45th MASI PRIZE: Winners sign historic Amarone barrel

For 45 years, this same ritual has recognized Italian and international figures who have distinguished themselves for their contributions to culture, science, art, and society. The tradition is renewed annually in the presence of authorities and the press, along with members of the Masi Foundation, led by President Isabella Bossi Fedrigotti , Vice President Sandro Boscaini (also President of Masi Agricola ), and Secretary Marco Vigevani .

"Responsibility, for those in business, is measured by the ability to look ahead, thinking of future generations, and still take the risk of courageous choices and remain faithful to one's values, especially in rapidly changing contexts. Wine teaches us precisely this: to respect nature's rhythms, to value the knowledge passed down to us, and, at the same time, to know how to evolve. The barrel of Amarone, the Gold of the Award, welcomes the signatures of our champions and becomes a melting pot in which diverse stories, experiences, and visions come together in the desire to face the challenges of our time and contribute to the progress of society, " comments Sandro Boscaini, Mister Amarone.

Signing for the Masi Civiltà Veneta Award are Luigi Carlon , a Veronese entrepreneur and collector with his Palazzo Maffei Museum; Nello Cristianini , a scientist from Gorizia who teaches Artificial Intelligence at the University of Bath in England; and Adele Re Rebaudengo , representing the Venice Gardens Foundation, the association that promotes green culture in Venice. For the Masi Civiltà del Vino International Award , French oncologist and communicator David Khayat , who in his latest book, “ Arretez de vous privee, ” emphasizes the positive side of moderate food and wine consumption. Finally, for the Grosso D'Oro Veneziano , Thibaut Bruttin , representing Reporters Sans Frontières , a non-profit organization committed to defending freedom of the press and protecting journalism.

The underlying theme of the 2026 edition was "The Courage of Responsibility," a theme that invites us to question the role of individuals and institutions in the face of the transformations reshaping our time. Geopolitical and social balances are being challenged, and artificial intelligence is opening up new opportunities, but also questions about the role and control of innovation. In this unprecedented scenario , responsibility emerges as a necessary choice and requires awareness and courage . Despite their different perspectives, the five award winners offered their interpretations of the theme, based on the paths and contexts in which they operate.

THE VOICES OF THE WINNERS

The meaning of the 2026 Masi Award in the words of its protagonists

Luigi Carlon

(Masi Venetian Civilization Award) :

As a collector born in Verona, I have dedicated many years to the pursuit of works of art of particular value and excellence, from ancient works to the most significant expressions of modern and contemporary art. Within this journey, a special place has always been reserved for Veronese painters and sculptors, particularly those from the 14th to the 19th century, whose works, for various reasons, were located in Europe and the United States.

I've always been fascinated by the idea that many of the artists now exhibited at Palazzo Maffei lived and worked in Verona, contributing their talent to the city's artistic history. Rediscovering their works and returning them to their original context has been, for me, an avid collector, a way to share a part of its memory and cultural identity with the community.

In this spirit, I gratefully welcome Civiltà Veneta, a recognition that is particularly significant for me, given its history and the prestige of its roll of honor. I deeply thank the Masi Foundation for this recognition, which I consider a sign of esteem and, at the same time, a call to responsibility: that of continuing to preserve and enhance Verona's great artistic tradition.

Nello Cristianini

(Masi Venetian Civilization Award) :

I was born in Gorizia, where I went to school, studied physics in Trieste, and have decades of ties to Grado, places marked by Venetian civilization and the contact between different cultures. I've always believed that interesting things happen on the margins, where one territory meets another, and in the end I chose to spend my life studying artificial intelligence, on the border between statistics and language, between machine and mind. I had to do it far from home, but without ever forgetting it, and today, thanks to you, I feel less distant. These have been long years, but I receive this award like a wine that has long waited for the right moment. Thank you .

Adele Re Rebaudengo , president of the Venice Gardens Foundation

(Masi Venetian Civilization Award) :

I would like to express my deepest gratitude for this important recognition bestowed upon the Venice Gardens Foundation. We are honored to receive this prestigious award, which recognizes the value of the commitment made to restoring the Royal Gardens and the Vegetable Garden of the Convent of the Church of the Most Holy Redeemer and returning them to the city of Venice. With dedication, passion, and a sense of responsibility, the Foundation will continue to care for both monumental complexes, thanks to the invaluable and essential contributions of gardeners and collaborators driven by the same values embodied by the project. Our concern is that these places grow over time (and nevertheless be preserved by time), in the awareness of the crucial role that gardens play in a social and, above all, community context. This commitment aims to re-establish the profound bond between humankind and nature, as a whole whose parts are reconnected.

David Khayat

(International Masi Wine Civilization Award) :

“ When I received the letter confirming my award of the Civiltà del Vino Prize, my first reaction was to verify that it wasn't a mistake. Me? An oncologist? Awarded by the Masi Foundation, which brings the name of wine and viticulture so high? Then I understood. And I was deeply moved.

In my work, I spend my days talking about prevention. I talk about "care," "prudence," and "balance." I communicate diagnoses, accompany patients during their treatments, and see the fear in their eyes and the strength in their families. It's a job that comes with great responsibility. And I'm proud of it.

But in the evening, when I return home, I long for beauty, for slowness, for the earth. And that's where wine entered my life. Not as a drink, but as a breath. I remember my first Amarone. I must have been about 28, a young intern exhausted after a shift on call. A friend poured me a glass and said, "Taste it, and don't speak for 30 seconds." Thirty seconds. In an oncology ward, 30 seconds of silence are a luxury! And in that glass, I learned what patience was. Three years of aging, dried grapes, a terroir, hands. I understood that time can do something good, instead of spoiling it.

Since then, wine has been with me. In happy moments, to celebrate a recovery. In the most difficult moments, to remind me that even the hardest years can sometimes yield great vintages. What the Masi Foundation does is defend precisely this: the long term. The work of the winemakers who prune in January without knowing what September will bring. The passing on of knowledge from father to son. Respect for a territory. It is exactly what we try to do in medicine: transmit, accompany, respect life. Receiving this Award therefore touches me doubly: because you honor my commitment to wine and because you remind me that one can be a doctor without losing a part of the poetry; that one can talk about science in the morning and about the territory in the evening, without betraying either. Thank you for defending the vine, the men and women who work it, and this Italian culture that teaches us that the table is also a place of healing. Thank you for welcoming me among you today, I who come from another world.”

Thibaut Bruttin , director general of Reporters Without Borders

(International Venetian Grosso D'Oro Award) :

“Receiving the Venetian Grosso D'Oro is a great honor for Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and a significant recognition of our unwavering commitment to defending press freedom and the right to reliable information worldwide.

At a time when independent journalism faces increasing threats, this award reaffirms the importance of defending those who risk their lives to bring the truth to light. We dedicate this recognition to all journalists who continue to carry out their work with courage, often at great personal risk, in the service of citizens' right to information.