CHICAGO — For almost 60 years, the Vinitaly brand has been organizing a premiere event experience for professionals in the wine supply chain from around the world. While Vinitaly had traditionally held its trade show in Verona, last year was the first time the event ventured to the U.S., when hundreds of exhibitors and buyers congregated in Chicago’s Navy Pier.
This year, Vinitaly.USA is returning to the venue on Oct. 5–6, which, according to the show’s Director of Buyer Relations, Programming and Partnerships, Molly Matelski, is the ideal location.
“One of the big reasons that we wanted to come to the United States was because not all of our buyers could attend Vinitaly every year,” she said. “Chicago is a very easy hub to get to, and, of course, a key global city. There’s an incredible food and beverage scene, so we also wanted to bring an experience to Chicago.”
The Vinitaly.USA Experience
To give attendees an experience that rivals the previous Verona iterations, Vinitaly.USA will be adding its wine2wine Vinitaly Business Forum feature to the show this year, marking its first edition in the U.S. This combination of Italian wine, trade and thought leadership serves as a hub for strategic conversations and industry insights that facilitate new opportunities among international wine industry colleagues.
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“We wanted to incorporate this element because Vinitaly.USA isn’t just a showcase — it’s a platform for shaping the future of Italian wine in the U.S. and North American markets,” Matelski said. “The wine2wine forum allows us to elevate critical conversations around pricing, policy, generational shifts, market access and innovation. These are the kinds of discussions that matter most to importers, distributors, buyers, producers and trade executives navigating a rapidly changing landscape.”
Another new feature being introduced to Vinitaly.USA to foster conversation is Vinitaly Tourism, an event which is centered on the intersection of wine and travel — an experiential combination that Italy is well-known for.
“By incorporating Vinitaly Tourism into the show, we’re expanding the conversation beyond bottles and SKUs into storytelling, terroir and the full consumer experience. It’s a chance to spotlight how Italian producers, regions and cultural institutions are investing in hospitality and wine-driven travel, and how the U.S. market can tap into that — whether through curated trips, partnerships or immersive programming,” Matelski said. “It’s also a strategic bridge between industries — connecting the dots between wine, food, travel and culture, and showing how Italian wine is not just a product, but a passport to Italy.”
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But Vinitaly.USA is not just about wine this year: Another feature being introduced to the show is SOLEXPO, where Italy’s finest olive oils will be celebrated through tastings and education.
“Italian olive oil shares many of the same values as Italian wine: regional identity, artisanal production and centuries-old traditions that continue to evolve,” Matelski said. “For buyers, chefs, sommeliers and retailers, this is an opportunity to explore the diversity of Italian extra virgin olive oils — understanding their flavor profiles, pairings and the role they can play in building a more authentic, elevated Italian offering.”
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