DRINKING THE TERRITORY. Storytelling, research, sustainability

It is a cultural project that has always accompanied the life of the association since its inception and which reaches an important milestone in 2026.

Below is the Competition Announcement, which outlines the participation procedures and information relating to the general section and the special sections.

The competition announcement was presented at a special event last Saturday, February 21, in L'Aquila, the city designated Italian Capital of Culture for 2026.

It was also a symbolic event because it was celebrated on the day that marked exactly 25 years since the founding of the Go Wine association.

The call for proposals is now being disseminated throughout Italy, and the deadline for submitting papers is June 30th.

We invite you to spread the initiative, share it and participate.

The Competition confirms its long-standing objectives, which are renewed each year and constantly challenged by new protagonists: to foster the culture of quality wine consumption and, through the theme of storytelling, contribute to enhancing the history, traditions, landscape, and socio-cultural events of wine-producing regions.

The themes of the environment and sustainability characterize the general section and one of the special prizes of the Competition, in a renewed language that takes into account the new challenges to be faced.

THE COMPETITION NOTICE

“Drink the territory”

NATIONAL LITERARY COMPETITION

1. The 25th edition of the “Drinking the Territory” literary competition is promoted by the Go Wine Association.

Participants will be asked to write a free-form narrative that highlights the cultural significance of vines and wine, their social value, and the role viticulture has played or could play in preserving the environment, rural landscapes, and local culture and traditions.

There are two categories, based on different age groups:

a) young people aged 16 to 24;

b) for all persons over the age of 24.

2. Each competitor or group may participate with a single unpublished work, in Italian, with a minimum length of two pages (3600 characters) and a maximum of 5 pages (9000 characters).

3. Furthermore, alongside the general competition, a special section reserved for students of university degree courses in Oenology and Viticulture in Italy is established.

Papers and/or theses that, through research, address and explore topics related to native grape varieties will be selected.

Participation in the competition is open to individual students or small groups of no more than five people. The papers must be the same length as indicated in Article 2, except for exceptions dictated by the research project they are required to undertake.

4. Each text must contain, at the bottom, the competitor's personal details: name, surname, date of birth, address, telephone number and the reference of the agricultural institute or university to which he or she belongs (for the special section of art. 3).

5. The papers must be submitted in PDF format by June 30, 2026 , by electronic means via certified email to the following address:
gowine@legalmail.it .

Alternatively, they can be sent in three typewritten copies and on magnetic media by post to the following address:

“Drink the Territory” Competition - Go Wine Via Vida, 6 - 12051 Alba (Cn).

6. The works will be submitted to the jury composed of Gianluigi Beccaria and Valter Boggione (University of Turin), Margherita Oggero (writer), Bruno Quaranta (La Repubblica), Massimo Corrado (Go Wine Association).

7. THE TWO BEST TEXTS will be selected from the general section, one for each category: the winners will each receive a prize of €500.00.

7a). THE TWO BEST RESEARCH PAPERS will be selected from the special section reserved for students of the Degree courses in Viticulture and Oenology: the winners (or the group) of the special section will each receive a prize of €500.00.

8. A special award is established for winemaking businesses that have distinguished themselves by safeguarding the local heritage, enhancing the landscape and exploiting the natural environment, and stimulating cultural, tourism, social, and economic development. This award is intended to pursue sustainability initiatives in accordance with equitable and "green" development models, with social implications as well.

9. A special prize is also established for a book published during the years 2025-2026 that has wine as its theme or, in any case, reserves special attention to wine.

The author will receive a cash prize of €500.00.

10. The texts will remain at the disposal of the competition organizers and will not be returned. By unconditionally accepting these rules, the contestants hereby grant, without any claims whatsoever, publication rights to Go Wine.

11. The winners, who will be notified by registered mail, will be awarded during the ceremony to be held at Grinzane Cavour Castle on Saturday, September 26, 2026.

12. The decisions of the jury, which will select the works, are final.

13. For anything not covered by this regulation, decisions are made independently by the competition secretariat.