Venice – The Great Wine Festival 2026

The Great Wine Festival – Great Wines of Italy and the World: On September 26 and 27, at Villa Farsetti, over 400 wines from five continents will be featured. Bulgaria and Serbia will be making their debut at the event.

The Great Wine Festival, 19th Edition

On Saturday, September 26, and Sunday, September 27, 2026, La Grande Festa del Vino®, one of the most international wine events on the Italian scene, returns to Villa Farsetti in Santa Maria di Sala, in the province of Venice.

The 19th edition of the event, conceived and founded by Vanni Berna and organized by Enoteca Le Cantine dei Dogi – Fratelli Ezio e Vanni Berna, promises to be the largest and most international to date.
The event will feature 145 selected exhibitors from 29 countries around the world, showcasing wines from five continents, with over 400 labels available for tasting and more than 8,000 bottles set aside for the two-day event.

An event designed for wine lovers, sommeliers, Ho.Re.Ca. professionals, buyers, distributors, journalists, and enthusiasts, who will have the opportunity to meet producers and winery representatives in person, discover emerging wine regions and historic appellations, and explore different styles, grape varieties, and winemaking philosophies.

The selection will include Italian wineries from the major wine-producing regions and international producers representing Europe, South America, North America, Africa, Asia, and Oceania.

Bulgaria and Serbia: International Developments in 2026

Among the main new additions to the 19th edition are Bulgaria and Serbia, which are participating in La Grande Festa del Vino® for the first time.

Bulgaria will be represented by Clos Bibliothèque, a winery based in Nevša, while Serbia will be represented by Frug Winery, located in Sremski Karlovci, one of the country’s historic wine-growing regions. Their participation further expands the event’s geographical scope and confirms the organizers’ commitment to showcasing not only the best-known appellations but also regions and wines that are still underrepresented at major Italian wine events.

A Journey Through Italy and the World

The tasting program will feature a comparison between the leading expressions of Italian winemaking and a particularly extensive international selection. Wines from all the major Italian wine-producing regions will be featured, alongside Champagne, Bordeaux, Central European wines, Mediterranean wines, indigenous grape varieties from the Caucasus, New World wines, and highly prestigious sweet and fortified wines.

Visitors will have the opportunity to meet the producers in person, learn about the history of the wineries, and explore the organoleptic, regional, and production characteristics of the wines on display.

The Grand Tastings

The highlight of the 2026 edition will be the private tasting room, where visitors can enjoy by-the-hour tastings of some of the world’s most sought-after and prestigious wines. Wines available for tasting:

• 12:00 p.m. – Champagne Grande Cuvée 171 Edition – Krug
• 1:00 p.m. – 2013 Vintage Champagne – Dom Pérignon
• 2:00 p.m. – Bolgheri DOC Sassicaia 2022 – Tenuta San Guido
• 3:00 p.m. – Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG 2017 – Giuseppe Quintarelli
• 4:00 p.m. – Margaux Grand Cru Classé 2022 – Château Giscours – Wine Spectator “Wine of the Year” 2025
• 5:00 p.m. – Pauillac 1er Grand Cru Classé 2003 – Château Lafite Rothschild – 100 points from Robert Parker
• 6:00 p.m. – Château d’Yquem 2021 – 1er Cru Supérieur Sauternes – 100 points from James Suckling
• 7:00 p.m. – San Leonardo Porto Very Old Tawny 60 Years – Quinta do Mourão – 100 points from *For the Love of Port*

The Masterclasses

During the event, a limited number of masterclasses will be held, focusing on great wines, vintages, regions, and food pairings.

• Champagne: Sips of Pleasure – Saturday, September 26, 1:15 p.m.
  A guided tasting featuring eight glasses of Champagne, selected to showcase different regions, houses, grape varieties, and production styles.
• Amarone Riserva: 5 Great Vintages – Saturday, September 26, 4:20 p.m.
  A vertical tasting of Cantina Franchini’s Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Riserva “Costa d’Angelo,” featuring the 2017, 2016, 2015, 2013, and 2008.
• Nosiola and Oysters – Sunday, September 27, 1:30 p.m.
  An exclusive pairing of Cantina Toblino’s Nosiola and “I Gioielli di Lucrezia,” an Italian oyster farmed in the Comacchio Lagoons.
  The tasting will be led by Enrico Bertaglia, CEO of Finittica, alongside a representative from Cantina Toblino.
  The masterclass is reserved for industry professionals, with participation by invitation only.
• High-Altitude Argentina – From the Andes to Patagonia – Sunday, September 27, 4:20 p.m.
  A journey through five wines representative of Cafayate, Mendoza, Valle de Uco, Valle de Pedernal, and Patagonia.
  The tasting will feature Don David Reserve Torrontés, Zuccardi Q Cabernet Sauvignon, Saurus Pinot Noir, Pyros Valle de Pedernal Shiraz, and Selection Malbec from Bodegas Salentein.

The masterclasses open to the public will require a fee, have limited seating, require online registration, and require a valid Wine Card for the selected date. The “Nosiola and Oysters” masterclass, on the other hand, will be reserved for industry professionals, with participation by invitation only.

Food Experience and Cocktail Bar

The wine tasting will be accompanied by a selection of fine Italian culinary delights.
There will be 17 food exhibitors, offering sweet and savory specialties, artisanal products, truffles, pastries, preserves, cheeses, and other items designed to round out the tasting experience.

There will also be three food stands and a cocktail bar in the Villa Farsetti park, offering original drinks made with wine and sparkling wine.

Three companies in the“Fuori dalla Tavola”category will also showcase products, services, and solutions dedicated to the world of wine and food and wine culture.

Official Wine Shop

The official La Grande Festa del Vino® Wine Shop will be set up at the event. Attendees will be able to purchase a selection of the wines tasted during the event at special promotional prices, thereby extending the experience they had at the tasting tables.

The Venice International Wine Trophy

The Venice International Wine Trophy, an international wine competition organized by Egnews.it and the guide *Il Vino per Tutti*, in collaboration with Enoteca Le Cantine dei Dogi, will take place again in 2026.

The competition is open to Italian and international producers and will recognize the best wines in each category (still wines only).

Information and details on how to participate are available on the Egnews website.
For information and to participate:
https://www.egnews.it/venice-international-wine-trophy/

The Gala Dinner

On Saturday, September 26, the event’s official Gala Dinner will take place, dedicated to exhibitors, guests, and event partners.

The event will be held at La Capinera Restaurant in Pianiga, Venice, and will provide another opportunity for the participants of the 19th edition to meet and connect.

Event Information

• When: Saturday, September 26, and Sunday, September 27, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
• Where: Villa Farsetti, Santa Maria di Sala – Venice
• Tickets: Admission to the event is free. To participate in the tastings, you must purchase one of the event’s official Wine Cards.
• Official website: www.lagrandefestadelvino.it
• For more information: Email: info@lagrandefestadelvino.it