Wine Tourism Movement: Calici di Stelle 2026 has arrived

Wine as an experience of culture, awareness and dialogue between generations: tastings with producers, astronomical observations, candlelit dinners, picnics at sunset, concerts, theatrical performances, live painting, activities for children and many other initiatives throughout Italy,

from the Dolomites at 2000 metres to the Sicilian and Sardinian coasts, passing through the villages and castles of the hinterland, where young people and families rediscover the value of sharing.

It will be a summer of excellent tastings, festively animated villages and squares, wine-growing landscapes, and authentic experiences, all to be enjoyed together with Calici di Stelle 2026.

From July 24th to August 16th, the wineries of the Wine Tourism Movement throughout Italy will open their doors to an edition that invites you to rediscover wine as a moment of encounter and sharing through responsible consumption. The theme of this edition is encapsulated in a simple yet powerful message: "Toast to Life!" , an invitation to experience wine as a cultural and human heritage and to continue promoting a concept of wine tourism based on awareness of the local area and others.

The journey began on July 8th with "Waiting for Calici di Stelle," an evening hosted by the MTV Villa Gianna winery in collaboration with Wine in Moderation and promoted together with the Domenico Cirillo Foundation . This event brought together young people and families to learn about and share the world of wine through tastings, sensory games, intergenerational encounters, and road safety initiatives. The Movement, together with the Domenico Cirillo Foundation, a civic engagement project aimed at younger generations in memory of the young Domenico, brought an authentic message to wineries across Italy: engaging with younger generations in an inclusive and direct way to spread the joy of discovering and tasting while simultaneously promoting responsibility for one's choices.

“The opening event anticipated the values that will accompany the entire course of the summer event - underlines Violante Gardini Cinelli Colombini, president of the Wine Tourism Movement - namely Consumer education, dialogue between generations, road safety as a shared responsibility, and the promotion of a lifestyle based on respect and moderation. Producers are now ready to offer inclusive experiences where wine becomes an opportunity for encounters, both in the cellar and in the finest local locations, involving the whole family in the sharing of knowledge that older generations pass on to younger generations, demonstrating the value of wine as a heritage of local areas and traditions to be preserved and passed down.

For over three weeks, the MTV wineries are planning tastings and sensory tours dedicated to discovering local products. The tasting experience will be complemented by sunset treks through the vineyards, picnics and aperitifs under the stars, astronomical projections, vertical tastings of older vintages, astrological events, live music, theatrical performances, candlelit dinners, and evenings themed around pizza, grilled and fried foods, and sparkling wines, as well as street food and tastings of extra virgin olive oil and spirits. There will also be cultural events, exhibitions, live painting, dance lessons, village tours, jazz concerts, and initiatives related to safe mobility. The producers of the Movement are increasingly committed to offering visitors alternative experiences dedicated to the "heroes of the evening": those who choose to drive.

Not just meetings in the cellar: this year too, Calici di Stelle will liven up the most evocative locations in each region, such as the Bastione Fiorito inside the Castle of Gorizia on July 30th , the historic center of Cabras for the Sardinian event on August 7th , the terrace at over 2000 meters of Doss del Sabion in Pinzolo on August 1st, in the heart of the Brenta Dolomites, the Castle of Taurasi which will host the Campania wineries and the Hotel Ancora in Cortina for the annual MTV Veneto event, both on August 8th . And more: double meetings scheduled on July 29th and August 5th in the center of Potenza , in Piazza Mario Pagano and on August 10th and 12th in Milan for the bus tour of the city's most famous locations with the MTV producers. From the squares overlooking the sea of Sardinia and Sicily, to the castles rich in history and the villages of the hinterland, up to the centre of Milan and the peaks of the Dolomites, the wineries of the Movement have chosen some of the most evocative places in their territory to transform them into exceptional stages for unforgettable evenings featuring the best wines and local products.

This edition confirms the mission of all the Movement's events, namely, to emphasize the social value of wine as a creator of connections between producers and consumers, strengthening ties with the community and local youth groups, and promoting a positive message of moderation so that the winery experience can be enjoyed with curiosity and a spirit of sharing.