The Consorzio Tutela Vini Delle Venezie DOC has announced that Pinot Grigio Delle Venezie DOC will be the Official Wine of the 2026 Giro d’Italia. This partnership extends across the full suite of RCS Sport cycling events, including the Giro d’Italia Women, the Giro-E, and the Giro Next Gen.
The agreement will be formally unveiled on April 13, 2026, at the Vinitaly exhibition in Verona. The sponsorship aims to use the international platform of the Corsa Rosa to showcase Italian winemaking regions to a global audience.
The partnership covers the following 2026 events:
- Giro d’Italia: May 8–31, 2026
- Giro-E: May 9–31, 2026
- Giro d’Italia Women: May 30 – June 7, 2026
- Giro Next Gen: June 14–21, 2026
The 109th edition of the Giro d’Italia is set to begin with a Grande Partenza in Bulgaria on May 8, 2026, marking the first time the race has visited the country. With a projected global audience of more than 650 million viewers across 200 countries, the event provides a significant international stage for the Italian white wine.
Luca Rigotti, President of the Delle Venezie DOC Consortium, said “By sponsoring the Giro d’Italia, a major cycling event that is the epitome of our country, we will officially bring Pinot Grigio Delle Venezie DOC into a narrative that unites sport, territory, community and lifestyle, consolidating our role as ambassadors of an authentic and contemporary Italian spirit.”
He added “We believe that this initiative is a choice driven by vision and a desire to promote our heritage, an opportunity to create and strengthen synergies and dialogue at multiple levels with consumers, the media, institutions and local stakeholders.”
The wine-making consortium plans to highlight the specific regions of origin for the wine – including Veneto, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, and the autonomous province of Trento – throughout the various stages of the race. The initiative aligns with the recent recognition of Italian cuisine as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage.
Matteo Mursia, Chief Revenue Officer at RCS Sports & Events, said “We are proud to welcome Pinot Grigio Delle Venezie DOC as the Official Wine of our three Grand Tours – men’s, women’s and youth – a partnership that perfectly highlights the convergence of sport, passion, local heritage and culture.”
Established in 2017, the Consorzio Tutela Vino Delle Venezie DOC represents a production area of 27,000 hectares. It currently accounts for 85% of Italian Pinot Grigio and approximately 43% of global production, with an annual output of 230 million bottles.
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