This section is dedicated to the finest Italian wineries, selected for their ability to express the authentic character of their land and interpret it with excellence. Here, renowned names and small artisanal realities meet, united by quality and passion for their craft.
An opportunity to discover the richness of native grape varieties, regional traditions, and the innovations that are reshaping the Italian wine scene.
In the tasting:
A stage dedicated to the world’s best producers, where excellence and diversity come together in one grand tasting experience. A unique opportunity to compare styles, terroirs, and winemaking interpretations from countries and regions renowned for their wine traditions, and to discover emerging realities that surprise with quality and personality.
From the Old World to the New, every sip becomes a bridge between cultures and stories, opening the door to explore the variety and richness of the global wine landscape.
Among the highlights, Georgian wines hold a special place – guardians of a millennia-old tradition and the qvevri amphora winemaking method, recognised by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage. These wines, an authentic expression of the deep bond between people and land, bring to the glass aromas and flavours that tell the story of the cradle of world viticulture.
In the tasting:
Culinaria is the GourmetArena’s area entirely dedicated to the tasting path Food, Spirits & Beer – where excellence and creativity merge into a single experience.
Here, the public can embark on a sensory journey through gastronomic specialties, spirits, and beers from across Italy. Each one tells the story of its land through premium raw materials and unique interpretations. Every creation is born at the intersection of tradition and innovation, driven by the passion of artisans and producers who transform taste into culture and flavour into narrative.
Within Culinaria there is Territorium & Consortium, a space dedicated to the country’s gastronomic excellence presented by Italian consortia and regional organizations, including Abruzzo and Campania.
An experience celebrating quality in all its forms, turning every bite into a moment of discovery and pleasure – enriched by live showcooking, where stories move straight from the land into the glass and onto the plate.
Some products can be purchased directly from producers in the GourmetArena – a way to take home a piece of this unique experience.
Fuori Salone is a true open-air stage where regions, consortia, and producers from all over Italy showcase themselves and meet the public.
Along the red carpet running through Corso Libertà, the beating heart of Merano, talks, tastings, showcooking, and performances turn the city into a place of sharing, discovery, and gastronomic culture.
Each event becomes a unique opportunity to experience the authentic soul of Italian excellence – stories of passion, tradition, and innovation brought to life before the eyes of visitors, inviting them to savour the very best of Italy’s gastronomic heritage.
The Festival is the beating heart of the Merano WineFestival – a journey through national and international wine and gastronomic excellence.
Three thematic areas dedicated to wine – Wine Italia, Wine International, and WineHunter Area – create a unique tasting path, where each glass is the result of a careful selection made by The WineHunter’s tasting commissions.
An experience that is not only tasting, but also encounter, culture, and discovery – telling the story of terroir diversity, producers’ styles, and the trends shaping the future of wine.