Merano WineFestival 2025

Merano WineFestival 2025 – “Vision: Wine & Food Creators”: this year’s mission is to stimulate an open discussion between visions, philosophies and territorial identities

Declining wine consumption, new habits, and the advance of the NoLow: Merano WineFestival calls the
food and wine world to confront the challenges of the future.

In response to an increasingly complex and competitive environment, Merano WineFestival proposes to enhance more the link between wine and territory through a mapping process that clearly and distinctively tells the identity of Italian wines. “Only by strengthening the link between product and territory and enhancing local identities will Italian wine be able to stand out in increasingly crowded and fragmented markets,” explains Köcher. “The goal is to build a shared narrative that helps producers, buyers and consumers recognize in wine not just a product, but an authentic expression of the territory of origin.” Among the proposals is to label wines that come at least 60 percent from historic vines that are more than 50 years old, to give recognition and value to a unique ampelographic heritage that endures even in the face of climate change.

From Nov. 7-11, 2025, Merano will host the 34th edition of the Merano WineFestival (MWF), one of the most prestigious wine and food events in Europe. Organized by the WineHunter group with the support of local partners, the festival will take place mainly at Merano’s Kurhaus and in a number of collateral venues distributed throughout the historic center, with tastings, masterclasses, talks, food experiences and moments dedicated to bubbles.

In short, the Merano WineFestival is a laboratory of wine culture, an immersive experience designed for wine enthusiasts, operators and journalists. On a single occasion it is possible to taste high-end Italian and international wines, participate in masterclasses with experts, dialogue with producers and experience the charm of a historic setting such as the Kurhaus.

Program of the 2025 edition

Confirmed is the format of the five-day quality event with the best food, wine, beere spirits selected by Helmuth Köcher and the committees of The WineHunter guide, and with a rich program of exceptional guests.

• The event opens on Friday, Nov. 7, with the TasteTerroir – bio & dynamica section, a day dedicated to organic and biodynamic viticulture, Piwi grape varieties, underwater and amphora wines and, more generally, an ethical and sustainable vision of agriculture. 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., at the Kurhaus and Gourmet Arena.
• From November 7 to 10, the heart of the festival comes alive with The Festival, which hosts the Wine Italia, Wine International and WineHunter Areas, featuring excellent food, spirits and craft beers accompanied by a series of live showcooking events. During the opening evening, the elegantTeatro Puccini will host the WineHunter Award Platinum ceremony , followed by the awarding of the WineHunter Stars, the personalities who, with their expertise and passion, give light to the world of food and wine.
• Nov. 11 is the day dedicated to Catwalk Champagne & More, an elegant exhibition in the Kurhaus where the best national, international and other classic methods meet gourmet haute cuisine pairings, showcooking and entertainment.

The opening ceremony with ribbon cutting, a gala dinner, conferences, talks and award moments are also scheduled during the event.

The value of food selection

Since 1996, Merano WineFestival has also given space to the world of gastronomy with a selection of the best food products from all over Italy. The WineHunter Award commissions operate throughout the year to identify the excellence of taste, through rigorous tastings and evaluations. One commission is entirely dedicated to gastronomic products, from cured meats to cheeses, from confectionery to innovative products, another selects the best spirits, and the third is dedicated to the selection of Italian and foreign craft beers. The result is a gastronomic proposal of the highest level that complements the wine and enriches the experience, creating a sensory dialogue between territories, raw materials and craftsmanship

The WineHunter Guide

Producers attending the Merano WineFestival are selected by Helmuth Köcher together with the tasting committees of The WineHunter guide. The appointment is for the official awards ceremony scheduled for Friday, November 7. The 2025 guide will also be promoted internationally thanks to the contribution of the WineHunter Scouts, the members of the official tasting commissions, and the WineHunter Ambassadors, referents on different foreign markets from Japan to the USA: they will be the ones to present the award-winning products to a global audience, with the aim of enhancing Italian food and wine excellence in the main world markets

Useful information

• Hours: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on the central days of the festival; the first day with reduced hours; the last day (Catwalk) concluding until the afternoon. Find the detailed program at Program link
• Tickets and accreditation: available on the official website with daily options, subscriptions and professional rates. Accreditation procedures for industry professionals and press are also active.
• Headquarters: Merano Kurhaus (Kurhaus, Corso Libertà 33, Merano)