On June 5, 2025, the Italy Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka became the stage for a new approach to wine education and promotion. The event, called “Inside Italian Bubbles: A Blind Tasting Journey Through Italy’s Finest Sparkling Wines,” was organized by ICE Agenzia – the Italian Trade Agency, with support from ICE Tokyo and in collaboration with Veronafiere and Vinitaly. The session brought together a select group of Asian wine professionals, sommeliers, influencers, and key opinion leaders for a 60-minute masterclass focused on Italian sparkling wines.
The tasting was designed as an interactive blind tasting game. Six sparkling wines from different regions of Italy were served without revealing their identities. The wines represented both the Charmat and Metodo Classico production methods and included bottles from Veneto, Trentino, Franciacorta, Sicily, and Lugana. The featured wines were Bottega “Il Vino dei Poeti” Prosecco Doc Spumante Brut, Villa Sandi “Il Fresco” Prosecco Doc Treviso Extra Dry, Ca’ del Bosco “Cuvée Prestige” Franciacorta Docg Extra Brut, Ferrari “Hommage” Trento Doc Brut, Zenato Lugana Doc Brut Metodo Classico, and Planeta Sicilia Doc Carricante Metodo Classico.
Stevie Kim, Managing Partner of Vinitaly, led the tasting. She guided participants through a sensory exploration of each wine’s characteristics while encouraging them to guess the production method, region, and style. The format aimed to challenge preconceptions about Italian sparkling wine and to sharpen the sensory skills of attendees.
Four prominent producers joined the event live on stage: Diva Moretti Polegato from Villa Sandi, Nadia Zenato from Zenato, Stefano Bottega from Bottega, and Giacomo Marzotto from Ca’ del Bosco. Other producers participated through video messages recorded specifically for the occasion. Their presence highlighted the importance of producer engagement in promoting Italian wine culture abroad.
Matteo Zoppas, President of ICE Agenzia – the Italian Trade Agency, explained that the event aligns with ICE’s mission at Expo 2025: to showcase Italian excellence and innovation to a global audience. He emphasized that inviting influential Asian wine professionals helps strengthen Italy’s position in high-potential markets across Asia.
Federico Bricolo, President of Veronafiere and organizer of Vinitaly, described the blind tasting as an effective way to celebrate the diversity of Italian sparkling wines while engaging new audiences through creativity and interaction.
The event also addressed how Italian sparkling wines can pair with Asian cuisines. Organizers highlighted that these wines are versatile enough to complement dishes such as sushi, dim sum, tempura, and Peking duck. Nadia Zenato noted that Italy offers a sparkling wine for every occasion and table setting. She expressed enthusiasm about introducing these styles to a new generation of Asian professionals who are shaping contemporary wine culture in their countries.
The blind tasting at Expo 2025 Osaka marked a significant effort by Italian institutions and producers to connect with Asian markets through education and direct experience. By focusing on sensory discovery rather than labels or reputations, organizers hope to foster deeper appreciation for the range and quality of Italian sparkling wines among industry leaders in Asia.