ISWA in Montreal: “Grande Serata”, The Gala of Italian Wine in Canada

The producers of the ISWA group kicked off 2025 with the first major event of the year: “Grande Serata: Gala del vino divino, Italian excellence” in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, on Saturday, February, 1st.

Set in the stunning Windsor Station, this event celebrated the excellence of Italian family wine names and recreated the atmosphere of the renowned Venice Film Festival. The gala evening featured an aperitivo followed by a red carpet walk towards an exclusive five-course dinner curated by Hoogan & Beaufort Traiteur and renowned chef Marc-André Jetté.

The stars of this gastronomic celebration, from the aperitivo to the dinner, were the wines of the companies that are part of the ISWA group: 

• BELLAVISTA: Alma Non Dosato Assemblage 1; Satèn Franciacorta 2019
• FEUDI DI SAN GREGORIO: Greco di Tufo 2023; Cutizzi 2022
• ARNALDO CAPRAI: Arnaldo Caprai Cuvée Secrète Umbria Bianco 2023; Montefalco Rosso Riserva 2021
• MASCIARELLI: Villa Gemma Cerasuolo d’Abruzzo Superiore 2023; Marina Cvetic Montepulciano d’Abruzzo Riserva San Martino Rosso 2020
• FRESCOBALDI: Castello di Pomino Benefizio Riserva 2022; Tenuta Perano Rialzi Chianti Classico Gran Selezione 2017
• FONTANAFREDDA: Alta Langa Blanc de Blancs 2020; Barolo Serralunga d’Alba Riserva Special Edition 2018
• PLANETA: Allemanda Sicilia Noto 2023; Chardonnay Sicilia Menfi 2023
• ALLEGRINI: Lugana Oasi Mantellina 2023; Amarone della Valpolicella Classico 2015
• VILLA SANDI: Villa Sandi Prosecco rosé Millesimato Brut 2023; Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore La Rivetta 120

Revisiting the format of the “Grande Serata” created by ISWA in collaboration with SAQ in 2018, the event was inspired by the magic and glamour of the Venice Film Festival. The iconic Venetian settings of the famous event were recreated, transforming the evening into a sort of “Oscar night.” Institutional videos of the nine companies were projected on giant screens, and awards were given to the best productions, with a program that echoed the nominations of international cinema celebrations. The winners for each “category” were:

• Bellavista: Award for best costumes – Massimo Tuzzi 
• Feudi di San Gregorio: Award for best special effects – Antonio Capaldo 
• Arnaldo Caprai: Award for best dramatic short film – Marco Caprai 
• Masciarelli: Award for best actress in a supporting role – Miriam Lee Masciarelli 
• Frescobaldi: Award for best drone video footage – Stefano Benini 
• Fontanafredda: Award for best historical documentary short film – Roberto Bruno 
• Planeta: Award for best cinematography – Alessio Planeta 
• Allegrini: Award for best artistic directing – Matteo Allegrini 
• Villa Sandi: Award for best soundtrack – Diva Moretti Polegato

A tribute to the art of wine, even when it uses cinematic language, to communicate its values, beauty, and landscapes through a flow of images that captivated the attention of over 250 participants, who took a deep dive into the charm of each winery of the ISWA group. An invitation not only to appreciate the wine but also to visit the places of production in person.

The evening marked the first of a series of events celebrating the tenth anniversary of Italian Signature Wines Academy, reaffirming its commitment to representing the ambassadors of Italian wine and hospitality worldwide through its most iconic producers.

In the words of the ISWA presidential commission:

“The tenth anniversary of ISWA represents both a milestone and an opportunity to celebrate the excellence of Italian wine worldwide. Quebec is proving to be an increasingly receptive market for our wines, with a steady growth in the demand for high-quality products. With exclusive events like the Wine Gala in Montreal, in partnership with PARTNER, we aim to strengthen the bond with an audience in Quebec that greatly values the identity, authenticity, and tradition that distinguish our wines, consolidating our role as ambassadors of Made in Italy in international markets.” Roberto Bruno, Vice President, ISWA

“Our partnership with ISWA has once again proven that strength lies in unity. Promoting the excellence of different Italian regions has made us all more aware of the enormous potential of our country in the wine sector, where the beauty of the landscape, culture, and the art of ‘savoir vivre’ become the reference point for the present and future success. Certainly, some threats are on the horizon, but together, we have the tools to seize all new opportunities and face the market challenges in the best possible way. Over time, the Canadian market has shown sensitivity to quality Italian wine, becoming one of the key destinations for our exports. There has always been great attention to excellence from local consumers, combined with a strong curiosity for the uniqueness of our regions and a passion for good food, to which great wine is naturally linked.” Stefano Benini, Vice President, ISWA

“As President of ISWA, I would like to express my deep satisfaction with celebrating the tenth anniversary of this prestigious organization, which was born from a shared passion for Italian wine. Over these ten years, we have built extraordinary synergies and achieved important milestones, contributing to the worldwide enhancement and promotion of Italian wine excellence. I extend my sincerest wishes for the continued success of the Academy and for all those who are part of it.” Marilisa Allegrini, President, ISWA 

Event in collaboration with SAQ (The Société des alcools du Québec).

_{The images featured in this article are the property of SAQ; all rights are reserved to their respective owners.}