The International Exhibition of Wines and Spirits Awaits!

Vinitialy is a celebration of all aspects of wine. The event is aimed chiefly at wine industry professionals but it also reaches out to anyone who is passionate about fine wine with a series of events around the city.

What is Vinitaly and what’s on?

Vinitaly was founded in 1967 in the Palazzo della Gran Guardia, an event which has grown from humble origins to become a successful international show. It used to have a more Italian name because English phrases were not so fashionable but the basic idea was still the same.

Over time, the event became more internationally minded and opened its doors to the food and design industries, with a link to packaging for wines and spirits and furniture and fittings for wine bars. There are more than 50 themed tastings of Italian and foreign wines, with more than 4,000 exhibitors every year. I am sure that Bacchus would be proud of us in Verona! In addition, you can also try out some of our outstanding local produce.
And that is not all: there are conferences, training for wine experts and chances to meet wine-makers professionals for the latest trends in the wine market.

You wouldn’t expect to drink all that wine without something to accompany it, would you? This is where the Grande Cucina of Vinitaly comes in, a section of the fair where prestigious restaurants cook up sophisticated menus to suit even the most refined palates, as well as the Cittadelle della Gastronomia, which are stands serving pairings of wines and traditional regional produce. This should have given you an idea of what Vinitaly is, let me know show you how it works.

What to see at Vinitaly

The event areas of Vinitaly help visitors to find their way around everything that the show has to offer based on their interests. There is the Vinitalybio area for certified organic wines from Italy and abroad.
A pavilion dedicated to international production of wines and spirits: International Wine, where companies offer guided tastings of wines from their countries.
Then there is a zone called Vinitaly Tasting, which is open to buyers and professionals from the hospitality sector where tastings become something of a show, presented by notable people from the wine industry. Since Vinitaly is not just about wines and spirits, there is also an area for the materials and equipment needed for producing wine, oil and beer: Enolitech. Here you can find harvesting machinery, barrels and casks and even software for use in cellars and olive presses.

Another pavilion, Micro Mega Wines, brings together small producers who grow very high-quality native and non-native vines that are threatened with extinction or that are grown in regions which are at risk of abandonment.
Last but not least, there is an area which is of interest not just to wine industry professionals but also artists and designers. I am talking about Vinitaly Design, the pavilion which focuses on fittings and accessories for vineyards and wine bars, as well as packaging for wine, oils and spirits. There is even a competition for the most beautiful bottle and label.

The market gets more and more competitive, so packaging plays a central role in getting products noticed and recognised.
Vinitaly Design International Packaging Competition rewards the efforts of companies who invest creativity and their image (Gianni Bruno - Vinitaly Area Manager)

An international jury of designers, art directors and journalists pick the best packaging for wine, oil, beer and spirits.

How to get here

Considering the nature of the event, the car is perhaps not the best way of travelling to the event, safety comes first! And it is not necessary to drive, since there are many scheduled buses and shuttle buses which connect Veronafiera with the main car parks, the city centre, the railway station and the airport.
If you prefer more flexibility in your schedule, you can call Radiotaxi Verona or use the Apptaxi app.
During the fair, they will all be in operation and mostly on their way to Vinitaly.

Vinitaly and the city

For wine lovers who don’t work in the industry, I have some great news for you: it is called Vinitaly and the City. A voyage of discovery in search of outstanding wines in the beautiful setting of Verona. There are tastings in the most delightful parts of the city centre, such as Piazza dei Signori, in the courtyard of the Mercato Vecchio or high up atop the Torre dei Lamberti, 84 metres above the ground.
Admission to these tastings is by ticket, available online at vinitalyandthecity.com, just select if you want to buy a simple wine tasting or one of the guided tastings held in the Loggia Antica and the Accademia di Agricoltura, Scienze e Lettere.
The entire city comes alive during the fair, so why not take advantage of the guided tours and workshops themed around the world of wine? Some of these events are held at Corte Sgarzerie whilst others are near to Porta Borsari. To top it all off, there is a whole host of musical performances, shows and DJ sets. The world of wine in Verona brings entertainment for all, including the whole family!