Italian wines took center stage during the Italy South Africa Agriculture Business Forum in Cape Town, where institutional dialogue, business engagement and wine culture came together to strengthen ties between Italy and one of Africa's most strategic markets.
CAPE TOWN, South Africa, June 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The day began with an Institutional Business Forum and B2B meetings at The Westin Cape Town, bringing together public officials, companies and trade representatives from both countries. The initiative took place in the presence of Italy's Minister of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forests, Francesco Lollobrigida, and South Africa's Minister of Agriculture, John Steenhuisen, Federico Bricolo, President of Veronafiere, and Matteo Zoppas, President of ITA, the Italian Trade Agency.
In the afternoon, ITA, in collaboration with Vinitali, hosted the masterclass “Thirteen Italian Estates, Two Masters of Wine” at the Idiom Wine Restaurant, Da Capo Vineyards. Attended by approximately 50 selected operators from the agribusiness, trade, hospitality and media sectors, the masterclass positioned Italian wines as an important part of the wider Made in Italy strategy for South Africa and the African continent.
matteo zoppasThe ITA President underlined the importance of structured cooperation between the two countries, noting that the agreement signed with the South African counterpart was designed “To launch activities supporting the development and mutual promotion of Made in ItalyWithin this framework, he emphasized the strategic value of Vinital's presence, describing it as “The brand that helps people understand the power of Italian wine and the work it does to promote it internationally“
Led by Richard Kershaw MW and Andrea Lonardi MW, the masterclass presented thirteen Italian wine estates from Northern Italy to the South and the Islands, providing South African and African business professionals a focused overview of Italy's regional diversity, stylistic range and commercial potential.
Richard Kershaw MW presented Bottega's wines in the presence of Stefano Bottega; Bosco del Merlo, in the presence of Martina Paladin; Bride di Giacomo Bologna, with the presence of Giacomo Bologna; Gratamacco; Maschiarelli, in the presence of Natalino Colantonio; And Donnafugata. Andrea Lonardi MW presented wines from Bellavista, Sella & Mosca, Poggio al Tesoro, Cottonera, Petra, San Polo and Villa Della Torre.
For Lonardi, the tasting was an opportunity to communicate more than individual labels. The aim, he said, was to showcase the wine's “Italian soul and character”, as well as demonstrate its potential in a market that is entrenched in wine culture and increasingly relevant for future growth. South Africa can open up new opportunities for Italian wines, he said, especially when Italian regions are presented with clarity, context and ambition.
