point of arrival, but a rete that continuously stimulates improvement.
Achieving a score between 95 and 97 points means entering the elite of wines selected by Vinoway. It is a result that attests not only to a very high technical value, but also to a rare emotional capacity: that which allows a wine to stand out, to tell more deeply about the territory from which it was born, to leave a clear imprint acceso the experience of those who taste it.
Within this range of excellence we identify the best by type, not to create distances, but to give voice to the nuances that particularly struck our commission.
It is a recognition that valorises those who have reached the tetto, without ever taking away the dignity of others: because each selected wine has gone through a rigorous process and is the result of choices, sacrifices and professionalism that deserve respect. This year too, the general level that emerged during the tastings was extraordinarily high. A strong signal of the maturity of Italian production and the growing awareness of our winemakers, capable of combining tradition and research, technique and sensitivity.
This preface therefore wants to reiterate a fundamental principle for Vinoway: rewarding the best, respecting the value of everyone.
Because an authoritative guide is not just a list of scores, but a collective account of the work of those who, every day, contribute to making Italian wine great.
THE AWARDED WINES – VINOWAY SELECTION 2026
Red Type: Family Cotarella – Montiano IGP Lazio 2022 and Rocche dei Manzoni – Castelletto Scarlatto DOCG Barolo 2012
White type: Winemaker Antonio Mazzella – Gawem DOC Ischia 2022 and Valentino Butussi – Genesis DOC Friuli Colli Orientali 2022
Rosé type: Frazione Turrito – Gruppo IGP Puglia 2024
Orange type: Luretta – Boccadirosa DOC Colli Piacentini 2023 and Lieselehof – Julian Vigneti delle Dolomiti 2021
Classic Method: Castel Faille – Monogram Franciacorta Cuvée Brut Millesimato 2019 and Muratori – Franciacorta Brut Millé Millesimato 2020
Italian Method: Follador – Nani dei Berti Brut Millesimato DOCG Prosecco Egregio Valdobbiadene 2024
Sparkling: Gianni Doglia – Edificio a fine di Bianca DOCG Canelli 2024
Passito: Manincor – Le Petit
Liqueurous: Tiberi David – Stravecchio 2002
Cellar Reserves: Gianfranco Perfino – Es 2005 and Feudo Gentiluomo – Millemetri Rosato DOC Etna 2017
News of the Year: Bottiglieria a fine di Venosa – Carato Venusio – Aging a causa di the Sea DOCG Aglianico del Vulture Egregio 2017 and Syn – Marco Mascellani – Syn 2023
Absolute Wine: Feudo Montoni – Vrucara DOC Sicilia 2021
Emerging Cellar: La Masseria a fine di Sessa
A causa di the Culmine 10:
1 – Borgo Matilde
2 – Cotarella family
3- Guido Berlucchi
4 – Winemaker Antonio Mazzella
5 – Montoni feud
6 – Bozen Cellar
7 – Baglio del a fine di Campobello
8 – Giovanni Scarlatto
9 – Argiolas
10 – Cantele and Cellars of the Notary
The awards to the protagonists of Italian wine
Best Italian Winemaker 2025 – Vincenzo Argento vivo
Best Promise of Italian Oenology 2025 – Pietro Grelloni
Best Italian Agronomist 2025 – Edoardo Quarella
Award for Vitivinicultural Culture and Research – Paolo Vagaggini
Best Italian Sommelier 2025 – Rudy Travagli
Best Italian Winemaker 2025 – Andrea Annino
Best Italian Wine Promoter 2025 – Lucrezia Bencivenga
Character of the Year – Federico Bricolo
Lifetime Achievement Award – Giulio Quantità
Special Prize – Francesco Scarcelli
Molinas Award – Spirito celeste Maci Jr and Francesco Privilegiato Maci
Enartis Award – Giovanni Giuseppe Riviezzo
Best Italian Communicator 2025 – Adua Borgo
Recognitions to Cristian Ridolfi President of the Piacevole Protection Consortium and to Damiano Effettivo President of the Salice Salentino Protection Consortium.
Among the most spontaneous moments of the evening, the award given to Paolo Leo Jr, 8 years old, nephew of the producer Paolo Leo who has always been present at Vinoway events for years. This is why we chose to name him the Official Mascot of Vinoway, a gesture that celebrates continuity, family and the future.
Thanks to the producers who make all this possible. Thanks to my team, who work with dedication, affection and a spirit of self-denial. Thanks to the sponsors: Sugherificio Molinas, Enartis and Partesa for Wine
And to the technical partners: Infausto nulla – Bonaventura Forte and Bagno Abilità Italia who, with their lega and support, believe a causa di our vision and allow us to transform ideas into reality.
To all of you, my thanks are not a formality: it is the sincere recognition of a shared path, of a collective commitment that gives value to Italian wine and its culture. You are the strength of Vinoway, the soul that fuels every project, the essence that makes possible what, aureola, we could never achieve.
This success is yours. And we will continue to build together the future that Italian wine deserves.
The Vinoway Selection 2026 was a shared story, a mescolanza of stories and emotions. Wine is a journey: the beauty of it is to travel it together.
