AIS VENETO PRESENTS THE NEW VINETIA GUIDE: AWARDS FOR THE SEVEN BEST VENETO WINES

AIS – the Italian Sommelier Association of Veneto – presented the twelfth edition of Vinetia – The Guide to Veneto Wines , the portal that annually maps the region's finest wine expressions. The event, held on Monday, November 24th at the Hotel Ca' Sagredo in Venice , awarded the Vinetia Prize to the seven best Veneto wines , one for each category, chosen from 21 finalists. The winners were selected by a panel of 40 professionals, including sommeliers, journalists, and restaurateurs, who conducted a blind tasting.

For the Charmat Method Sparkling Wine, the title was awarded to Ànzolo Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG Rive di San Michele Extra Brut 2023 by Bellenda ; for the Classic Method, it was Monti Lessini Durello DOC Riserva Extra Brut 2018 by Giannitessari . The Best White Wine award went to Monte Stelle Soave DOC Classico 2023 by La Cappuccina , while the Best Rosé Wine award went to Chiaretto di Bardolino DOC 2024 by Albino Piona . On the red front, the title of Best Red Wine was awarded to Tai Rosso Colli Berici DOC 2023 by Pegoraro and the Best Red Wine for Aging title to Amarone Della Valpolicella DOCG Riserva 2016 by Brigaldara . The Best Sweet Wine award was awarded to Acininobili Veneto IGT 2019 by Maculan . The picture is completed by the Restaurateurs Award , awarded to Tai Rosso Colli Berici DOC 2023 from Pegoraro , and the Journalists Award , awarded to Amarone Della Valpolicella DOCG Riserva 2016 from Brigaldara . The remaining 14 finalists, all characterised by a high level of quality, won the Rialto Award .

There are two significant new features for the 2026 edition of Vinetia : the first is the new name given to the award given to the seven winning wines, Premio Vinetia , which replaces the Premio Fero . The aim is to further underscore the AIS Veneto guide's connection to the Award and to the regional winemaking region, of which the portal offers a comprehensive and timely overview. The second concerns the introduction of a talk focused on the Veneto vineyard: past, present, and future prospects. The discussion saw Gianpaolo Breda and Paolo Bortolazzi , President and Vice President of AIS Veneto, respectively, as well as curator of Vinetia , with Professor Raffaele Cavalli , Vice President of the International Library "La Vigna," and Emanuela Bincoletto , President of the Veneto Section of the Wine Tourism Movement. The meeting was moderated by journalist, radio speaker, and wine expert Chiara Perale . A moment of analysis that brought crucial issues to the table: the evolution of viticulture, climate impact, and the valorization of regional identity and food and wine heritage.

"The twelfth edition of Vinetia isn't just a list of excellences, but an updated snapshot of a wine production that can transform itself, address climate challenges, and, at the same time, maintain an unbreakable bond with its territory," explains Paolo Bortolazzi . "The new look of the Vinetia Award is a step in this direction: a tangible sign to be highlighted, capable of immediately describing the journey and the value achieved by producers."

"The guide offers a detailed overview of Veneto's wine scene, past, present, and future," continues Gianpaolo Breda, President of AIS Veneto. "The data collected over twelve editions represents a valuable resource not only for enthusiasts and wine lovers , but also for institutions, which can thus gain a comprehensive picture of the evolution and current state of play in a sector that is crucial to our region's economy and development."

The 100 tasters of the Vinetia 2026 guide, coordinated by 7 provincial representatives and a team of 25 editors, tasted a total of 2,010 wines from 390 producers . In twelve editions of Vinetia , a total of 24,700 wines from 4,958 wineries have been tasted and 6,160 reviews have been published.