Italian Wine Quality and Variety on Display at OperaWine 2026

On the afternoon of April 11, the uncorking of 150 amazing wines from across Italy heralded the opening of the 15th edition of OperaWine, the unofficial kickoff to Vinitaly, Italy’s largest wine trade fair. The result of a longstanding partnership between Wine Spectator and Veronafiere, the producers of Vinitaly, the gala tasting event offered even more wines than in past years and welcomed a new format that had iconic producers happily pouring shoulder-to-shoulder with some fresh voices of Italian wine.

Guests had 150 wineries to choose from: “Legacy Icon” producers spanned 31 benchmark Italian wineries that have participated in every edition of OperaWine. The “Classic” producers, deemed leaders for their region, numbered 69 wineries. And a group of 50 “New Voices” were selected from wineries that have come to the fore since 1990. All the wineries were selected by Wine Spectator senior editors Bruce Sanderson and Alison Napjus and invited to pour a single representative wine.

More wines also meant more attendees. More than 2,500 journalists, members of the wine trade and other enthusiasts descended en masse upon the Gallerie Mercatali in Verona to taste the wines and meet the winemakers behind them.

Alessandro Lunelli, left, and Luca Capaldini poured their Umbrian wine for guests. (OperaWine 2026)

Alberto Bresci, owner of Bisci Winery in Matelica, was deemed a classic producer of his region in Marche, one of the first producers in an appellation that was founded by his father. In his seventh appearance at OperaWine, Bresci’s enthusiasm for the event has only grown. “Wine Spectator is the most well-known wine reviewer in the world, and we are glad to be selected and to be here, because it is a very big opportunity,” said Bresci. “I spoke with many Americans, Mexicans, Canadians and also people from Brazil, Argentina, Switzerland, and many other countries in Europe. You have the whole world coming here!”

Another classic producer, Pietro Ratti of Renato Ratti in Barolo, who has attended almost every OperaWine, sees the expansion of the event as a testament to its success—and to that of Italian wine at large. “Italy is making top wines more and more. So, of course it’s expanding. I think a combination of classic and iconic producers with new producers is a very good mix to have,” said Ratti, noting that color-coded tables made it easy for tasters to hone in on their category of interest. 

Taking a page from Wine Spectator’s New York Wine Experience and Grand Tour tastings in the U.S., OperaWine exhibitors are invited to pour just one wine, so many veterans in the room dug into their cellars to showcase an older vintage. Ratti poured Barolo Rocche dell’Annunziata 2016, which scored 95 points from Wine Spectator on release. Once he had poured the last drop, Ratti took the opportunity to sample older vintages from his Piemontese peers, including some Nebbiolos from Valtellina, and then a few wines from the proliferation of southern Italian producers.

Arianna Occhipinti of Sicily was one of several younger producers to be highlighted. (OperaWine 2026)

Arianna Occhipinti, who founded her namesake winery in Sicily in 2004 at the age of just 21, was among the “New Voices,” showing her Terre Siciliane SM Vino di Contrada 2023 white made from 100% Grillo. “I'm very proud to be here,” said Occhipinti. “A lot of people here are fans of Sicily specifically and are so happy to see me. It's full of exactly what we need in the wine world.”

The Lunelli Family’s table is always a popular starting point with their Ferrari Trento sparkling wine. But they also made a “New Voices” debut by pouring Tenute Lunelli Montefalco Sagrantino Carapace 2016. Winemaker Luca Capaldini seemed in joyful disbelief at the unfolding scene and the interest in his wine. “When you hear you are invited to OperaWine … it was the best news of the year. We are a very little winery, so to be in the company of these iconic wineries, it is the road to becoming more famous.”

At OperaWine, opportunity abounds, whether tasting with colleagues, networking with distributors and media, or evangelizing for Italian wine and its many incarnations. Next year’s OperaWine will take place during Vinitaly, April 11-14, 2027, with a vibrant, new theme still to be announced.

Bruce Sanderson, Vinitaly managing partner Stevie Kim, Alison Napjus and Jeffery Lindenmuth, left to right, celebrate another fantastic year of spotlighting Italy’s best and brightest. (OperaWine 2026)

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