Vitae International 2027: the AIS guide to Italian wine is presented in London
On 3 November, at 67 Pall Mall in London, the Associazione Italiana Sommelier presented Vitae International 2027 to the international press and the wine trade. It is the second international edition of the Vitae guide: published entirely in English and in digital format, it is designed for journalists and wine professionals around the world. The next date is 14 November in Florence.
AIS was represented by Andrea Dani, who edited the international edition together with Gian Luca Grimani. He told British journalists, sommeliers and wine educators how the guide comes together and what makes it distinctive: the work of people who know the wineries and their terroirs first-hand, region by region.
Vitae International 2027 in numbers
- 400 selected wines, all scoring at least 90 points
- 4 selections of one hundred wines each
- 11,399 wines tasted blind
- 2,417 wineries
- 1,000+ sommeliers and contributors
- 147 AIS delegations across Italy
A guide for those who write about, buy and sell Italian wine
The international edition meets a clear need: to give buyers, the specialist press, restaurateurs and wine lovers worldwide an immediate, accessible tool for finding their way through Italian wine. That is why it is in English, it is digital, and it is free of charge for wine professionals.
Behind it is an association that has been training sommeliers in Italy for more than sixty years and that, through its 147 local delegations, follows every wine region at close hand. It is this nationwide presence that gives the guide its perspective.
Four selections, four pathways
The 400 wines are divided into four selections of one hundred. Each offers a different perspective on the quality and diversity of Italian wine, providing guidance that goes beyond scores alone. The full lists, region by region, are in the dedicated articles (in Italian).
- 100 Great Wines100 Grandi ViniThe benchmark labels of Italian wine.See the list →
- 100 Terroir Wines100 Vini di TerritorioThe most faithful expressions of their places of origin.See the list →
- 100 Revelation Wines100 Vini RivelazioneThe new names in Italian wine, waiting to be discovered.See the list →
- 100 Value Wines100 Vini ValoreOpportunities for discovery, balancing quality and price.See the list →
All 400 wines are also listed on the page of the walk-around tasting of the 400 wines, which includes a search by wine, producer or appellation.
A blind-tasting method
All tastings are carried out blind by the panels of the AIS regional associations, so that each assessment rests solely on the characteristics of the wine, uninfluenced by the reputation of the producer or the label. More than 1,000 sommeliers and contributors work on the guide, bringing their direct knowledge of the wineries and wine regions in their own areas.
“With this guide, we are taking the true uniqueness of our method abroad. The strength of Vitae lies in its immense, far-reaching work: the synthesis of the expertise of thousands of professional sommeliers who live and breathe every single terroir. This is the depth of insight we want to offer international buyers and the press.”
Sandro Camilli, National President of AIS
The guests at 67 Pall Mall
Guests at the presentation included some of the most respected writers and professionals on the British wine scene:
- Giles Fallowfield, The Drinks Business
- Peter McCombie MW, Imbibe
- Robin Lee, The World of Fine Wine
- Justin Keay, The Buyer and Harpers Wine & Spirit
- Cong Cong Bo, TimAtkin.com
- Richard Esling, Sussex Express
- Luisa Welch, Euposia
- David Way, Winefriend.org
- Graham Cox, West London Wine School
- Vincenzo Arnese, Berkmann Wine Cellars
- Leandro Pellegrinello, Matteo’s at Annabel’s
- Valerio Vallani, The Fife Arms
How to receive the guide
Vitae International 2027 is reserved for people who work with Italian wine: journalists, buyers, importers, distributors and restaurateurs. To receive a PDF copy, please fill in the short form below.
Next date: Saturday 14 November in Florence
After London, Vitae 2027 will be presented in Italy with a day open to everyone, whether or not they are AIS members. At the Stazione Leopolda in Florence, the 400 wines from the four selections will be poured at the tasting tables, alongside the wineries that produce them.
Vitae in deguSTAZIONE
- WhenSaturday 14 November 2026, from 10:30 am to 7:30 pm
- WhereStazione Leopolda, Viale Fratelli Rosselli 5, Florence
- ProgrammeAt 11:00 am, the final of the Miglior Sommelier d’Italia – Premio Trentodoc, the competition for Italy’s Best Sommelier; from 2:30 pm, the presentation of the guide, including the Bonaventura Maschio Award ceremony
- TicketsAdvance tickets: €25 for AIS members, €40 for non-members. At the door: €40 for AIS members, €60 for non-members
Full programme of the day · Buy your ticket on the AIS Store (in Italian)