WINE SPECTATOR ANNOUNCES EXPANDED COVERAGE MAJOR RESHUFFLE OF ITALIAN WINE TASTING RESPONSIBILITIES AT OPERAWINE GATHERING IN VERONA

Alison Napjus unveils new regional assignments for Bruce Sanderson, Larry Rubin and herself, marking a focused significant change in the magazine's coverage of Italian wine reporting and reviews. The announcement comes as Wine Spectator and Vinitaly reaffirm a partnership dating back to 2012, ahead of the 16th edition of OperaWine in April 2027.

VERONA, Italy, Nov. 12, 2026 — A significant change is underway in how Italian wines will be reviewed by Wine Spectator is dedicating additional resources and personnel to their review of Italian wines. During a special OperaWine luncheon attended by approximately 80 Italian wine producers at Veronafiere today, Alison Napjus, Senior Editor and Tasting Director of Wine Spectator, announced explained the new division of responsibilities to the magazine's Italian wine review. a major realignment of the magazine's Italian wine tasting responsibilities.

The new assignments represent an evolution evolitiona substantial departure from the previous regional division among the magazine's critics, a development reflecting Wine Spectator's dedication to the Italian wine category and with important implications for Italian wineries, importers, distributors and wine professionals, particularly in the United States. Wine Spectator's editorial coverage of Italy is organized by dividing the country into distinct regional "beats" assigned to dedicated Senior Editors. These editors act as the lead tasters for their respective regions, providing consistency and long-term expertise in their evaluations. By maintaining the same editors on the same regional beats year after year, Wine Spectator aims to ensure that historical track records, vintage transitions, and regional evolutions are tracked with a consistent critical eye.

At the heart of the announcement is a new distribution of responsibilities among three Wine Spectator tasters: 

Wine Spectator's New Italian Wine Tasting Assignments 

Bruce Sanderson, Senior Editor, will cover: 

Brunello di Montalcino 

Chianti Classico 

Alison Napjus, Senior Editor and Tasting Director, will cover: 

Piedmont 

Tuscany (excluding Brunello di Montalcino and Chianti Classico) 

Abruzzo, Basilicata, Calabria, Campania, Lazio, Marche, Molise, Puglia, Sardinia, Sicily and Umbria 

Italian sparkling wines 

Larry Rubin, Associate Tasting Coordinator, will cover: 

Emilia-Romagna 

Friuli-Venezia Giulia 

Liguria 

Lombardy 

Trentino-Alto Adige 

Valle d'Aosta 

Veneto 

The reassignment is more than an internal editorial adjustment. Wine Spectator's ratings and reviews are closely followed by wine professionals and consumers worldwide, with particular relevance in the American market. The identity of the critic responsible for a given appellation or region impacts the education and messaging about the denomination to international audiences, can influencinge how producers approach tastings, understand critical evaluations and communicate their wines to international audiences. 

For Italian wine producers, knowing who will be reviewing their wines is therefore a matter of considerable professional and commercial interest. 

"The breadth and depth of Italy's wines merits significant attention for any wine loverItaly is one of the most fascinating and diverse wine countries in the world, and our responsibility is to reflect that diversity with the attention and expertise it deserves," said Alison Napjus, Senior Editor and Tasting Director of Wine Spectator. "These new assignments allow Wine Spectator to pursue our core mission, to educate consumers, communicating represent an important evolution in how we approach Italian wine. Our goal remains unchanged: to provide independent, consistent and authoritative reviews backed by content that helps them towhile continuing to discover the extraordinary wines, regions and producers that make Italy so compelling. And there is always more to discover." 

OperaWine: A Partnership That Has Helped Bring Italian Wine to the World 

The announcement was made against the backdrop of a longstanding relationship between Wine Spectator and Veronafiere/Vinitaly, which together launched OperaWine in 2012. 

Originally conceived as OperaWine: Finest Italian Wines, 100 Great Producers, the event brought together 100 Italian wineries selected by Wine Spectator's editorial team, creating an unprecedented showcase of Italian wine excellence immediately preceding Vinitaly. 

Over the years, OperaWine has evolved into one of the signature events of Vinitaly and remains Wine Spectator's only tasting event held outside the United States. 

The initiative has expanded from its original 100 wineries to 150 producers selected for OperaWine 2027, reflecting both the growing international recognition of Italian wine and the editorial team's commitment to representing its diversity. 

The 2027 selection, announced on October 26 during Vinitaly.USA and the wine2wine Vinitaly Business Forum in New York, introduces a renewed structure comprising 31 Legacy Icons, 73 Classics and 46 wineries in the new Led by Women category. 

The 16th edition of OperaWine will take place on April 10, 2027, at the Gallerie Mercatali in Verona, ahead of the 59th Vinitaly. 

A Relationship Built on Trust, Independence and Shared Ambition 

For Veronafiere, the partnership with Wine Spectator represents more than the organization of a prestigious tasting. It is a long-term collaboration that has contributed to raising the international profile of Italian wine and strengthening connections between Italian producers and the American market. 

"Our relationship with Wine Spectator has always been built on mutual respect and a shared ambition to bring the excellence of Italian wine to a wider international audience," said Federico Bricolo, President of Veronafiere. "Since 2012, OperaWine has grown from an ambitious idea into an internationally recognized showcase for Italian producers. The editorial independence and authority of Wine Spectator are fundamental to its success. Today's announcement reminds us how important the work of its tasting team is, not only for the producers gathered here in Verona, but for the entire Italian wine industry. We are proud of what we have built together and remain strongly committed to developing this partnership in the years ahead." 

Honouring the Legacy of Marvin Shanken 

This year's gathering also carries particular significance following the passing of Marvin R. Shanken on October 29, 2026, at the age of 83. 

As the longtime Editor and Publisher of Wine Spectator and founder of M. Shanken Communications, Shanken played a transformative role in bringing wine appreciation, education and criticism to a wider American audience. 

His vision helped establish Wine Spectator as an internationally influential voice and provided the foundation for collaborations such as OperaWine. 

For Veronafiere and the Italian wine community, his passing marks the loss of a figure whose contribution to the international recognition of fine wine extends far beyond the pages of a magazine. 

"Marvin Shanken understood the extraordinary power of wine to connect people, cultures and markets," added Bricolo. "Through Wine Spectator, he helped open doors for generations of wine producers, including many here in Italy. OperaWine is part of that legacy. At this important moment, we want to express our gratitude for his vision and reaffirm our friendship with the Wine Spectator team. The most meaningful tribute we can pay him is to continue building on the extraordinary relationship he helped make possible." 

Looking Ahead to OperaWine 2027 

As preparations continue for OperaWine 2027, the new regional tasting assignments underline the continuing evolution of Wine Spectator's approach to Italian wine. 

For the producers gathered in Verona, the announcement offered an important opportunity to better understand the editorial responsibilities behind the reviews and scores that contribute to international recognition and market visibility. 

For Wine Spectator and Vinitaly, it also marked another chapter in a partnership dedicated to celebrating Italian wine excellence, connecting producers with the international trade and bringing Italy's extraordinary diversity to a global audience. 

Fifteen years after its launch, OperaWine continues to evolve. And with a new tasting map, a growing roster of producers and a renewed commitment to the future, the relationship between Wine Spectator and Vinitaly remains as important as ever. 

SOURCE OperaWine