IN BREVE
- The Valpolicella Wine Protection Consortium kicks off 2026 with Amarone Opera Prima, the official presentation event for the 2021 vintage.
- The 22nd edition takes place in a symbolic context for Verona and the country, ahead of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics.
- The program includes masterclasses and talks on Valpolicella and Amarone, featuring contributions from industry experts.
- Tastings will take place from January 31 to February 1 at the Gallerie Mercatali, with access also open to the public.
- Amarone Opera Prima strengthens the link between wine, the local territory, and major national events.
After a 2025 marked by intense promotional activity, including 19 international events and 32 roadshows across Italy, the Valpolicella Wine Protection Consortium kicks off the new year with Amarone Opera Prima. The event, dedicated to the official presentation of the 2021 vintage of Amarone della Valpolicella, is scheduled to take place in Verona from January 30 to February 1. Now in its 22nd edition, the event is set against a symbolic backdrop for both the city and the country.
“The 22nd edition marks a symbolic milestone for the city and the country,” states the Consortium President, Christian Marchesini. “On one hand, Italian cuisine has been recognized as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage; on the other, we are approaching the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, where Verona will host the closing ceremony and the opening of the Paralympics. In this context, Amarone becomes the common thread of a collective identity narrative.”
Specifically in view of the events linked to the Olympic Games, Amarone Opera Prima 2026 is introducing a logistical change, moving the venue for the scheduled events.
KICKING OFF WITH THE MASTERCLASS AT GALLERIE MERCATALI
The program opens on Friday, January 30, at 11:00 AM at the Gallerie Mercatali of Veronafiere. This will feature a masterclass led by JC Viens titled “Back to the Future – Valpolicella 2030: Europe’s Most Advanced Case Study in Regional Reinvention.” The session presents Valpolicella as one of Europe’s most advanced case studies in territorial reinvention. At its core is the dialogue between historical practices and innovation, looking toward the future of wine within the European enological landscape.
THE 2021 VINTAGE PRESENTATION AND THE TALK AT THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
The event continues on Saturday, January 31, at 10:30 AM at the Riccardo Borghero Auditorium of the Verona Chamber of Commerce, at Corso Porta Nuova 96. It opens with a speech by President Marchesini and the official presentation of the 2021 Amarone della Valpolicella vintage. This will be followed by the talk “Amarone on the Podium with Italian Cuisine and the Olympics,” a discussion between different but interconnected fields. Participants include Maddalena Fossati, director of La Cucina Italiana, creator of the UNESCO candidacy and president of the promoting committee; Deborah Compagnoni, former Olympic champion and ambassador for the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Games; and Cristina Bowerman, chef at Glass Hostaria in Rome, holder of one Michelin star and two Gambero Rosso Forks.
TASTING TABLES AND PUBLIC OPENING
From 12:30 PM on Friday, January 31, the tasting tables will open at the Gallerie Mercatali. Access for wine enthusiasts begins at 4:00 PM. Tastings continue on Sunday, February 1, from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The event concludes with an evening closing party from 7:00 PM to midnight, also at the Gallerie Mercatali of Veronafiere. Amarone Opera Prima thus confirms its status as the premier event dedicated to Valpolicella’s great red, providing an overview of the 2021 vintage and strengthening the bond between wine, the territory, and major national events.
