SCHEDULE

VINITALY.USA 2025

Disclaimer: The schedule is currently under development and may be subject to change. Updates will be provided in a timely manner.

October 5th

Women in Wine & Spirits

8:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. RPM Events, 317 N Clark St, Chicago

Women in Wine & Spirits Event

Now in its third year, this event brings together top women across the industry, this year in the form of a breakfast, roundtable, tasting and open networking, all in a celebratory and collaborative setting.

Please note that this event is Invite-Only; for questions, please email: Buyers@VinitalyUSA.com

Opening Remarks:

  1. Molly Matelski, Director of Buyer Relations, Programming and Partnerships, Fiere Italiane

  2. Erica Di Giovancarlo, Director, Italian Trade Agency

  3. Silvia Raffa, Managing Director, Italian American Chamber of Commerce Midwest

Roundtable Moderated by: Valeria Robecco, Journalist, Il Giornale; President, United Nations Correspondents Association (UNCA)

Panelists:

  1. Nadia Zenato, Owner, Zenato and Sansonina

  2. Lauren Buzzeo, Founder, Editor & Publisher, Full Pour Magazine

  3. Cindy Leonard, Executive Vice President, General Manager - Fine Wine, Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits

  4. Michelle Durpetti, Owner, Gene & Georgetti’s and Michelle Durpetti Events

Featured women producers:

  1. Nadia Zenato: Zenato Sparkling Lugana Brut, Zenato Ripassa Superiore; Zenato Academy feature

  2. Francesca Paladin, Export Manager: Bosco del Merlo Pinot Grigio Rosé and Prosecco Rosé, part of their "Life in Rosé" Campaign for Women

  3. Marina Cvetic, Masciarelli: Montepulciano d’Abruzzo DOC Riserva San Martino Rosso and Trebbiano d'Abruzzo DOC Riserva

Opening Ceremony

12.30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.

Tastin in Tune

3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

The Language of Wine and Music: Featuring Sardegna

An interactive Masterclass led by Serafin Alvarado, MS

Join Master Sommelier, Serafin Alvarado, for a one-of-a-kind tasting experience where the worlds of wine and music harmonize. Serafin reveals how balance, structure, and tone connect these two expressive art forms.

Experience the bold rhythm of Cannonau, the bright lyricism of its Rosé, the earthy cadence of Cagnulari, and the soulful depth of Carignano del Sulcis—each Sardinian wine a new movement in this multisensory symphony.

Friuli Masterclass

3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

October 6th

NextGen - Panel & Tasting

9:30 a.m - 11:00 a.m.

New Lens, New Leaders: Reframing the Next Chapter for Italian Wine and Spirits

An interactive tasting and conversation with Italy’s next generation of producers, blending tradition and fresh ideas to reveal how wine and spirits connect with today’s world.

Moderated by: Clive Pursehouse, Decanter US Editor

Opening remarks: Marzia Varvaglione, President of AGIVI and CEEV, (Association of Young Italian Wine Entrepreneurs and European Committee of Wine Companies)

Panelists:

  1. Emanuela Flore, Winemaker & General Manager, Botromagno - Gravina Bianco and the Nero di Troia

  2. Nicola Ermacora, Winemaker, Ermacora - Pignolo 2019

  3. Filomena Iacobucci, Co-Owner & Administration and Sales Director, Terre Stregate - Svelato Falanghina del Sannio DOP 2024

  4. Raffaele Gregu, Owner, Tenute Gregu - Pitraia Monogram Vermentino di Gallura DOCG

State of Industry Panel

11:30 a.m. - 12.30 p.m.

The Pulse: Data, Trade Voices, and What Comes Next

From Capitol Hill to the sales floor, this session blends data and trade insight to explore how the industry is addressing tariffs, adapting to consumer shifts, and tackling headwinds while identifying paths forward.

Panelists:

  1. Kaleigh Theriault, Director of Beverage Alcohol Thought Leadership, NielsenIQ

  2. Francis Creighton, President, WSWA (Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America)

  3. Chloë Schwartz, Vice President & Deputy Sales Manager, V.O.S. Selections

Decanter Masterclass

1:00 pm - 2:00 p.m.

Italy’s Finest Wines: The Best in Show winners from DWWA 2025

A Decanter Masterclass led by Michaela Morris, DipWSET IV

Join Michaela Morris—Decanter Judge and Regional Chair for Piedmont at the Decanter World Wine Awards—for an exclusive tasting of Italy’s finest reds, spotlighting the prestigious DWWA 2025 Best in Show winners, an accolade awarded to just 0.3% of wines entered worldwide. With an introduction by Clive Pursehouse, Decanter’s North American Editor, this masterclass offers a rare opportunity to experience six exceptional expressions from Piedmont to Sicily, each representing the pinnacle of Italian winemaking today.

  1. Cantina Terlano, Lunare Gewürztraminer, Alto Adige / Südtirol, Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol 2023

  2. Diego Morra, Del Comune Di Verduno, Barolo, Piedmont 2021

  3. Fratelli Serio & Battista Borgogno, Cannubi, Barolo Riserva, Piedmont 2019

  4. Donnachiara, Taurasi, Campania 2021

  5. Tenuta Meraviglia, Maestro Di Cava, Bolgheri Superiore, Tuscany 2020

  6. Donnafugata, Ben Ryé, Passito di Pantelleria, Sicily 2023

VinePair Workshop

3:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Glass Half Full: The Future of Wine in America → A VinePair Workshop for Building What’s Next

Join Adam Teeter and Joanna Sciarrino for a candid conversation exploring the future of wine in the U.S. They’ll unpack shifting consumer tastes, new market pressures, and the cultural and sales opportunities reshaping the industry. Drawing on insights from leading professionals, this session delivers fresh perspectives and actionable approaches to help the wine industry evolve and thrive in the years ahead.

Shared Pour: Where Wine & Spirits Meet

4:30 p.m. - 5:30/6:00 p.m.

A Wine + Spirits Crossover Panel + Tasting

Sommeliers and mixologists operate in the same spaces — but rarely on the same terms. This dynamic panel with opportunities for audience participation brings together top voices in wine and spirits to explore what both worlds can learn from each other. From crafting memorable guest experiences to building personal followings, the discussion reveals how the lines between the bar and the floor are blurring, and how today’s beverage professionals can evolve with them. It’s time to close the gap and start building a more unified beverage culture, together.

Moderated by Henna Bakshi, the panel will blend expert insight with real-world examples, offering tangible ideas for service teams, beverage directors, and hospitality leaders alike.

Facilitator: Henna Bakshi, Southeast Editor, Eater

Panelists:

  1. Serafin Alvarado, MS, Director of Wine Education, SGWS

  2. Daniel de Oliveira, Director of Education and Mixology, SGWS Illinois

  3. Ryan Manna, Freelance Wine Professional; FOH Coordinator at L’Artusi Supper Club

  4. Amy Racine, Beverage Director & Partner, JF Restaurants

Closing Party

5.30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.