Green light for the new 98 million euro tender for wine promotion in foreign markets. For the first time this will be done digitally

Masaf has planned a digital tender for the upcoming 2025/26 campaign. For the first time, the procedure, from campaign design to project evaluation, will be managed through a digital platform (on Sian's portal), simplifying access for operators, as requested by unions. The wine sector will have a total of 98 million euros at its disposal, of which more than 22.5 million will be for the national tender and the rest for regional or multi-regional tenders.

The ministry wants to support a sector that has broken its export record with more than 8 billion euros by 2024. Francesco Lollobrigida, Minister of Agriculture, stressed that wine "is not an enemy" and has been part of our culture for thousands of years: "It is abuse that is harmful, not conscious consumption." Applications must be submitted by July 14.

Budgets and strategic markets

One of the novelties of the measure is the introduction of a detailed tariff schedule by expenditure item (76 have been identified), which must be used as the maximum expenditure parameter for preparing economic investment plans and submitting a single bid. This rule applies only to five strategic markets: the United States (where the issue of import duties is still pending), China, Canada, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. The requirement to submit three bids from foreign suppliers is effectively abolished. This was an issue that in previous years (campaigns 2023/24 and 2024/25) had led to protests from industry associations and sharp criticism of Minister Lollobrigida.

For all other markets, as in previous calls for tenders, three offers (in Italian or English) must be attached, which must always have been prepared by independent suppliers, but if it is not possible to have these documents, companies can submit at least one offer and a substitute declaration from a notarized document stating the impossibility of obtaining the other documents.

PHOTO PIWI WINES IN PIEMONTE FROM CESTE WINERY. This winery may also be competing for a share of the 98 million Euros. By the way, after posting Piwi wines article 842 views in one day, the day of the post.

SOURCE TEXT MATERIAL : Gambero Rosso - Journalist
Gianluca Atzeni