The Rome Wine Expo, held February 28 to March 1, 2026, at Rome’s Westin Excelsior, brought global wine cultures together. Far beyond Italian borders, it celebrated diverse terroirs, with a standout international focus on Georgia’s ancient winemaking—proving wine’s power to bridge continents.
Italy’s patchwork landscapes shone through tastings of alpine reds and Tuscan classics, exemplifying terroir-driven excellence.
Spotlight on Imereti’s Georgian Gems
A highlight was the masterclass “Georgian Wine: Between Qvevris and Ancient Traditions” (Feb 28, 4:30 PM), dedicated to Imereti region’s wines. This fertile western Georgian area, centered in Kutaisi, features unique qvevri-fermented whites like Tsolikauri from producers such as Gvinovani and Phersvli Winery. These earthy, amber-hued wines evoke 8,000 years of buried-vessel traditions. For deeper immersion, fly direct from Rome to Kutaisi (about 4 hours) and taste on-site amid Imereti’s vineyards.
Other key sessions:
– Feb 28, 2:00 PM: “The Great Red Wines of Alto Adige” by Marco Cum and Saula Giusto.
– March 1: Alto Adige whites (2:00 PM) and Tuscan Sangiovese (5:00 PM).
The expo closed with awards, uniting Italian mastery and Georgian heritage in a global toast.
