From November 8 to 12, the Merano Wine Festival returns with an exciting program full of new features, reaffirming its status as the most glamorous event in the food and wine sector.
It kicks off on Friday, November 8, with a day dedicated to organic and biodynamic wines, showcasing 160 Italian producers of organic, biodynamic, SQNPI, Equalitas, Piwi, amphora, and underwater wines. This will also mark the opening of the GourmetArena in the Art Nouveau setting of the Kurhaus, featuring 130 companies from the food, spirits, and beer sectors, as well as the Slow Food Earth Market.
In the evening, the much-anticipated WineHunter Award Platinum ceremony will unveil the gastronomic excellence highlighted in The WineHunter Guide 2024, along with the new WineHunter Stars.
From Saturday, November 9, to Monday, November 11, the festival’s main days will host 330 Italian and 110 international wineries.
Finally, Tuesday, November 12, will be dedicated to sparkling wines with the Catwalk Champagne & More event, featuring 120 selected top-quality Champagne houses and Italian Metodo Classico producers.
Attendees can also look forward to showcooking, side events, presentations, and masterclasses, including four “Intrecci di Vite” events at the Prince’s Castle. With the WH Ambassador Exclusive Lounge and the WH Buyers’ Club, the Merano WineFestival is becoming increasingly international, blending elegance, culture, and business seamlessly.
Intrecci di vite: 4 exclusive events at the prince’s castle
New to the 2024 edition are four exclusive “Intrecci di Vite” events, organized in collaboration with Liber Experience, set in the captivating Prince’s Castle in Merano.
On Saturday, November 9, Oscar Farinetti will moderate a unique and exclusive meeting between Maurizio Zanella, founder of Ca’ del Bosco, and Vittorio Moretti, founder of Bellavista, two of the most representative Franciacorta wineries on both national and international stages.
At 4:00 PM, moderated by Oscar Farinetti, there will be a comparison of two interpretations of the prominent Italian grape variety Sangiovese. The first is a Brunello di Montalcino from Donatella Cinelli Colombini, founder of the Movimento del Turismo del Vino and President of the National Association Le Donne del Vino from 2016 to 2022. The second is a Chianti Classico from Barone Francesco Ricasoli, owner of Castello di Brolio.
Daniele Cernilli will moderate the two meetings on Sunday, November 10. At 10:30 AM, two iconic figures representing Italy’s most renowned white wine regions will take the stage: Silvio Jermann of the eponymous winery and the esteemed winemaker Hans Terzer. At 4:00 PM, a discussion will feature two absolute benchmarks and long-time leaders in Italian winemaking, both nationally and internationally: Riccardo Cotarella, President of Assoenologi and Union Internationale des Œnologues, and Renzo Cotarella, CEO of Marchesi Antinori Spa.
Banca per il Trentino Alto-Adige supports this initiative, and the official partner for these special events is Italesse, featuring its Etoilé Noir glass—one of the sensory glasses from the Trieste-based company, crafted from blown glass and meticulously designed to enhance the selected wines. Starting from this edition, Italesse will serve as the technical sponsor for the entire festival.
Not-to-be-missed events
Throughout the five days of the Merano WineFestival, numerous events will cater to a variety of tastes.
On Friday, November 8
On Friday, November 8, from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, the Slow Food Earth Market will be held in Piazza della Rena, organized by Slow Food Alto Adige. At 11:00 AM, the award ceremony for “Nel segno di Zierock” will take place at the Hotel Terme Merano, followed by a themed masterclass led by Angelo Carrillo at 4:00 PM. At 4:30 PM, the “Expression of Piwi Grapes” Masterclass, curated by Nicola Biasi, will occur.
On Saturday, November 9
On Saturday, November 9, at 12:00 PM, Paolo Porfidio will host the “Chardonnay Fuoriclasse Nama” Masterclass, featuring a comparison of five vintages from the Nals Margreid winery. The traditional opening ceremony with a sabering will follow at 2:00 PM on the scenic Ponte delle Terme, leading into the “Bolla vs. Bolla” Masterclass with Oscar Farinetti, which will compare various Italian Metodo Classico sparkling wines. Attendees can then explore underwater wines at the “Underwater – Wines Beneath the Sea” Masterclass, curated by journalist and host Andrea Radic, at 4:30 PM.
On SUnday, November 10
On Sunday, November 10, at 2:00 PM, the “Dieci vini di razza in dressage” Masterclass will be led by Luca D’Attoma and Chiara Giannotti, followed by the presentation of the “I Vini del Cuore” Guide by Olga Schiaffino at 3:30 PM. Helmuth Köcher, the patron of the Merano WineFestival, will conduct the Masterclass “Georgia: 8000 Years of History – Unique Qvevri Wines in Tasting” at 4:30 PM, concluding with the “Supertuscan on Stage” event featuring Emanuele Trono and Stefano Quaglierini at 5:00 PM.
On Monday, November 11
On Monday, November 11, the Hotel Therme Merano will host the “Excellences of Albania” Masterclass by Çobo Winery at 11:00 AM. At 2:00 PM, the “Gli Svitati” Masterclass will highlight the ambassadors of screw caps in Italy, and the 30th Premio Godio award ceremony will take place at 5:00 PM.
In the Gourmet Arena, a showcooking area, Campania, in collaboration with MisteryApple, will present gastronomic interpretations by chefs including Antonio Tubelli, Gabriele Troisi, Carlo Scutiero, Antonio Lepore, Gino Sorbillo, Umberto De Martino, Franco Pepe, Lino Scarallo, Peppe Aversa, Antonio Della Volpe, Angelo D’Amico, and students from the “G. Marconi” Hotel Institute of Vairano (CE). Traditional regional recipes from Abruzzo will be showcased by Stefano Ferrauti, Carlo Auriti, Daniele Tortora, Stefano Tomassetti, Angelo D’Alesio, and students from the “G. Marchitelli” Hotel Institute of Villa Santa Maria (CH).
On Tuesday, November 12
On Tuesday, November 12, at 4:30 PM in the Kursaal, the awards ceremony for the “Emergente Sala 2024” competition will be held, recognizing the best maître and under-30 waitstaff in Italian hospitality.
Why visit the Merano Wine Festival?
The Merano WineFestival is an extraordinary celebration for wine enthusiasts and food lovers alike. Spanning five days, the festival showcases more than 1,000 exhibitors and offers the opportunity to taste over 3,000 exceptional wines.
In the exclusive WineHunter Area, you can explore 250 meticulously selected labels, while the festival proudly honors excellence with over 5,400 WineHunter Awards.
Participants can deepen their knowledge through 39 insightful masterclasses led by industry experts, enjoy culinary delights at 32 showcooking sessions, and engage in thought-provoking discussions during the six talks at the “Quo Vadis?” summit.
Whether you’re a connoisseur or a curious novice, the Merano WineFestival promises an unforgettable experience filled with discovery, flavor, and connection to the rich world of wine and gastronomy.
For more details: https://meranowinefestival.com/
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