After the postponements and cancellations of the 2020 edition, caused by the ongoing pandemic, the Merano WineFestival is finally returning in person. Its 30th edition will take place from November 5 to 9 in the elegant halls of the Kurhaus, at Corso della Libertà 37.
We are talking about one of the most important events in the food and wine world, and in wine in particular, held in Italy. This year it celebrates the 30th anniversary of its activity and enjoys a well-established international reputation. The event regularly hosts some of the most prestigious Bordeaux wine producers and the most renowned Champagne houses.
Helmut Köcher is the director and founder of the festival, as well as the creator of the various events that take place within it. Organized by Gourmet’s International, the program includes guided visits, tastings and award ceremonies.
The most important event is The WineHunter Award, the official prize of the Merano WineFestival, whose tasting commissions select each year the best wines and gastronomic products that will be presented to participants at the Merano WineFestival and included in the WineHunter Guide.
The guide is based on approximately 7,000 wines tasted, of which 3,100 receive awards, along with more than 500 food products evaluated, of which 380 are awarded, divided into the categories Food, Spirits and Beer.
The guide is available free online at award.winehunter.it.
The award is assigned to both national and international products that, after careful evaluation, achieve a minimum score of 90 points out of 100. It is divided into three score levels: Award Red (90–92.99 points), Award Gold (93–95.99 points), Award Platinum (96 points).
Within the four days of the festival there will also be “Naturae et Purae – Bio & Dynamica”, an event dedicated to the tasting of natural and organic wines, a trend that is increasingly gaining momentum in the wine sector. Another highlight will be “Catwalk Champagne”, which on the closing day of the Merano WineFestival will present labels from some of the finest Champagne houses, paired with selected gastronomic products.
Before Covid-19 disrupted schedules and events — and, more broadly, our daily lives — the Merano Wine Festival usually took place at a time and location not too far from Vinitaly (probably the largest wine event held in Italy) and in some ways represented its counterpart.
If Vinitaly is strongly focused on the commercial side of the wine industry, primarily aimed at major distributors and international wine buyers, the Merano WineFestival is instead dedicated to research and the promotion of producers, including niche wineries of exceptional quality.
In short, it is an event designed for those who, beyond simply being wine lovers, have the passion and curiosity to taste, study and deeply explore the excellence of the wine and gastronomy world.
It is with this spirit that we prepare to take part in the festival, with the passion and desire to explore new and carefully selected wine producers (and more), and to see whether the quality of the most established brands will once again be confirmed. And we invite all those who follow us to do the same!
