Regional Institute of Wine and Oil

THE PEARL OF WINE TOURISM REWARDS THE COUNTRY'S TALENTS

In Mozia, the winners become ambassadors of a unique territory that aims for UNESCO recognition.

 

The third edition of the Mozia International Award saw a significant institutional presence, with the participation of the Minister of Tourism Gianmarco Mazzi, of the President of the Sicilian Region Renato Schifani, of the commissioner and of the director of the Regional Institute of Oil and Wine Giusi Mistretta And Vito Bentivegna.

The value and national resonance of the Award are the result of great teamwork carried out by Marsala Wine Route together with the header The Ploughshare – thanks to the intuition of Ruby Rose, creator of the award – and in synergic collaboration with the Whitaker Foundation.

«We are here to strengthen the strategic value of Mozia and the Stagnone Lagoon of Marsala – explains the IRVO director Vito Bentivegna – the initiative rewards talents who become ambassadors of a unique territory: for centuries a cultural, archaeological and landscape heritage of international importance has proliferated here, we want to encourage its path towards UNESCO recognition of this pearl of wine tourism in the heart of the Mediterranean."

«The International Mozia Prize – explains the IRVO commissioner Giusi Mistretta – confirms its high cultural and promotional value, thanks to its contribution to enhancing Sicily's winemaking heritage and strengthening the identity of its territories. IRVO will continue to operate, promoting events and systemic strategies that place the territory and its excellence at the center, strengthening the link between production, culture, and tourism, in line with national trends, as stated by the Minister of Tourism, the Honorable Mazzi, himself, at the Mozia Prize, presenting these forms of experiential tourism as extraordinary opportunities to strengthen the attractiveness of the territories and generate added value along the entire agri-food supply chain.

The connection with wine tourism is increasingly evident, now recognized as a strategic lever for economic and territorial development, capable of integrating production, culture, and hospitality into a single, valuable experience.

Sicily, from this perspective, confirms its natural position as a protagonist: the richness of its wine-growing landscapes, the quality of its products, and the ability of its businesses to combine hospitality and tradition make it a privileged destination for a tourism increasingly oriented towards authentic experiences.

«The extraordinary success of the third edition of the Mozia International Prize – underlines the notary Salvatore Lombardo, president of theMarsala Wine Route Association – It is the result of a journey that, year after year, thanks to Gianni Letta, grows and transcends the borders of our island. This important milestone would not have been possible without the support of IRVO, which was among the very first to embrace our vision, demonstrating extraordinary foresight and institutional sensitivity. The commissioner and director, Giusi Mistretta and Vito Bentivegna, are determined and authoritative leaders, whose role and constant presence have been fundamental to the success of the initiative. The Marsala Wine Route has always been active in promoting the territory, and this award rests on two fundamental pillars: on the one hand, the celebration of excellence; on the other, the strong driving force to ensure the management process of theUNESCO may come to fruition. Unique and incredibly delicate places such as the island of Mozia and the Stagnone lagoon of Marsala deserve to be officially recognized as World Heritage Site».

From cinema to the navy, from journalism to science, from entertainment to sports: the eleven 2026 awards, assigned by the scientific committee in collaboration with the organizers—the Marsala Wine Route Association and the Il Vomere magazine—recognized the country's excellence.

The participation of Minister of Tourism Gianmarco Mazzi and President of the Sicilian Region Renato Schifani confirmed the institutions' attention to Mozia and the Stagnone Lagoon, symbolic places of Mediterranean identity and heritage sites to be promoted internationally. The 2026 edition focuses on supporting the UNESCO candidacy and strengthening the narrative of a unique territory.

The winners are Aldo Cazzullo, editorialist for Corriere della Sera and essayist; Annalena Benini, journalist, writer and director of the Turin International Book Fair; Arianna Fontana, athlete and Olympic champion; Antonio Preziosi, journalist and director of TG2; Barbara Jatta, art historian and director of the Vatican Museums; Cardinal Mario Zenari, apostolic nuncio to Syria; the actor Claudio Gioè; the scientist Domenica Lorusso; Eleonora Daniele, journalist and television host; entrepreneur and cultural promoter Marco Morricone, son of maestro Ennio Morricone; Sara Vinci, captain of the Navy, among the first women to command a FREMM frigate.

To celebrate Sicilian excellence, in keeping with IRVO's mission, the Wine Route brought all the award winners on stage to conclude the ceremony in a grand collective toast to the tune of the famous aria "Libiamo ne' lieti calici." This was a concerted tribute to the wines of Marsala and the Western lands, cementing the extraordinary synergy between culture, institutions, and the region. The third edition of the Mozia International Award will be broadcast on Rai 3 (July 5 at 11:30 PM) and on RaiPlay.