Go Wine's 25th edition of the "Drinking the Territory" National Literary Competition

The association, founded in Alba on February 21, 2001, is celebrating its 25th anniversary by promoting the initiative. It is doing so in L'Aquila, where a Go Wine members' club has been operating for years, and in homage to the city that will be the Italian Capital of Culture for 2026.

25 years of Go Wine and 25 editions of the Competition!

“Drinking the Territory” is a cultural project that has accompanied the association since its inception, standing out as a key initiative for Go Wine and always highly attended.

A message that we wanted to launch immediately in favor of wine culture and as a tangible way to explain how Go Wine intended to position itself since its inception.

Looking at a country like Italy, guardian of rural civilization and traditions.

To underscore how cultural themes underpin the valorization of an extraordinary product of the land, capable of connecting roots and the future, and of being one of the most appreciated ambassadors of Made in Italy.

A message that has remained highly relevant over the years, while retaining the motivation and driving force that inspired it.

Indeed, in some respects, the evolution of times and customs suggests keeping high attention on the topic.

This event comes after a difficult 2025 for the Italian wine world.

Several developments have occurred: a trend toward reduced consumption; stricter Highway Code regulations, resulting in fines exceeding the 0.5g/l alcohol limit; the incorrect association some people make between wine and spirits; and periodic information from the European Community regarding potential requirements for wine labels, again regarding alcohol.

These are themes that tend to obscure concepts that should instead be widely accepted: namely, that wine (and viticulture) is part of the rural civilization of a country like Italy, which has accompanied the lives of its people for centuries, which is the guardian of traditions and customs, which marks the landscape of many places with its vineyards, and which today is the expression of a lively and enterprising world that, by telling the story of wine, tells the story of lands and places.

The call for proposals will be published, as in previous editions, in the spring, with the deadline for submitting the papers being 30 June 2026 .

The awards ceremony is scheduled for Saturday, September 26th at Grinzane Cavour Castle.

Storytelling, research, and sustainability: these are the key words that define this edition. This initiative, now in its 25th year, demonstrates the association's ongoing commitment.

The Competition remains faithful to the idea that inspired it and responds to the desire to contribute concretely to the growth and dissemination of a positive vision in favor of wine and the conscious consumption of a product closely connected to its territory.

“Drink the Territory” to give added value to each quality wine and appreciate, through the glass, not only the product itself, but also the culture and environment it encompasses.

For several years, the Competition has been more directly linked to the idea that has inspired the Go Wine association since its inception: that is, to look to a qualified consumer who not only loves learning about and tasting wines, but also feels the desire to travel, discovering the places where each wine is celebrated and where the men and women of wine work.

The underlying spirit that inspires the cultural initiative remains unchanged: history, traditions, landscape, and cultural events are the various factors that distinguish wine from any other beverage and are enhanced when traveling through a wine region.

The theme of the story particularly inspires the general section of the Competition: the Call for Proposals is linked to themes connected to the identity of the Go Wine Association and invites participants to highlight the cultural significance of vines and wine, their social value, and the role viticulture has played or could play in preserving the environment, the rural landscape, and local culture and traditions.

The general section of the National Competition "Drinking the Territory" is divided into two categories – one reserved for those over 24 years of age without distinction and one reserved for young people aged 16 to 24 – with the aim of establishing an ideal comparison between generations.

The themes of research and sustainability are complemented by two special prizes in the general section of the competition.

The research topic is aimed at students of different age groups, looking at degree courses in Oenology and Viticulture.

The focus is on research on native grape varieties, a topic dear to Go Wine and promoted through various initiatives. The competition will award the two best research papers, showcasing the expertise that emerges.

A second special prize is being offered for the fourth consecutive year; it focuses specifically on the theme of sustainability, including social sustainability, and on actions taken to safeguard the landscape and the environment, promoting equitable and green development models, as stated in Article 8 of the Call for Proposals.

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), and Massimo Corrado (Go Wine Association).

The two best texts will then be selected from the general section, one for each category: the winners will each receive a prize of €500.00.

The two best research papers will be selected from the special section reserved for the Degree courses in Oenology and Viticulture: the winners (or groups) of the special section will each receive a prize of €500.00.

In addition to the prizes reserved for aspiring writers and for the theme of the environment and sustainability, Bere il territorio confirms two other prizes: the recognition for “Il Maestro” and the Special Prize for a book , published during the years 2025-2026, which has wine as its theme or, in any case, reserves special attention to wine.

The Bere il territorio literary competition is supported by the Cassa di Risparmio di Cuneo Foundation and a group of Italian wineries, members of the association, who support Go Wine's cultural projects.