Mundus Vini Spring Tasting 2026: Italy wins over 800 medals

Italy confirms its place among the leaders at the Mundus Vini Spring Tasting 2026, the spring edition of the historic international wine competition organized by the German publishing group Meininger. This year’s event coincides with the 25th anniversary of the competition, one of the most widely attended in the world. The results for Italy are significant: 811 total medals awarded to Italian wines, including 8 Grand Gold, 460 Gold, and 343 Silver. This outcome confirms the widespread presence of Italian denominations in international tastings and highlights the importance of Italian wine in key global market competitions.

The competition’s highest honor, the Grand Gold Medal, was awarded to eight Italian labels from very different regions and styles. The Italian wines awarded Grand Gold are:

• Barolo Castelletto 2021 – Fortemasso
• Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG Classico 2022 – Scriani
• Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG Classico 2020 – Paolo Cottini
• Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG – Vigneti Villabella
• Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Riserva 2010 – Corte San Benedetto
• Montepulciano d’Abruzzo Dop Riserva 2020 – Cantina Tollo
• Lugana Doc Brut Metodo Classico 40 months – Bulgarini
• Rosso del Camul 2019 – Vini Tonon

The presence of multiple Amarone della Valpolicella wines in the competition’s top category highlights the international strength of this denomination, while the winners also include a Metodo Classico from the Lugana region and a Montepulciano d’Abruzzo Riserva.

The largest category in the Italian medal count is the Gold Medal, with 460 wines awarded. This tier includes a wide variety of denominations and styles, from great aged reds to regional whites and sparkling wines. Among the Italian wines awarded Gold Medals are:

• D’Antan 2013 – La Scolca
• numerous labels of Amarone della Valpolicella, Valpolicella Ripasso, and Venetian wines
• several Montepulciano d’Abruzzo and Abruzzese wines
• Puglian wines based on Primitivo and Negroamaro
• reds and whites from the main Tuscan and Sicilian denominations

In addition to the Gold medals, 343 Silver Medals complete Italy’s tally. Once again, the recognition is spread across a wide range of denominations and regions, confirming the consistent quality of Italian production. Among the silver medal winners are labels from many of the country’s leading wine-growing areas, from the Alpine territories to the Southern regions.

Analyzing the regional distribution of medals reveals a strong presence from some of Italy’s most dynamic export regions. Veneto leads the ranking with 176 total medals, followed by:

• Puglia – 108 medals
• Abruzzo – 95
• Tuscany – 83
• Sicily – 76
• Piedmont – 40

Closely followed by:

• Trentino – 29
• Alto Adige – 29
• Lombardy – 28
• Friuli Venezia Giulia – 19

Alongside the medals, the competition also grants Best of Show awards, special prizes given to the best wines within specific categories or denominations. Italy earned numerous such accolades in the 2026 edition. The Italian wines awarded Best of Show are:

• Best of Show Gavi – 2021 Gavi DOCG “Gavi dei Gavi” Black Label – La Scolca
• Best of Show Cerasuolo d’Abruzzo – 2025 Ulisse Cerasuolo d’Abruzzo Dop – Tenuta Ulisse
• Best of Show Abruzzo White – 2022 Nativae Abruzzo Pecorino Dop – Tenuta Ulisse
• Best of Show Alto Adige White – 2024 Südtirol DOC Weißburgunder Penon-Hofstatt – Kellerei Kurtatsch
• Best of Show Friuli Red – 2021 Storiis – Le Favole
• Best of Show Chianti Classico – 2020 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione – Castello di Radda
• Best of Show Barolo – 2021 Barolo Castelletto – Fortemasso
• Best of Show Sardinia Red – 2022 Nùrule Cannonau di Sardegna – Cantina Dorgali
• Best of Show Veneto White – 2025 Custoza DOC – Azienda Agricola Gorgo
• Best of Show Alto Adige Red – 2022 Trigon Lagrein Gries Riserva – Hans Rottensteiner
• Best of Show Tuscany White – 2025 Vermentino Maremma Toscana – Tenuta Aquilaia
• Best of Show Sicilia Red – 2022 Cartagho – Cantine Settesoli
• Best of Show Trentino White – 2024 Pinot Grigio Premium Collection – Mezzacorona
• Best of Show Emilia-Romagna – 2024 Romagna Sangiovese Appassimento – Cantine Sgarzi Luigi
• Best of Show Montepulciano d’Abruzzo Riserva – 2020 Cagiolo Montepulciano d’Abruzzo Dop Riserva – Cantina Tollo
• Best of Show Trentino Red – 2022 Castel Firmian Lagrein Riserva – Mezzacorona
• Best of Show Sicilia White – 2025 Inzolia – Feudo Arancio
• Best of Show Primitivo di Manduria – 2022 Papale Oro – Varvaglione
• Best of Show Basilicata – 2018 Il Sigillo Aglianico del Vulture – Cantine del Notaio
• Best of Show Friuli White – 2022 Les Iles Chardonnay Friuli – Isola Augusta
• Best of Show Vino Nobile di Montepulciano – 2019 Vitaroccia Riserva – Icario
• Best of Show Lazio – 2025 Anthium Bellone – Casale del Giglio
• Best of Show Veneto White in Retail Markets – 2025 Pinot Grigio DOC Delle Venezie – Mare Magnum
• Best of Show Italy Noble Sweet – 2018 Vin Santo del Chianti Riserva – Fattoria La Vialla
• Best of Show Sardinia White – 2023 Bèru Vermentino di Gallura Superiore – Siddùra
• Best of Show Valpolicella Ripasso – 2021 Ripassa Valpolicella Ripasso Superiore – Zenato
• Best of Show Puglia – 2025 Soprano Primitivo Puglia IGT – Torrevento
• Best of Show Primitivo di Manduria in Retail Markets – 2024 Evita Primitivo di Manduria Riserva – Torrevento
• Best of Show Salento – 2024 Tre Filari Salento IGP Primitivo – Cantina Sampietrana
• Best of Show Puglia in Retail Markets – 2025 Doppio Rosso Primitivo Merlot – Torrevento
• Best of Show Puglia Rosé – 2025 GVitae Primitivo Rosato – TorreSanta
• Best of Show Italy Sparkling Wine Rosé – Freixenet Italian Rosé Sparkling
• Best of Show Lugana – 2025 Lugana DOC Camilla – Tenuta Malavasi
• Best of Show Montepulciano d’Abruzzo – 2023 Casale Vecchio Montepulciano d’Abruzzo – Fantini
• Best of Show Brunello – 2020 Poggio alle Mura Riserva Brunello di Montalcino – Banfi
• Best of Show Toscana Red – Belnero Toscana IGT – Banfi
• Best of Show Prosecco Rosé – 2024 Prosecco DOC Rosé Extra Dry Prestige Collection – Mionetto
• Best of Show Amarone della Valpolicella – 2010 Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Riserva – Corte San Benedetto
• Best of Show Prosecco – 2025 Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore – Contarini
• Best of Show Trentodoc – 2021 Rotari Extra Brut – Rotari

Founded in 2001 by the Meininger group, Mundus Vini is today one of the most influential international wine competitions. Tastings are conducted blind by juries composed of oenologists, buyers, journalists, and sommeliers from numerous countries.

2026 marks the 25th anniversary of the competition, a milestone that testifies to the strength of a format capable of attracting thousands of wines from all over the world every year. In this context, Italy continues to hold a central position, with a broad and diverse presence of denominations, regions, and production styles.