Canelli, City of Wine 2026, showcases the region's rich history through major appellations and immersive experiences.

The initiative, promoted by the Municipality of Canelli in collaboration with the protection consortia and producer associations, offers a journey that combines learning, tasting, and entertainment, showcasing the winemaking and cultural heritage that makes Canelli one of the capitals of Italian wine.

The traditional Summer Concert of the City of Canelli Wind Orchestra will precede the program, hosted at the Bosca Cellars on July 9th at 9pm.

The official opening of the event will be held on Friday, July 10th at 6:00 PM with an institutional event at the Gancia Winery. During this occasion, the map "I Cru di Enogea: Canelli DOCG" (Enogea Crus: Canelli DOCG) , created by cartographer and journalist Alessandro Masnaghetti, will be presented to the local community.

The Canelli Tour will also begin at 6:00 PM. This guided walk of the city will last about an hour and a half, starting from Piazza Cavour. It will explore the historic center and the scenic routes of the Sternìa Valley, as well as itineraries through the abandoned cellars included in the Canelli Ipogea heritage enhancement project. The tour will also take place on Saturday the 11th at the same time.

Starting at 7:00 PM, the historic center will come alive with the opening of tasting tables at the Enoteca Regionale di Canelli and Astesana in Piazza Cavour and Via GB Giuliani, along with food stalls offering street food along the city route.

At the same time, the Cortile delle Bollicine will be open at the Cortile Ex Contratto Vermouth, at Via GB Giuliani 27, with tastings dedicated to the local denominations: Alta Langa DOCG, Asti DOCG, Brachetto d'Acqui DOCG, Canelli DOCG, Moscato d'Asti DOCG, and Vermouth di Torino IGP.

Starting at 8:00 PM, the Church of San Rocco at the top of the Sternìa mountain will host Mixology and single-variety tastings , featuring signature cocktails crafted by professional bartenders and inspired by the area's great wines, accompanied by single-variety tastings of those same wines. The entire evening will be accompanied by live music and DJ sets throughout the city center.

On Saturday 11 July three masterclasses will take place in the historic Underground Cathedrals , led by AIS Asti sommeliers .

We will start at 10.30 am with “Alta Langa in four glasses” , at the Contratto Winery, dedicated to the different expressions of the Piedmontese Classic Method.

At 3 pm it will be the turn of “Canelli DOCG: identity and vocation” , hosted at the Coppo Winery, with guided tastings and an in-depth look at the new Canelli DOCG map created by Alessandro Masnaghetti.

At 5:30 pm, the day will conclude with "Aroma before taste. Moscato d'Asti, Asti Spumante, and Brachetto d'Acqui: emotions in the glass. Special guest: Asti Rosé" at the Gancia Winery, dedicated to the great aromatic wines of Piedmont.

On both evenings, the city center will be enlivened by the musical program "Le note di Canelli Città del Vino," with DJ sets and live performances at various locations throughout the city. The program will begin at 7 pm with musical aperitifs and continue into the night. Starting at 10 pm, Piazza San Leonardo will be the center of musical evenings, with Tutta Fuffa on Friday and a DJ set by Abba DJ, Daniele Bertaina, and DJ Ro-gârd on Saturday.

A dedicated shuttle service will be available to connect the main event areas.

From 6pm the tasting stands of the Regional Wine Shop and the Cortile delle Bollicine will be open, which in addition to the Consortium stand will be enriched by the presence of 18 producers: Araldica Castelvero, Bosca, Bocchino, Ca' de Lion, Cantina La Maranzana, Cascina Cerutti, Colombo, Coppo, Diego Pressenda, Ca' Bianca, Daffara & Grasso, La Canellese, La Torre di Castel Rocchero, L'Armangia, Pianbello, Tenuta Carretta, Tosti1820, Tre Secoli .

The street food stands will then open. The entry system includes various tasting options designed for the public: from the "POP" ticket to the "Sparkling Wine Lovers" tasting itinerary dedicated to the Cortile delle Bollicine, to the mixology drinks.

The entire calendar was created with the aim of recounting the history, richness, and variety of Canelli's winemaking heritage, offering enthusiasts and visitors an immersive experience of history, landscape, culture, and innovation, in the heart of the Langhe-Roero and Monferrato Wine Landscapes, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Canelli Mayor Roberta Giovine comments: " Canelli City of Wine is a celebration of our being part of the Italian, Mediterranean, and global wine culture, within which Canelli is identified with the history of Italian sparkling wine and Moscato Bianco. The collaboration with the Alta Langa, Asti, and Brachetto consortia, and with the Canelli Moscato Producers Association, is the beginning of a reevaluation of the potential of our UNESCO territories ."

Acting Vice President Franco Penna , representing the Canelli Regional Wine Shop, explains: " The Canelli Regional Wine Shop has worked hard to organize this event as best as possible. We have plenty of ideas, and there's no shortage of quality wine: it will be a wonderful celebration. The Board of Directors has great faith in this, and we've worked with the young people to create an event for those who love wine without excess. It will be a truly wonderful celebration ."

These are the words of Gianmario Cerutti , President of the Canelli Moscato Producers Association: " In the second summer edition of Canelli Città del Vino, we celebrate the bubbles, the 'Sparkling Canelli', a Canelli identity linked to the Classic Method and the Martinotti Method, to the point of finding a historic and indisputable line of bubbles that inextricably links more than one denomination to this city and the hills that surround it. I'm talking about wines like Alta Langa DOCG, Asti DOCG, and Canelli DOCG. This year is also a very important year for Canelli because, 15 years after obtaining the subzone and three years after the birth of the Canelli DOCG Moscato, we are preparing for our fourth harvest as an independent denomination. In particular, I would like to remind you that this year we created the official map of our territory, thanks to Alessandro Masnaghetti of Enogea. Now each of us can point a finger and show the vineyards where our Canelli comes from. So on July 10-11 we look forward to seeing you to tell you all about it through tastings, specific masterclasses, and the voices of the producers themselves who will welcome you in the Cortile delle Bollicine, in the center of the city ."

Giovanni Minetti , President of the Alta Langa Consortium, says: "Putting Canelli back at the center, recognizing the town's legacy in the history of the classic method and, more generally, of Italian sparkling wine: this is the goal of the Alta Langa Consortium. This is neither a simple nor a short path; it will require time, investment, and the indispensable support of other institutional partners. In this context, our participation in "Canelli Città del Vino" is both a stepping stone and a way to express gratitude to a region where we recognize ourselves. The goal is to promote Alta Langa in this part of its vast area of origin, which encompasses 149 municipalities across the provinces of Cuneo, Asti, and Alessandria, through workshops, tastings, and masterclasses. It will be a moment to showcase our wine to consumers and to encounter some of its most authentic interpretations."

Stefano Ricagno , President of the Consortium for the Protection of Asti: " The combination of the city of Canelli and Asti Spumante is one of the key elements that contributed to the UNESCO recognition of the Piedmont wine region. This is also why our Consortium places such strong emphasis on territorial promotion, demonstrating the centrality of this heritage within local development policies ."

Paolo Ricagno, President of the Consorzio Tutela Vini d'Acqui, adds: " We are delighted to be present at Canelli Città del Vino with Brachetto d'Acqui DOCG, the unique, aromatic red sparkling wine that embodies the spirit of conviviality. With its intense rose scents, its lightness, and its extraordinary versatility, it is a wine that can accompany any occasion: from an aperitif with friends to a special toast, to more informal summer evenings. Canelli and its extraordinary territory represent a precious showcase for us, not only for promoting the denomination, but also for expressing a unique identity that, this season, attracts tourists and enthusiasts from around the world."