Founder Helmuth Köcher announces 2027 Merano Wine Observatory to anticipate global trends.
October 8, 2026 (Rome, Italy) — Presented yesterday in the Italian Senate, the 2026 edition of Merano WineFestival marks a 35-year journey looking ahead to an ever-evolving market. The historic announcement of the first four WineHunter Award Platinum recipients with the maximum score of 100/100 opened the proceedings. Helmuth Köcher outlined the future trajectory of wine and food consumption, with a strong focus on health trends, low-alcohol options, sustainability, and haute cuisine. All 101 winners of the WineHunter Award Platinum are online.
The official program of the 35th Merano WineFestival, scheduled to take place at the Kurhaus of Merano from November 6th to 10th, was presented yesterday morning in the Sala Caduti di Nassirya of the Italian Senate. The institutional event, held on the initiative of Senate Vice President Gian Marco Centinaio, was moderated by journalist and tasting commission coordinator Andrea Radic. It featured contributions from Merano WineFestival founder and The WineHunter Helmuth Köcher, Merano Mayor Katharina Zeller, Chamber and Senate Agriculture Commission Vice Presidents Maria Chiara Gadda and Silvia Fregolent, ICE Agency President Matteo Zoppas, Diana Lenzi representing Coldiretti, and Luigi D’Eramo, Undersecretary of State at the Italian Ministry of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty, and Forestry.
In his opening remarks, Senate Vice President Gian Marco Centinaio emphasized the festival’s importance as a key industry forum: “This festival represents and selects the quality and excellence of our country, transforming Merano into the wine capital of Italy.”
Following this, Helmuth Köcher shared a clear visionary perspective: amid a historical phase of structural transformation in consumer habits, Merano WineFestival points the way forward for Italy’s agrifood sector and announces the launch for 2027 of the innovative Merano Wine Observatory, a year-round observatory dedicated to the future of wine. “Merano WineFestival transcends itself, creating an international platform capable of observing, analyzing, and interpreting changes in the global wine world. We want to look to the future: how will wine be produced, sold, consumed, and perceived 5, 10, or 20 years from now? Merano WineFestival aims to continue connecting producers, experts, industry professionals, and institutions to observe new scenarios, analyse experiences, interpret data, and anticipate trends,” Köcher explained.
In a video message, the Mayor of Merano, Katharina Zeller, described Merano WineFestival as “one of our city’s most prestigious events, attracting excellence and gourmands from around the globe. We are thrilled to host it once again in our city and warmly invite everyone to visit our beautiful Merano.”
Maria Chiara Gadda, Vice President of the Chamber of Agriculture Commission, stated: “Merano WineFestival is an appointment that allows us to reflect on a sector facing multiple challenges: climate change, the impact of technology on production models, and commercial issues. Merano WineFestival brings together the very best of Italy—a sector that, despite crises, continues to work, invest in quality, and share its passion with us.”
ICE Agency President Matteo Zoppas expressed “compliments for the remarkable work accomplished through Merano WineFestival, which promotes an Italian territory holding ever-greater growth opportunities abroad—opportunities that we must seize and support. We have doubled the volume of incoming delegations, recognizing this event’s increasingly strong international vocation, and we hope to foster more meeting opportunities between our producers and potential clients such as importers and distributors.”
Diana Lenzi (Coldiretti) recalled that “Wine is a national agricultural, territorial, and economic heritage that we cannot afford to lose; rather, it must be defended and revitalized. We are talking about 241,000 businesses adapting to a changing reality, and 681,000 cultivated hectares shaping our peninsula’s landscape. We possess unique biodiversity and a thriving sector built upon the PDO and PGI systems, valued at approximately 11 billion euros.”
Silvia Fregolent, Vice President of the Senate’s 9th Commission, reiterated “the strong interest of both the Senate and the Chamber in the agrifood sector: 47.3 million hectoliters produced, 14 billion euros in revenue, and 7.8 billion in exports are significant figures for an industry that has faced major challenges in recent years. An event like Merano WineFestival, which unites fine dining and exceptional wine, is—and continues to be—a vital cultural moment for in-depth reflection on these critical issues.”
Finally, Luigi D’Eramo, Undersecretary of State at the Italian Ministry of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty, and Forestry, concluded via video message: “Over the past few years, I have had the pleasure of attending Merano WineFestival, an event that serves as an extraordinary showcase for our wines. Helmuth Köcher stands out for his visionary capability, and it is thanks to his constant work in selecting Italian wine and gastronomic excellence that Merano WineFestival reaches its 35th edition today, establishing itself as a premier global benchmark for the entire industry.”
A HISTORIC MILESTONE FOR THE WINEHUNTER AWARD PLATINUM: THE FIRST 100/100 SCORES IN HISTORY
A central highlight of the Senate press conference was the announcement of the 4 wines that achieved the perfect score of 100/100 for the WineHunter Award Platinum. For the first time, the tasting commission led by Helmuth Köcher bestowed this highest recognition upon four iconic labels, each representing distinct territories and production styles:
- Ferrari Trento – Perlé Ferrari Trento DOC 2002 (Trentino)
Citation: Ferrari Perlé 2002 tells one of the great stories of Italian sparkling winemaking, born in early 20th-century Trentino from the vision of Giulio Ferrari. It demonstrates that great Italian bubbles can transcend decades and stand shoulder to shoulder with the world’s most renowned classic-method expressions.
- Cantina Terlano – Kellerei Terlan – Alto Adige Terlano DOC Rarity 2013 (Alto Adige)
Citation: Rarity 2013 embodies an oenological philosophy that has made Cantina Terlano a benchmark for the extraordinary longevity of Alto Adige’s great white wines. It testifies to the ability of Italian white wine to defy time and transform it into beauty.
- Azienda Vinicola Attilio Contini – Vernaccia di Oristano DOC Riserva 1998 (Sardinia)
Citation: Attilio Contini’s 1998 Vernaccia di Oristano recounts an ancient, profound, and deeply rooted Sardinia. It represents a culture, a memory, and an oenological heritage worthy of being handed down to future generations.
- Avignonesi – Vin Santo di Montepulciano DOC “Occhio di Pernice” 2012 (Tuscany)
Citation: Occhio di Pernice 2012 is the liquid narrative of time. Rare and contemplative, it transforms an ancient Tuscan tradition into an extraordinarily contemporary experience—one of the most fascinating and precious expressions of Tuscan Vin Santo winemaking.
Following the reveal of the four top-tier WineHunter Award Platinum winners, the complete list of the 101 WineHunter Award Platinum recipients across the Wine, Food, and Spirits categories is available on The WineHunter Award Collection website: https://award.winehunter.it/en
MERANO WINEFESTIVAL 2026: UNMISSABLE EVENTS
From November 6 to 10, 2026, the 35th edition of Merano WineFestival offers five days dedicated to food and wine excellence, culture, and international networking, transforming the entire city of Merano into a stage for the gastronomic sector.
The event opens on Friday, November 6, at 10:00 AM with an international opening ceremony featuring a live-streamed inaugural toast linked with Tokyo, where the inaugural edition of Merano WineFestival Japan is concurrently taking place. Friday also features TasteTerroir – bio&dynamica, showcasing organic, biodynamic, and natural wines, alongside PIWI grape varieties. Additional highlights include sustainable viticulture, amphora vinification, underwater aging, premier expressions of Riesling, and the Cult Oenologist excellence pathway dedicated to top Italian winemakers selected by Helmuth Köcher: Franco Bernabei, Carlo Ferrini, Luca D’Attoma, Riccardo Cotarella, Alessandro Cellai, Gianni Menotti, Paolo Caciorgna, Paolo Vagaggini, and Gabriele Gadenz. At 4:30 PM, the Puccini Theatre hosts the WineHunter Award Platinum award ceremony, presenting 5 special Honour Awards and recognitions for the Cult Oenologists.
Starting at 7:00 PM, the Kurhaus transforms to host an elegant Gala Dinner featuring an exclusive gastronomic journey created in partnership with Teritoria—a collection of over 300 Maisons et Tables Sensationnelles in Europe, with Alain Ducasse serving as Brand President. A culinary voyage across five regions and five distinct expressions of elegance: from the purity interpreted by chefs Sara Bertocchi and Fabrizio Molteni (Teritoria Frosch Restaurant), to the bond between territory, roots, and memory expressed by chef Massimo Spigaroli (Teritoria Antica Corte Pallavicina – Michelin Star), followed by the harmony of the first course by chef Arcangelo Tinari (Teritoria Villa Maiella – Michelin Star), the bold character of chef Giacomo Devoto (Teritoria Locanda de Banchieri – Michelin Star), and finally the beauty of the dessert by chef Anna Ghisolfi, head of Teritoria Ristorante Anna Ghisolfi. Each chef brings to the table a landscape, an emotion, a culture, and an authentic personal vision of Italian cuisine, collectively narrating an Italy deeply rooted in its origins yet continuously evolving.
During the dinner, the 5 WineHunter Stars 2026 will be awarded – shining stars of Italian food and wine: winemaker Roberto Cipresso receives the Winemaker Star; Osteria Francescana maître-sommelier Beppe Palmieri receives the Wine Manager Star; Giuseppe “Peppone” Calabrese receives the Wine&Food TV Host Star; the Wine Artist Star in memory of Livio Felluga will be accepted by his son and CEO of the company, Filippo Felluga; and Master of Wine Cristina Mercuri, the first woman to achieve this title in Italy, will be awarded the Communication Star.
From Saturday, November 7, to Monday, November 9, The Festival will fill the Kurhaus with over 350 wineries in the Wine Italia section, more than 100 producers from 12 different countries (including Lebanon, Moldova, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Brazil, Argentina, and South Africa) for Wine International, and over 120 selected labels in the WineHunter Area poured by FISAR Alto Adige sommeliers. New features include the Next Platinum selection spotlighting products reaching the pinnacle of their award tier, and labels honored with the Gold Grand Medal at the Mondial des Vins Extrêmes, an international competition held annually by Cervim as the definitive benchmark for heroic and mountain viticulture.
From November 6 to 9 in the GourmetArena, approximately 150 companies will present food products, beers, and spirits from all over Italy, complemented by a rich schedule of show cooking and gourmet pairings. This area also houses the No-Low Alcohol zone, focusing on emerging low-alcohol and alcohol-free trends, and the WineHunter Rosé Selection, dedicated to the finest pink-wine expressions.
Also running from November 6 to 9, the WineHunter Masterclasses offer exceptional guided tastings led by industry experts in the halls of the Hotel Terme Merano, which will also host in-depth discussions and book presentations related to the wine world. To facilitate producer-market connections, Merano WineFestival reinforces dedicated B2B networking spaces such as the WH Buyers’ Club and the ICE Buyers Area. Along Corso Libertà, the Fuori Salone unfolds as Merano’s ultimate red carpet, featuring public-facing events.
The grand finale takes place on Tuesday, November 10, with Catwalk Champagne&more, a day entirely devoted to domestic and international sparkling wines, paired with top-tier gastronomic specialties including caviar, oysters, and other gourmet delicacies. The day concludes with the awards ceremony for the Northern Selection of the EmergenteSala competition, curated by Luigi Cremona and Lorenza Vitali.
The continuously updated program is available in the Program section of the Merano WineFestival website.
SUSTAINABILITY: THE “BREATH AND CRY OF THE EARTH” SUMMIT RETURNS
Beyond tastings and lifestyle events, Merano WineFestival serves as an essential forum for industry debate and insight. In collaboration with the International Viticulture & Enology Society, Connected Reality, and ForTeam, the “Breath and Cry of the Earth” Summit returns on Friday, November 6, at 9:00 AM at the Puccini Theatre. The program opens with introductions by Helmuth Köcher and Julien Dumercq, Director of IVES. This will be followed by presentations of five scientific research studies in viticulture and enology by Francesco Mirone and Sara Zanella (Interdepartmental Center for Viticulture and Enology Research), Valeria De Rosa (Center Agriculture Food Environment, University of Trento), Matteo Migliorini (University of Verona), with concluding remarks by Emanuele Boselli (Free University of Bozen-Bolzano).
CULTURAL HIGHLIGHTS
The Merano WineFestival program also features deep-dive sessions exploring fascinating stories from the wine world. Opening on Friday, November 6, at 3:00 PM at the Puccini Theatre, Laura Donadoni will present the European project Grapes of Change, aimed at promoting gender equality in the wine industry. On Saturday, November 7, at the Zedern Lounge of the Hotel Terme Merano at 12:00 PM, Camilla Lunelli will present “Un’arte di famiglia”, published yesterday by Sperling & Kupfer, recounting her personal and professional journey from international cooperation in Africa to returning to the family business in Trentino. At 4:00 PM in the same location, Chiara Giorleo will present “Vino, donna. Storie e passioni di 90 protagoniste del cambiamento”, a collection of interviews with female changemakers in the wine world, published by Luciano Pignataro. At 6:00 PM at the Women’s Museum, “Voci nei calici” will offer a toast linking the museum’s historical heritage with the indigenous excellences of the Trentino-Alto Adige Women of Wine. On Sunday, November 8, the Zedern Lounge will host the presentation of “L’Alto Adige in un calice. Vignaioli del Burgraviato” by Mario Vacca (Edizioni Nisroch) at 2:00 PM, followed at 4:00 PM by the presentation of the new edition of Olga Sofia Schiaffino’s guide “I Vini del Cuore”, with a preface by Marco Sciarrini. Finally, journalist and sommelier Antonella Amodio will present the new edition of “Calici&Spicchi – Atlante mondiale della pizza e del vino in 100 abbinamenti”.
INNOVATION: THE APP FOR PURCHASING TASTING WINES AT MERANO WINEFESTIVAL RETURNS
Merano WineFestival reaffirms its pioneering status among food and wine events. Returning this year is the ability to purchase wines tasted at the stands via a partnership with the digital platform Most’. Visitors can add products to their cart simply by scanning the QR code displayed at the producer’s stand using the app. At the end of the day, all selections can be purchased through a single order and shipment.
KEY FIGURES FOR THE 35TH MERANO WINEFESTIVAL
5 festival days; 810 participating companies with over 2,600 products available for tasting; over 100 international producers from 12 countries; 126 labels selected in the WineHunter Area; and 150 participants in the GourmetArena.
TICKETS AND ACCREDITATIONS AVAILABLE FOR MERANO WINEFESTIVAL 2026
Online ticket sales for single-day passes or season passes are now open on the meranowinefestival.com website. Accreditation procedures for industry professionals and press are also active.
About Merano WineFestival
Merano WineFestival is an event organized by Gourmet’s International, under the patronage of the Municipality of Merano and IDM Südtirol, in collaboration with the Merano Kurverwaltung (Azienda di Soggiorno di Merano), Hotel Terme Merano, and Merano Galoppo.
