Wind, depth and the underwater world: the Consorzio presents a sensory journey bringing Lake Garda to the heart of the fair
April 10, 2026 (Verona, Italy) — The Consorzio Garda DOC takes centre stage at Vinitaly 2026 by presenting its territory through a format that brings together storytelling, tasting and audience engagement: the GARDA360 social tastings. These immersive experiences last approximately 30 minutes and feature the tasting of three Garda DOC wines, structured as a narrative journey designed to transport participants imaginatively to the shores of the lake. The common thread of this edition is Lake Garda itself, understood as a perfectly balanced system in which nature, landscape and human activity coexist in harmony. A balance that is increasingly fragile and calls for awareness and care. Guided by this spirit, the Consorzio will bring to Vinitaly a narrative that celebrates the lake in its pure essence, transforming the tasting experience into a moment of reflection and discovery.
The creator and host of the GARDA360 format is Sissi Baratella, winemaker and Vinitaly Ambassador Garda DOC, who already worked alongside the Consorzio in 2025, when the project explored the Garda lemons and the historic lemon houses now a symbol of the Consorzio, as well as the world of sailing. “Every year Garda DOC raises the bar both in communication and versatility. For me, it is a pleasure as well as an honour to be able to freely express my creativity in telling the story of such an extraordinary place and its equally magical wines. There is true magic in Lake Garda: just think of the way it reflects the light, the mountains that surround it, the winds that never stop blowing. This place gets under your skin and never quite lets go. Drinking the wines that bear its name is a liberating act, allowing yourself, even for the time of a single glass, to feel as though you are on holiday. It is in this spirit that the GARDA360 tastings are born, where, with lightness of heart, we will address important and deeply meaningful themes,” says Sissi Baratella.
Alongside her, for one of the most evocative moments of the experience, will be Dario Boschetto, trainer and freediver: “Together with Sissi, we devised a tasting journey that challenges participants to look deep within themselves. Being at the fair and feeling as though you are at the lake: this is what we will offer those taking part, ultimately allowing them to rediscover themselves also through the wines being tasted. It is a challenge that I am confident we will win; everyone will walk away changed, and the credit will belong to each individual,” says Dario Boschetto.
The tastings will unfold across three themed days, each interpreting some of the most representative elements of the Garda area. On Sunday 12 April, the narrative will focus on the lake winds, silent protagonists that shape the landscape and contribute to the identity of the wines. On Monday 13 April, the audience will be guided through a more introspective experience, exploring the concept of depth with the support of freediving and conscious breathing. Finally, on Tuesday 14 April, attention will shift beneath the surface of the water with the theme of the floating world, a journey into the underwater realm with a focus on lake fauna, including native, alien and invasive species.
Each GARDA360 session will be limited in capacity, with free participation for visitors already holding a fair entrance ticket and mandatory advance booking, and will feature a guided tasting of three Garda DOC wines, different for each session, created in collaboration with project partner Euchronicles.
Through the social tastings, Garda DOC thus brings to Vinitaly a dynamic and engaging narrative of its territory, transforming each tasting into an experience that brings together wine, nature and environmental awareness, inviting trade professionals and wine lovers to pause for a moment and let themselves be carried away by the atmosphere of the lake, captured in every glass.
The activities form part of the programme of the European project Euchronicles, a promotional initiative dedicated to enhancing the value of European agri food excellence, with the aim of strengthening awareness of the appellations among trade professionals and consumers.
Funded by the European Union. The views and opinions expressed are those of the author or authors only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the granting authority. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
