Italian wines at the Winelovers Wine Awards: discover the heritage, taste the future

How do you evaluate the participation of Italian wines in the event?

Giovanna
Chiappini Carpena
igazgató
(budapesti iroda)
Olasz Külkereskedelmi
Intézet

– The results were truly excellent: every Italian winery won at least one gold medal and the feedback was positive from buyers, the jury of experts and the public.

 What was the main goal of their participation?

– It was the first time that ITA participated in the Winelovers Wine Awards and the Winelovers 100 tasting. Italy is Hungary’s number one wine supplier: in 2024 the global export value of Italian wines reached EUR 9.3bn from which EUR 26.9m was exported to Hungary.

 Which Italian wine regions did the wines come from?

– The exhibitors presented the best of Italian viticulture and winemaking, from Veneto to Puglia. Italy has more than 350 officially recognised grape varieties and is one of the world’s largest wine-producing countries.

 Do you consider the participation to be a success?

– We received very positive feedback and we hope that the Italian participation will lead to new trade agreements. We have already received good news in this regard.

 Which wines or sparkling wines were the most popular among visitors?

– The wineries we represent participated in the Winelovers Wine Awards competition with 33 Italian wines and the results speak for themselves: they won one Grand Gold, seventeen gold, nine silver and six bronze medals.

 Could you introduce the Italian Trade Agency?

– ITA is an Italian government agency that works for the presence of Italian companies abroad and the promotion of Made in Italy products. It is based in Rome and has a total of 87 offices in 74 countries.

 What are the key activities that best characterise ITA’s work?

– We work with Hungarian importers and distributors to bring Italian products to the Hungarian market, with a particular focus on the food and wine sectors. We regularly organise B2B meetings, tastings, business trips, workshops and presentations.

 Was there an event or initiative this year that you consider particularly important?

– We have entered into a strategic partnership with Kifli.hu: we have created a Made in Italy page on the platform, and between June 2025 and June 2026 consumers have easy access to premium Italian food products directly from Italy, through an exclusive campaign.

 What can you tell our readers about Italy’s participation in next year’s SIRHA Budapest food industry trade fair?

– One of ITA’s main partners is Hungexpo Zrt. and in 2026 Italy will be the guest of honour at the trade fair. This will be a great opportunity to showcase the excellence of Italian gastronomy. (x)