The 5StarWines
5StarWines & Wine Without Walls is the annual event organized by Veronafiere to provide Italian and international wine producers the opportunity to be evaluated by a jury of international experts and selected for publication in the guide 5StarWines – the Book, distributed widely across the global wine industry. The eighth edition of 5StarWines & Wine Without Walls took place from 9-11 April 2024, in the days preceding Vinitaly 2024, the prominent wine trade fair held in Verona, Italy. As always, following three days of blind tastings, the producers whose wines obtained an evaluation of at least 90/100 were included in 5StarWines – the Book 2025.
The Guide is usually not for sale, it is sent to the main buyers and follows VeronaFiere in many events, in Italy and abroad. What is new this year is that 5StarWines – the Book 2025 is now available online for anyone who wants to discover the 884 top-scoring wines, and a paperback version is now also available to buy on Amazon. The book represents some of the very best wines from across Italy, with a dedicated section for quality organic and bio-dynamic wines.
The content
The publication of 5StarWines – the Book reflects the ongoing commitment of VeronaFiere and VinItaly in supporting the sector on the path to improving quality and positioning. And the numbers of this eighth edition reflect the continuing interest on the part of the sector. To evaluate the 2366 samples offered by more than 600 wineries, a panel of over 60 judges, including Masters of Wine, Master Sommeliers, sommeliers, bloggers and trade journalists, was selected from all over the world. All this effort culminates in the publication of 5StarWines – the Book. A simple yet effective guidebook that puts the producers and their wines at center stage. A profile of the wine, the number of points received, the winery, and, above all, the tasting notes written in English by an expert panel of international judges.
Out of the participating wines, 884 achieved a score of 90 or more and are featured in the Guide. Among these were 206 wines from the Wine Without Walls, the section dedicated to certified organic and/or bio dynamic wines. The Selection includes 19 special trophies awarded wines and companies that achieve outstanding scores in their category. The winner of the ‘Winery of the Year – Grand Vinitaly’ Trophy is Magnotta Winery Corp, while the ‘Best Italian Wine – Banco BPM’ Trophy goes to Agricola Gian Piero Marrone. For the “green” section of the Selection, the winery selected for top honors is Fattoria La Vialla di Gianni, Antonio e Bandino Lo Franco. The full list of Trophies and selected wines is available on the event website.
The significance of 5StarWines – the book
The book aims to put the selected companies directly in contact with professionals across the wine industry, an important opportunity for small and medium-sized wineries to increase their visibility on the international stage. Federico Bricolo, President of Veronafiere, underlines the significance of the publication: “5StarWines – the Book is an invaluable communication and promotional tool, starting with the essential production features and presenting the best quality products that represent individual wineries. […] A showcase by and for producers, it is part of a targeted promotional effort aimed at both a national and international audience. With a constant focus on quality, we strive to deliver a virtuous mechanism of growth and business opportunities for the entire world of wine.”
The book represents one of several promotional activities especially tailored to the high-scoring wineries and their products. Andrea Lonardi MW, founder of AL Cultivating Legacy, explained the value of the Guide: “Working in collaboration with a high-level international tasting panel, like that of 5StarWines – the Book, makes it even more of a growth opportunity, thanks to the invaluable feedback and constant dialogue with esteemed colleagues. Observing, reading, and checking the provisional panel tastings allows one to understand the different angles of analysis and the gaps that Italian wine must consider at a production, stylistic and communicative level, all in an international context.”
