The Mandrarossa Literary Prize: the second edition kicks off, featuring wine, literature, and local cuisine.

It is from this meeting that the Mandrarossa Literary Prize – The Sicily You Don't Expect was born, a cultural project promoted by Mandrarossa , a niche brand of Cantine Settesoli, which returns in 2026 with its second edition , officially presented on Saturday 16 May at the Turin International Book Fair.

Following its debut last year, the Award confirms its position as an initiative capable of uniting two worlds —wine and literature—distinct yet profoundly connected. This journey reflects the vision of Mandrarossa, which has always been committed to the study and promotion of the Sicilian region : while each vineyard tells a story through the glass, the Award expands the narrative, inviting authors and readers to explore, through words, unconventional landscapes and new perspectives.

"The roots of culture are rooted in one of Sicily's symbols, wine, which itself tells the story of a region," says Giuseppe Bursi , President of Mandrarossa. "With the Award, we are strengthening a project that connects businesses, bookshops, and authors, helping to generate value. After the first edition, we continue on this path with even greater conviction, certain that culture represents a fundamental lever for the development and future of regions."

A distinctive element of the project is the involvement of independent bookshops, both Italian and foreign , which have proposed 93 finalist works – divided into five categories and the Narrative Award – and actively contributed to the construction of a widespread cultural network, capable of enhancing territories and communities.

The Award includes an absolute recognition – the Mandrarossa Narrativa Award – flanked by five thematic sections inspired by the brand's labels: Cavadiserpe for thrillers, Bertolino Soprano for fairy tales, Calamossa for first works, Cartagho for historical novels, and Urra di Mare for works dedicated to the environment, sustainability, and landscape.
The selection of the works will be entrusted to a technical jury, chaired by the journalist, writer, radio and television host Concita De Gregorio and composed of authoritative figures in the Italian cultural scene such as Franco Cardini, Neria De Giovanni, Eleonora Lombardo, Carlo Alberto Moretti, Christian Rocca and Nadia Terranova.

The award ceremony , presented by the author and journalist Melania Petriello , The event will be held on Saturday, July 25th, at the Temple of Hera , within the Selinunte Archaeological Park , one of the most evocative places in the Mediterranean, chosen as a symbolic setting for a dialogue between culture, history, and landscape. It will be followed by Concita De Gregorio's performance , "Mother. A Conversation, No Guilt, One Hundred Thousand Women," an intense theatrical and literary interweaving with Petriello.