Vinitaly 2026: A renewed partnership looking to the future of the Italian wine sector
Tuesday 07 April 2026
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UniCredit and Vinitaly—the leading trade event dedicated to the Italian wine sector and its key players—have renewed their long-standing collaboration for 2026. Every year, this partnership continues to offer meaningful initiatives and concrete opportunities for the industry, while keeping a close eye on present challenges and future possibilities.
A complex scenario that calls for vision and targeted support
The 2025 crop year again showed the increasingly extreme weather conditions facing the Italian agricultural sector: unusual temperatures in the first months of the year, a record hot June, and – as noted by the trade press – the second-worst year for extreme weather events in the last decade, with 376 episodes (+5.9% compared to 2024).
Excessive rainfall in the North and drought in the South reduced harvest volumes, although final quality remained good in many cases.
Simultaneously, Italian wine businesses must regularly adjust their strategies, business models, and approach to international markets amidst an ever-evolving geopolitical context.
UniCredit's commitment: solutions, skills, and support for businesses
In response to these challenges, UniCredit has renewed – both in form and in content – its dedicated offering, providing companies in the wine sector with a wide set of financial solutions to support investment, innovation, and growth.
Thanks to the Agribusiness Specialist Structure, made up of over 200 professionals across Italy, the Bank works closely with businesses, understanding their specific needs and guiding them on a development path that includes:
• investments in advanced technologies and digitalisation
• initiatives focused on sustainability and environmental impact reduction
• support access to and effective use of opportunities offered by Italy’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP) funds
NRRP, together with the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and the Rural Development Programme, is now a key driver to accelerate the sector’s transformation. UniCredit provides dedicated tools – from bank guarantees to take part in public tenders, to leasing for purchasing machinery and equipment – with the goal of developing an increasingly competitive and sustainable wine supply chain.
Workshop, April 14, 2026 at 10:30 AM – “Wine Tourism: Development opportunities for businesses and local areas”
As part of the 2026 programme, UniCredit and Vinitaly dedicate an important event to wine tourism, a fast‑growing trend and a strategic resource for the future of wine companies and local areas.
The workshop will open with the presentation of the latest edition of the Nomisma Wine Monitor, a report developed in partnership with UniCredit and Vinitaly, in collaboration with the Associazione Nazionale Città del Vino.
The report analyses:
• the value generated by wine tourism in Italy
• the role of wine tourism in supporting and developing the national wine supply chain
• demand trends and growth prospects, based on an original survey of companies in the sector
A round table will follow with leading figures from the wine world—entrepreneurs and experts—who will share practical examples of initiatives adopted over the years to successfully meet wine‑tourism demand: from immersive experiences in wineries to cultural, food, and nature itineraries, to new models of hospitality and ways to promote local territories.
This event is designed to offer tools, insights, and best practices to all companies wishing to invest in a segment expected to grow and play an increasingly central role in Italy’s wine system.
"The wine sector and tourism represent a fundamental pillar for the country's competitiveness, especially at a time marked by climatic and geopolitical challenges that require strategic vision and targeted actions. With our Agribusiness division and the renewed 'One4Wine' offering, UniCredit supports companies in the sector through solutions dedicated to investment, innovation, and sustainability. In 2025, we disbursed over 300 million euros in new credit to the supply chain, an increase of more than 35% compared to the previous year, confirming our role as a reliable partner for producers and local areas. We also pay particular attention to the development of wine tourism, a driver of value and identity capable of generating widespread growth and strengthening the bond between businesses and local communities."
Remo Taricani, Deputy Head of Italy, UniCredit Italy