After 60 years of the distinguished Vitae wine guide, created by the Italian Sommelier Association (AIS), the association has launched its first English edition, reaching an international audience eager for Italian wines. The launch took place on November 15 at Florence’s Stazione Leopolda. The event brought together more than 300 producers, journalists, and industry professionals to celebrate a new chapter for one of Italy’s most respected wine publications.

This Vitae wine guide 2026 English edition is clearly designed for an international audience and is available online, making it accessible to wine professionals, journalists, and enthusiasts worldwide. It provides a comprehensive guide to Italy’s rich and diverse wine landscape, allowing readers to explore key regions, discover both iconic labels and emerging producers, and better understand the complexity and variety that make Italian wines so unique. Whether used as a practical reference for buying, serving, or writing about wine, Vitae International 2026 brings the depth and expertise of Italian sommeliers straight to the global audience, bridging the gap between local knowledge and international curiosity.

The English edition follows the same rigorous methodology as the Italian guide. The regional AIS commissions taste each wine blind, evaluate it on a 100-point scale, and mark it with the association’s signature “vines” visual symbols, paying close attention to the vintage. For this edition, the guide features a curated selection of 400 wines, organized into four key categories:

• 100 Great Wines: iconic labels recognized for quality and prestige.
• 100 Best Territorial Wines: expressions that capture the identity and character of Italy’s diverse regions.
• 100 Innovative / Discovery Wines: new labels, bold interpretations, and emerging territories.
• 100 Value for Money Wines: high-quality wines that prove excellence can be accessible.

Beyond the selections, the guide includes practical information: icons indicate whether the wineries can be visited, whether they sell directly, or whether they produce extra virgin olive oil, details that enrich the experience.

Through this international edition, AIS, Italy’s largest network of wine professionals, is expanding its mission to promote independent, high-quality knowledge of Italian wine across different cultures worldwide, offering a more complete view of this exquisite elixir.