The ASI Contest Best Sommelier of the World Lisbon 2026 opens today, bringing together 66 candidates for five days of contest, professional networking and Portuguese hospitality. Organised by the Association de la Sommellerie Internationale (ASI) and hosted by the Associação dos Escanções de Portugal (AEP), the 18th edition marks the contest’s first return to Lisbon since 1978. Yesterday the registration and Partners Welcome Fair were held at the Sheraton Hotel Lisboa, followed by the opening evening, which was hosted at the Hipódromo Manuel Possolo in Cascais, a popular seaside town on the outskirts of Lisbon. The choice of Cascais is...

Online Auction Closing Tuesday, November 24 at 2:00 PM Maurice Auction will hold a landmark online auction on November 24, showcasing an exceptional private collection of fine wines, including a unique and extremely rare selection of 465 bottles from Domaine Coche-Dury, an icon of Burgundy’s greatest white wines. The collection comprises 900 exceptional bottles offered across 200 lots, each meticulously selected and stored since its direct purchase from the domaine under optimal temperature and humidity conditions, with pristine labels and impeccable fill levels. Since its establishment, Maurice Auction has developed a discerning and highly selective approach to fine wine auctions,...

Table grapes were at the centre of discussion during 5 days at the 11th International Table Grape Symposium (ITGS), held in Murcia, Spain under the OIV patronage. From 28 September to 2 October 2026, the Organisation strengthened the dialogue with this sector. Strengthening institutional dialogue The OIV's presence in Murcia began with meetings with local authorities, including the Minister of Agriculture of the Region of Murcia, the Chairmen of the Regulatory Councils for the Designations of Origin of Wine from the Murcia Region, and the Director and the Scientists of the Instituto Murciano de Investigación y Desarrollo Agrario (IMIDA). These...

With less than a week to go until the ASI Contest Best Sommelier of the World, taking place in Lisbon from 11 to 17 October, ASI announces the 66 candidates who have earned the right to compete for the title. They represent 66 countries, among them four taking part for the first time: Dumitru Coșleț (Moldova), Soraiya Ladak (Kenya), Jai Singh (India) and Albin Mounayer (Lebanon). Three candidates will represent their countries as reigning regional champions. Joris Gutierrez Garcia represents Canada as ASI Best Sommelier of the Americas 2025; Reeze Choi competes for China as ASI Best Sommelier of Asia...

A press conference for the 47th World Congress of Vine and Wine and the General Assembly of the International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV) was held in Beijing on August 27. The congress will be held in Yinchuan, Ningxia, from October 12 to 16, 2026. It will mark the first time that the World Congress and the OIV General Assembly have been held in Asia. Under the theme “Shaping new paradigms for the global Vine and Wine sector,” the congress will feature five main parts, including a forum on the high-quality development of China’s vine and wine industry and...

The world’s leading sommeliers will gather in Lisbon from 11 to 17 October for the 18th edition of the ASI Contest Best Sommelier of the World 2026, nearly half a century after Portugal last hosted the profession’s most prestigious international competition. The contest is organised by the Association de la Sommellerie Internationale (ASI) and hosted by the Associação dos Escanções de Portugal (AEP), the Portuguese Sommelier Association. India, Kenya, Lebanon and Moldova will be represented for the first time. “Sommellerie is growing in countries where formal sommelier education, national associations and international participation are still relatively new,” says ASI President...

The sixth edition of the ASI Bootcamp welcomed 48 sommeliers from more than 20 countries to São Paulo, Brazil, for three days of intensive education, tasting, and international exchange. Co-organised by the Association de la Sommellerie Internationale (ASI) and the Associação Brasileira de Sommeliers, the event marked the second ASI Bootcamp dedicated to the Americas and the first edition to be hosted in Brazil. Since its launch in 2021, the ASI Bootcamp has established itself as one of ASI's flagship educational initiatives, bringing together promising young professionals with some of the world's most respected sommeliers, educators, and hospitality experts. The...

The Cité des Climats et vins de Bourgogne is taking another major step in its international development. Through its Wine School, it is announcing a partnership with Esprits de Vins, the wine education company led by Fabrice Sommier, Meilleur Ouvrier de France in Sommellerie and President of the French Sommeliers Association (Union de la Sommellerie Française).The partnership aims to expand the availability of Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) qualifications in Beaune through the progressive rollout of all four WSET levels. Among the nearly 800 WSET Approved Programme Providers worldwide, only 49 are authorised to deliver preparation courses for the...

Amerigo Vespucci World Tour – North America Campaign 2026: Amerigo Vespucci is preparing to sail to New York where it will take part in the US Navy’s parade of tall ships and military vessels organized on July 4th to celebrate the 250th Anniversary of US Independence. During its stay in New York City, a rich program of onboard events will showcase and promote the finest Italian excellence: the United Nations Chiefs of Police Summit (UNCOPS); the America’s Cup trophy, arriving from New Zealand, in an exclusive appearance on board Amerigo Vespucci for the event “Vespucci & America’s Cup: two icons...

Yesterday July 5, the event (October 26-27, in New York) presented aboard the ship Americans called “the most beautiful in the world”. The Amerigo Vespucci, known as the most beautiful ship in the world and a source of pride for the Italian Navy, is once again embarking on a world tour to promote the very best of made in Italy. Its wine industry is equally emblematic of the excellence of Italy, with Vinitaly serving as its most important promotional platform. Wine will be among the highlights of the initiatives featuring the Vespucci in New York on July 4th, celebrating the...

The V d'Or Business Awards, organised by Vinexposium, annually recognise the most impactful and responsible initiatives across the global wine and spirits industry. Launched in 2024, the awards highlight projects that drive the sector forward through innovation, positive impact, and sustainable value creation. Award Categories The 2027 edition features three categories: Sustainability: Recognises initiatives or long-term commitments contributing to a more sustainable wine and spirits industry. Education: Honours initiatives or programmes that advance public understanding of wine and spirits. Innovation: Rewards pioneering initiatives that reach new audiences, unlock new markets, or reimagine sector communication and engagement. Entry Guidelines Applications are...

Danube Wine Challenge 2026 – 12th Edition The 12th edition of the Danube Wine Challenge took place from 3–5 June 2026 at Château Béla, further strengthening Slovakia’s position as an emerging hub for international wine excellence. The competition brought together around 50 expert judges from four continents, who blind-tasted a record number of wine samples from 11 countries, confirming the event’s growing international reputation and influence within the global wine sector. This year’s edition featured strong participation from producers across Slovakia, Spain, France, Italy, Portugal, Germany, Austria, Hungary, Australia, and Argentina, showcasing both diversity and exceptional quality. The prestigious Prix...

Recognition of the OIV’s diplomatic and international rôle The commemorative plaque was unveiled by Julien Steimer, Director-General for Administration and Modernisation at the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, and John Barker, Director General of the OIV, in the presence of Yvette van der Merwe, President of the OIV, François Rebsamen, President of Dijon Métropole and former minister, and Nathalie Koenders, Mayor of Dijon and First Vice-President of Dijon Métropole. The ceremony was attended by numerous dignitaries, including local authorities and members of the diplomatic corps. The inaugural “Patrimoine de la Diplomatie” distinction has been granted to 15 remarkable...

From 12 to 16 October 2026, at the invitation of the Government of the People’s Republic of China, the 47th World Congress of Vine and Wine alongside the 24th General Assembly of the International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV) will take place in the city of Yinchuan, Ningxia (PR China). Under the theme: “Shaping new paradigms for the global Vine and Wine sector: transforming to meet challenges, innovating to ignite vitality, and sustaining to anchor a shared future”, the Congress will bring together leading international experts to address the major scientific, technical and economic challenges facing the sector. Call...

The London Wine Fair (LWF) reports an 8% increase in visitors, a 9% rise in exhibitors, and a 13% expansion of exhibition space for this year’s edition. With 10,539 guests, the visitor count climbed above the 10,000 mark for the first time in six years. This represents an 8.2% increase compared to the 9,741 attendees recorded last year. British visitors accounted for 82% of the total. International guests represented 61 countries, with Italy, France, the USA, and Spain providing the largest contingents. Exhibitor registrations rose to 475 in 2026, up from 445 in 2025, according to the final report released...

The Hellenic-Italian Chamber of Athens had the honor and pleasure of inviting Allwinestories to a day of business meetings (B2B) with the participation of Italian food and beverage producers, on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, at Rpyal Olympic Hotel. The event aimed to strengthen commercial cooperation between Greek and Italian companies, offering opportunities for targeted networking, presentation of high-quality products, and exploration of new business opportunities. Ioannis Tsamichas During the event, we had the opportunity to: meet selected Italian producers hold private business meetings (B2B) learn about new trends in the food and beverage sector explore opportunities for partnerships and imports...

The Greek Wine Federation (GWF) successfully concluded its Greek wine promotion events, which drew particularly large crowds of industry professionals, in the United Kingdom (April 28), Sweden (May 4), and Norway (May 6), as part of the outward-looking strategy and national marketing plan for Greek wine. The events took place in London, Stockholm, and Oslo, in collaboration with renowned public relations and wine event planning agencies, and included walk-around tastings and masterclasses featuring 45 Greek wineries. The interest shown by industry professionals exceeded all expectations in terms of both the number and quality of attendees, with a strong presence of...

From 12 to 16 October 2026, at the invitation of the Government of the People’s Republic of China, the 47th World Congress of Vine and Wine alongside the 24th General Assembly of the International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV) will take place in the city of Yinchuan, Ningxia (PR China). A global platform to shape the future of the sector Under the theme: “Shaping new paradigms for the global Vine and Wine sector: transforming to meet challenges, innovating to ignite vitality, and sustaining to anchor a shared future”, the Congress will bring together leading international experts to address the...

Based on a decision adopted at the spring session of the International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV), currently held in Dijon, France, Georgia will host the OIV World Congress in 2027. Georgia officially submitted its application to host the 2027 OIV World Congress in 2025. The spring session of the OIV is attended by Levan Mekhuzla, Chairman of the National Wine Agency. “OIV is the most important organization in the field of viticulture and winemaking. This decision once again highlights Georgia’s role on the global wine-culture map, confirming that it is one of the most significant wine-producing countries. Ultimately,...