Vinitaly ended just a few days ago and the rhythm of the fair gives way to that of the countryside. We return to Vinci, continuing the work in the vineyard and cellar. But something has shifted. Every edition of Vinitaly brings with it encounters, conversations and ideas that turn into concrete plans over the following months.
The 2026 edition was no exception. Four days in Verona, dozens of meetings with importers, distributors, restaurateurs, journalists and wine enthusiasts from across the world. An opportunity to present the wines of the new vintage, strengthen existing relationships and open new ones.
Four Days Away from the Cellar, with the Vineyard in the Glass
Vinitaly is the moment when an entire year’s work is concentrated into a few days. The bottles uncorked at the stand tell the story of months of effort in the vineyard and cellar: winter pruning, organic vineyard management, winemaking choices, ageing.
For Villa Dianella, Vinitaly is never a simple exhibition. It is a moment of direct dialogue with those who work in the industry and those who choose, sell and communicate wine. Every glass poured at the stand is an opportunity to explain what lies behind it: the blue clay terroir, the Vinci Formation, organic viticulture, the decision to reintroduce the traditional capovolto training system on selected plots.
This year the interest in these aspects was particularly strong. More and more professionals and enthusiasts want to understand not only what is in the glass, but how it got there. The story of the territory, the geology, the working method is no longer a detail — it is an integral part of the wine’s value.
The Encounters: Established Clients and New Collaborations
The most important part of Vinitaly remains the one that does not appear in photographs: the conversations.
This year we met many of our longstanding importers and distributors, taking stock of the current season and the outlook for the months ahead. These exchanges are invaluable because they reveal how Dianella wines are perceived across different markets, which labels perform best and where there is room for growth.
Alongside these established relationships, new channels opened up. Several international operators expressed interest in our wines, drawn by the combination of quality, territory and organic certification. The American market and Northern Europe in particular continue to seek Italian producers with an authentic story to tell and a sustainable approach to viticulture.
The dialogue with Italian restaurateurs and sommeliers was equally positive. Chianti Dianella, Il Matto and Orpicchio received attention and appreciation, confirming the work invested over recent years.
The Wines That Took Centre Stage at the 2026 Edition
All the wines in the Dianella portfolio were tasted at the stand this year, but some attracted particular attention.
Il Matto, our pure Sangiovese aged in French oak barrels, confirmed its role as the flagship of the estate’s production. It is a wine that immediately communicates complexity and character, and at Vinitaly it always finds attentive listeners.
Orpicchio, produced from grapes grown in a small plot of this Trebbiano biotype, continues to arouse curiosity for its commitment to rediscovering old biotypes and enhancing their value. The story of the vineyard planted in 2010, after reselecting clones from an old Trebbiano vineyard already present on the estate, is one that strikes a chord every time.
Sereno e Nuvole, our Vermentino, and All’Aria Aperta, our Sangiovese rosé, also received excellent feedback, particularly from those seeking fresh, versatile wines for restaurant lists.
Prospects for the New Season
Vinitaly traditionally marks the start of the active season for Villa Dianella. Easter brought the reopening of the resort, the Bistrot delle Scuderie has returned to full service and cellar tastings have resumed on a regular basis.
The months ahead will be busy. The 2026 season opens with several developments on the horizon.
On the hospitality front, the wine resort is ready to welcome guests in its twelve suites across the villa and the stables, with the panoramic pool, breakfast in the garden and all the experiences that make a stay at Dianella something quite different from a simple hotel night.
On the experience front, we are working on new offerings that will bring guests directly into the vineyard: a walk among the vine rows with tasting, a brunch in the vineyard and a picnic with hamper among the vines. These will complement the cellar tastings, cooking classes, cooking show, private dinners and truffle hunting, completing a programme that aims to tell the story of Tuscany through all the senses.
On the wine front, the bottles we presented at Vinitaly will reach tables in Italy and around the world. The new contacts established at the fair will, we hope, become lasting collaborations. Work in the vineyard continues with the same care as ever: organic, attentive, respectful of the rhythms of the plant and the soil.
After the Fair: The Value of Coming Home
There is a precise moment when Vinitaly truly ends. It is not when the stand is dismantled and the crates are loaded. It is when you walk back into the cellar, open the door and find the silence of the barrels again. The contrast with the noise of the fair is stark.
But it is precisely in that silence that the real work begins again. Handshakes become emails, tastings become orders, conversations become projects. Vinitaly is not a destination — it is a starting point.
For Villa Dianella, the 2026 edition was another confirmation: the wines speak for themselves, the territory convinces, and the story of the Passerin d’Entrèves family and this Medicean villa among the hills of Vinci continues to intrigue and move those who discover it for the first time.
Now we return to work. The season has only just begun and there is much to do. But we set off again with the knowledge that we are on the right path.
