Visiting Chicago is always a pleasurable experience; if one can pair it with excellent wine experiences, it is hard to top. Vinitaly, the “largest wine show in the world”, has just closed the doors of its second USA edition, the main business-to-business event dedicated to Italian wine in the USA, that has taken place on October 5th and 6th, 2025, at the Navy Pier in Chicago. Wine exports account for approximately 8 billion, of which one quarter or 2 billions are imported by the United States, so the choice of holding a B2B event in the USA was the most logical strategy, especially today when, as Federico Bricolo, President of Veronafiere, stated, there are uncertainties and brand promotion and consolidation are crucial.

As it has been pointed out by producers and importers/distributors, the issue of tariffs is no longer the dominant topic at meetings, and attention is directed to wine consumption by younger generations, mostly Millennials and Gen Z. Wine has been and still is seen as a complicated element, which oftentimes discourages a younger audience. While beer is seen as an easy drink to have in total relaxation with friends, wine is perceived as a drink that requires to be consumed with a meal, and the huge diversity of Italian wine, if it is exciting for some, it can be scary for many.

This and many more topics have been addressed during the 2-day event in Chicago produced by Veronafiere/Vinitaly in collaboration with the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Italian Trade Agency, Fiere Italiane, and the Italian American Chamber of Commerce Midwest. More than 250 exhibitors participated to the trade show offering a wide array of wines to be tasted often for the first time in the USA, but it was the first time for the wine2wine Vinitaly business forum, the Vinitaly Operawine 2026, Vinitaly Tourism and, last but not least the chance of higher learning and strict certification by VIA, the Vinitaly International Academy with Sara Heller, Master of wine, as teacher, that this year certified 6 new Italian Wine Ambassadors (as of October 2025, there are only 464 Ambassadors in the world).

The two-day program at Navy Pier included a rich calendar of masterclasses and international sessions, ranging from market analysis and trend discussions to business opportunities in North America (USA, Canada, and Mexico), from strategies to tackle tariffs and shifting trade dynamics to wine tourism initiatives aimed at strengthening the link between territory and promotion. The first event was Women in Wine & Spirits, organized by Molly Matelski, Director of Buyer Relations, Programming, and Partnerships of Fiere Italiane, with opening remarks by Erica di Giovannantonio, Director of the Italian Trade Agency, and Silvia Raffa, Managing Director of the Italian American Chamber of Commerce Midwest.

At the event, held at the prestigious RPM events on the river bank, there was a beautiful conversation by women who are professionals in the field of wine at large: Lauren Buzzeo, founder, editor and publisher of Full Pour and former Executive director of Wine Enthusiast, Michelle Durpetti, luxury events and wedding planner as well as and Gloria Paulina Velez de Alba, founder of Acento Culinaria and international wine judge for the World’s 50 Best series, Nadia Zenato of Zenato Winery and Zenato Art Academy.

Wine and spirits entrepreneurs are mostly men, and women account only for 20% in the USA and 10% in Italy, but there is hope for the future, and we come out with a strong encouragement from the panelists who underline the importance of being fearless, embracing one’s community, never giving up, and always having a good lawyer! At Navy Pier, Stevie Kim, multifaceted and talented Vinitaly Managing Partner as well as wine communicator through podcasts, videos, and books through Mamma Jumbo Shrimp, leader of Vinitaly International Academy, Wine2Wine Business Forum, 5Star Wines -the Book, kicked off the first day and the Wine2Wine Business forum with Federico Bricolo, president of Verona Fiere SpA, and Adolfo Rebughini, general manager of Verona Fiere.

This event was followed by the opening ceremonies, with speeches by authorities Federico Bricolo, Marco Peronaci, Italian Ambassador to the USA, Marco Rago, Legal Advisor, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Maurizio Muzzetta, President of Fiere Italiane USA LLC, Domenico Mauriello, Secretary General of Assocamerestero (Association of Italian Chambers of Commerce Abroad), Robert Allegrini, President of the National Italian American Foundation, Matteo Zoppas, President of the Italian Trade Agency as well as Francesco Lollobrigida, Minister of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty, and Forestry.

Speakers also included Luigi Scordamaglia, CEO of Filiera Italia; Giordano Emo Capodilista, Vice President of Confagricoltura; Tommaso Battista, President of Copagri; Carmelo Troccoli, National Director of the Campagna Amica Foundation; Marzia Varvaglione, President of the Comité Européen des Entreprises Vins, and Lamberto Frescobaldi, President of the Unione Italiana Vini. The masterclasses and the wine tastings that followed the opening were all interesting and with exceptional speakers.

Marco Sabellico, journalist and senior editor of Vini d’Italia, led a masterclass in rare wines. A sensory journey from Franciacorta to Calabria through small productions of extraordinary wines, almost impossible to taste all in one experience. The first was the San Cristoforo Celeste, a Franciacorta pas dose’, named after the couple’s daughter and made in limited quantities (of the one we tasted, only 1008 bottles had been made) in the best years only. Chardonnay grapes from 30-year-old vines matured 72 months on lees, elegant, full-bodied, rich, zesty, with a nice minerality. It was followed by Maso Martis Monsieur Martis, a Trento DOC Brut Rose Riserva 2020. A 100% Pinot Meunier from 25-year-old vines that spends 6 years on lees and constitutes one of the most elegant expressions of this grape.

Great creaminess, fruity, long-lasting, with a great acidic backbone. Then it was the turn of AM Project Fly Pinot Bianco 2023 from Alto Adige, one of my favorites, created by enologist Andrea Moser in an estate at 500 meters elevation just above Lake Caldaro. With enormous aging potential and an acidic backbone, it is clean, sharp, pure, and mineral. Hailing from Liguria, Ca du Ferra’ Zero Tolleranza per il Silenzio brings back the Ruzzese wine, popular during the Renaissance, and that is now of particular relevance because of its ability to withstand droughts.

Aromatic herbs, iodine, and salty notes remind us we are on the coast. We then tasted Ca’ Viola Langhe Chardonnay FiloSofia 2022, rich, elegant, with dynamic acidity and long lasting; Draga Miklus Collio Malvasia Miklus 2020, a macerated/orange wine that spends two weeks in open oak vats, is full bodied with a rich nose of lemon and orange peels and spices, notes of ripe fruits, dried apricots, soft, creamy, savory, mineral taste, with incredible persistence; Beppe Colla 2016 Barolo Riserva Bussia Dardi Le Rose dedicated to the loving memory of Beppe Colla, the first to make a cru Barolo in 1961; Emiliano Falsini 2023 Limite Cabernet Franc, 2000 bottles from 30-year old vines, intense, dense, with ripe tannins and a long enchanting finish; Tenuta del Travale 2021 Eleuteria Special Edition in Amphora, with a jasmine aroma, fine tannins, harmonious balance and elegance; lastly, Stefano Antonucci’s Cantine Santa Barbara 2023 Verdicchio Passito Lina, a production of 1500 bottles of hyper-concentrated tropical notes and an acidic backbone.

The Next Generation Panel and Tasting was moderated by Clive Pursehouse, North American Editor of Decanter magazine, and saw the presence of Marzia Varvaglione, Emanuela Fiore, Nicola Ermacora, Filomena Iacobucci, and Raffaele Gregu. Introduced by Clive Pursehouse, Michaela Morris led a Decanter Masterclass on Italy’s finest wines, best in show winners from the 2025 World Wine Awards. Best in Show is awarded only to the 0.3% of the entries, and the six we had the chance to taste were: Cantine Terlano (a cooperative reuniting 143 growers from this area characterized by Alpine and Mediterranean influences), 2023 Lunare Gewurztraminer.

Diego Morra, 2021 Barolo del Comune di Verduno, an MGA not as well-known as Monvigliero, thus a surprise win. Fratelli Serio & Battista Borgogno, 2019 Cannubi Barolo Riserva: Cannubi is a highly regarded MGA, indicated on bottles since the 1880s; here, Nebbiolo always ripens, and this wine shows refined, ample tannins with a succulent quality. Donnachiara, 2021 Taurasi: This is the first year a Taurasi has won Best in Show, and this noble grape overdelivers for the price it retails. Tenuta Meraviglia, 2020 Maestro di Cava Bolgheri Superiore: a 100% Cabernet Franc aged in larger casks, it shows great freshness and inner energy.

Donnafugata, 2023 Ben Rye Passito di Pantelleria: with a fermentation of 30-40 days, this wine is unctuous, intense, and persistent, with an extraordinary balance between freshness and sweetness. The last meeting I attended was entitled Beyond the decline with John Gillespie and Ryan Goydos, an interesting look at wine and spirit consumption - especially in the 21-39 year old public -and on how much of a role perception plays in alcohol consumption. The Chicago event also saw the presence of spirits and extra virgin olive oil tastings, and it also welcomed more than 2,200 trade professionals from the U.S., Canada, and Mexico - a 47% increase compared to 2024.

During the event, Wine Spectator also announced its 2026 OperaWine producer list, once again highlighting North America's central role and Italy's leadership in shaping the global wine market through innovation and identity. The 2-day event closed its doors, confirming the third edition for 2026, while Vinitaly in the world will have its next appointments in Japan, Serbia, Albania, and Thailand.