On October 24 and 25, the second edition of Borgo Eccellenze Vinicole Italiane brings together wineries selected by Luca Gardini, masterclasses, tastings and a programme of events throughout Sansepolcro’s historic centre. One of its key ambitions is to shine a spotlight on the Valtiberina as an emerging wine-producing region.
Sansepolcro is preparing to welcome the second edition of B.E.V.I. – Borgo Eccellenze Vinicole Italiane, taking place on Saturday, October 24 and Sunday, October 25, 2026. Following its debut last year, the event returns with a more extensive format, combining wine tastings with a programme designed to create closer connections between wine, the town and its surrounding territory.
At the heart of the event will be a selection of Italian wineries curated by wine critic and sommelier Luca Gardini, featuring producers and wines from different regions across Italy.
One of the most interesting aspects of the 2026 edition will be its connection with Sansepolcro and the Upper Tiber Valley, spanning Tuscany and Umbria. Wine will serve not only as the focus of the tastings but also as a way of telling the story of a territory, its local activities and a winemaking heritage that remains relatively unfamiliar to the wider public.
B.E.V.I. Takes Over the Historic Centre
The main innovation comes on Saturday, October 24, when the event will spread across the streets, historic buildings, restaurants and cultural venues of Sansepolcro’s old town. The day will begin at 11 a.m. with the official opening ceremony at the Logge di Palazzo delle Laudi. From noon until 8 p.m., “B.E.V.I. in città” will bring producers, tastings, exhibitions, talks and music to Via XX Settembre and the Logge di Palazzo delle Laudi.
The programme brings wine together with different forms of artistic expression and a variety of venues, from Aperitivo con l’artista (Aperitif with the Artist) at Palazzo Pretorio to live painting, a photography exhibition at the Municipal Library and a series of talks exploring the world of wine.
Local restaurants will also play an active role through “B.E.V.I. a Tavola”. Participating venues will welcome wine producers and offer dishes and aperitifs specifically paired with their wines. The initiative aims to move beyond the traditional model of a wine event centred exclusively on tasting stands, making the historic centre an integral part of the experience.
The day will continue with opportunities to meet producers, aperitifs and dinners at local restaurants, followed by Jazz Night at the Teatro della Misericordia and the B.E.V.I. After Party in the Town Hall Cloister.
Tommaso Inghirami and the Vision of a Wine-Producing Valtiberina
The event’s connection with the local area is also reflected in the involvement of Tommaso Inghirami, one of the driving forces behind B.E.V.I.
Originally from the Valtiberina and already active in the wine industry through Fattoria di Grignano, in the hills around Florence, Inghirami has chosen in recent years to reinvest in his homeland, embarking on a project to restore and enhance old vineyards, some of which are more than fifty years old.
His personal initiative is closely linked to one of the event’s wider ambitions: drawing greater attention to the Valtiberina as a wine-producing area, creating connections between local winemaking experiences and producers from other parts of Italy.
Five Valtiberina wineries will represent the territory through their wines at the 2026 edition. The area encompasses Sansepolcro, San Giustino, Caprese Michelangelo and Anghiari, along the border between Tuscany and Umbria, where altitude, the Apennine climate, agricultural traditions and new entrepreneurial projects are generating growing interest in viticulture.
Rather than suggesting that the Valtiberina already possesses a fully established wine identity, it will be interesting to see how these different winemaking ventures contribute to shaping a shared regional profile. In this process, B.E.V.I. offers the Valtiberina an opportunity to gain visibility and tell its story, bringing it into dialogue with other established and emerging players in the Italian wine scene.
Three Masterclasses with Luca Gardini and Cristiano Cini
Alongside the events taking place throughout the town, Saturday afternoon will offer an opportunity for more in-depth exploration through three masterclasses at the Auditorium Santa Chiara, led by Luca Gardini and Cristiano Cini.
The programme begins at 3 p.m. with a vertical tasting of Civettaja, followed at 4:30 p.m. by “Nebbiolo vs Sangiovese”, a comparison of two of Italy’s most iconic grape varieties. The final session, at 6 p.m., will feature a vertical tasting of Guado al Tasso.
Sunday: Wine Tasting Takes Centre Stage
On Sunday, October 25, the event will shift its focus more directly to wine tasting. From noon until 8 p.m., the Borgo Palace Hotel in Sansepolcro will host the wineries selected by Luca Gardini.
The day will offer wine lovers, sommeliers, restaurant and hospitality professionals, buyers and specialist media the opportunity to meet producers in person, discover wine regions and appellations, and explore the diverse expressions of Italian wine showcased at the event.
The second edition of B.E.V.I. therefore appears to be pursuing a dual objective: on the one hand, encouraging encounters with producers from different Italian wine regions; on the other, developing a broader narrative around Sansepolcro and the Valtiberina, using wine as a starting point to explore a territory whose identity extends well beyond the glass.
Wining.it will be in Sansepolcro to cover B.E.V.I. firsthand. Following the event, we will share our impressions of the 2026 edition, highlighting encounters with producers and some of the most interesting wines tasted along the way.
