Vinitaly is back for the 58th time

It used to be that Vinexpo in Bordeaux was the standout global wine trade fair. 

Now there are literally dozens of them; multiple Vinexpos, ProWein (on now), the London Wine Fair and, just recently, Wine Paris. 

One of the biggest major global showcase, Vinitaly, returns to the lovely city of Verona for its 58th edition from April 12-15, bringing together producers, buyers and professionals from the global wine and spirits industry. It attracts up to 150,000 annual visitors.

The four days will be dedicated to business, networking and market insights at the international reference event for Italian wine. There might also be some wine tasting. 

Highlights include several halls showcasing the best of Italian regional wines; masterclasses, guided tastings and seminars, networking opportunities and B2B meetings, and a NoLo - Vinitaly Experience. 

 After last year’s pilot project, the No/Low alcohol segment expands with a dedicated exhibition area. 

There will also be a new pavilion entirely dedicated to the world of spirits "designed to create a global connection between wine, spirits and mixology".

Wine tourism will also be showcased: Vinitaly Tourism returns with B2B meetings, conferences, producers, research and case studies dedicated to the development of wine tourism.

Also note Vinitaly and the City, the off-show event dedicated to wine enthusiasts from across Italy.

For more details see www.veronafiere.it

World’s largest wine museum unveiled

The Italian city of Verona is to be home to the world’s biggest wine museum. 

Verona also hosts to one of the wine trade’s best-known industry fairs, Vinitaly. 

The new MuVin has been inspired by the Cite du Vin in Bordeaux and Edinburgh’s Scotch Whisky Experience, Drinks Business reported.

Enrico Corsi, the head of The Museo del Vino project, said: “I was in Edinburgh, Scotland, years ago, and there I had the opportunity to visit the popular Scotch Whisky Experience. 

 “I wondered why something similar could not be done with wine in Italy. I realised that we did not have anything comparable in our country, apart from a bunch of smaller private initiatives.”

The MuVin complex will cover 215,000 square feet of land and feature wine tastings, educational activities and an “experiential path” that will take visitors on a journey through the history of wine, its cultural impact, production methods, and how to pair it with food.

It is a €50m project, and one Corsi hopes will tap into the influx of tourists who flock to the region each year.

“Clearly the museum will rely on the huge number of people who already visit the area, including some 32 million tourists who go to Lake Garda every year, as well as 3.8 million who visit Verona, plus everything else happening in the region,” he said.

 “Needless to say, Verona’s numerous exhibitions will benefit us with additional visitors too. This will be Italy’s largest museum dedicated to wine, it will be the country’s main hub for enotourism and will also have an international scope.”

The MuVin is set for completion in 2026, a year in which Italy will host the Winter Olympics. 

Italy is the world’s largest producer of wine, with 50 million hectolitres recorded in 2021 by the International Organisation of Vine and Wine. It has also long been a destination for wine tourism.