Regional Institute of Wine and Oil

IRVO for a 2026 of strategic continuity, internationalization, and new projects

The 2025 it closes for IRVO with a positive balance, which reflects an intense activity carried out on multiple levels: from promotion to certification, from the scientific research for the development of new projects, until the consolidation of a strategic vision which looks clearly at the 2026.

Over the course of the year, the Institute has strengthened its commitment to supporting the competitiveness of the Sicilian wine and olive oil sector in the main scenarios, both national and international. On the level promotional, IRVO has participated in key trade fairs such as Wine Paris, Prowein Düsseldorf And Vinitaly (Pavilion 2 Sicily and Vinitaly Bio). In addition to these, important initiatives have been added such as Sicily en Primeur, Vineyard Italy, Capital Oil, Evo Day IGP Sicily and EnoEtna, sector-specific events capable of strengthening the positioning of regional productions on the market.

2025 also marked an intensification of actions incoming, like the initiative carried out in Lugano with operators from the United Arab Emirates, which represented a concrete opportunity for promotion and internationalization, considered to be great value by the Extraordinary Commissioner Giusi Mistretta.

At the same time, the Institute took part – at the instigation of the management – in important events such as the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles (fortified and sweet wines section), BE.COME, ESSENTIA, SOLEXPO, the Valladolid Fair and the event “Autumn in the Cellar”, helping to extend the visibility of the Sicily system even in specialized and vertical contexts.

2025 also saw significant growth on the front of certification, confirming the central role of IRVO in the system of controls and valorization of quality productions. December 15th, are released 2,897 certificates of suitability for DOP wines, for a total volume of 759,115.35 hectoliters. Added to these are 250 certifications for Sicilian PGI Extra Virgin Olive Oil, equal to 1,750,650 kg. As part of the qualitative checks, the following were identified: 35 samples not suitable for chemical-physical testing And 64 samples subject to organoleptic examinationOverall, over the course of the year, 500,000 were also distributed. 71 million state stamps for wines DOC Sicily, 482,000 for the DOCG Cerasuolo di Vittoria And 357,000 for the Pantelleria DOC, demonstrating the intensity and operational efficiency achieved by the Institute.

No less important was the activity of scientific research and experimentation. IRVO continued to invest in the valorization of the Sicilian viticultural biodiversity heritage and in the protection of alien varieties, paying particular attention to issues related to resilience, sustainability and varietal innovationAmong the most significant projects is the one on thetraditional crossbreeding and the use of assisted evolution technologies for obtaining native vines resistant to the main vine pathogens. Equally strategic have been the works for the development of high-quality Sicilian sparkling wines with a strong territorial character, as well as the experiments dedicated to native wines fermented in amphora.

The Institute has also carried out an intense activity of specialist consultancy, experimental microvinifications And analysis of musts and wines, within the scope of the projects PSR Sicily 2014–2022: FOR.RI.CON.E And STRA.VI.NA. At the infrastructure level, the following have been fully operational: Multi-site laboratories in Palermo and Marsala, which ensured the maintenance of theISO IEC17025/2008 accreditation for the issuing of official certifications in the wine and oil sectors. This context also includes the participation in the CREA Steering Committee, which strengthens the synergy with national public research.

In view of the 2026, the Extraordinary Commissioner Giusi Mistretta has outlined a clear path: to continue with consistency and continuity, investing in internationalization, promoting certified products, and strengthening its presence in strategic markets. IRVO will be present at the main trade fairs, starting from Wine Paris, where Sicily will lead 40 companies, an increase compared to the previous year. A collaboration is also underway with the Department of Agriculture to get one larger exhibition space at Vinitaly, with a view to integration and greater visibility.

Particular attention will also be paid to theincoming related to the oil sector, with the aim of structuring a more continuous and high-value commercial model, following the success achieved in 2025.

The activities completed and those planned outline a dynamic, strategic IRVO, increasingly oriented towards consolidating the results achieved and opening new growth paths. 

The 2026 It thus appears, in perspective, to be a year of strengthening, with a consolidated presence in key market locations and an active dialogue with international buyers and stakeholders, to support the entire Sicilian wine and oil sector.