By An extraordinary collaboration that, following New York, underscores Canada’s absolute importance as a global market for high-end Italian wines
With the “Amerigo Vespucci World Tour – North America Campaign 2026,” the Italian Navy’s training ship continues to bring the beauty, identity, cultural exchange, and heritage of Italy and Italians to the world
Links to photos and videos of the Amerigo Vespucci: https://tinyurl.com/45thya36
Québec City, July 25, 2026 – Following the New York stop, Vinitaly, the world’s leading international trade fair dedicated to Italian wine, and the Amerigo Vespucci meet in Québec City for the first Canadian leg of the Vespucci World Tour – North America 2026 Campaign, an initiative of the Ministry of Defense and the Italian Navy produced by Difesa Servizi S.p.A. (the Ministry of Defense’s in-house company that promotes the Ministry’s assets through dual-use initiatives) and developed in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the Ministry of Culture, the Ministry of Sports and Youth, and the Ministry for Persons with Disabilities.
Organized by the ITA (Italian Trade Agency) in collaboration with Veronafiere and Vinitaly, on July 25 aboard the Italian Navy’s training ship, moored in Québec City for the Rendez-vous naval de Québec, there will be a presentation of the new edition of Vinitaly USA (October 26–27 in New York): the most important Italian wine event in North America, aimed at leading professionals in the Canadian wine sector, buyers from provincial agencies (Monopoli) responsible for the distribution of alcoholic beverages, importers, wine agents, sommeliers, the media, and industry stakeholders.
This new initiative by Veronafiere confirms Canada’s growing strategic importance as one of the main export destinations for Italian wine, particularly in the premium and super-premium segments. In the first five months of 2026, Italian wine imports reached 278 million Canadian dollars (+9.3% compared to 2025, representing a 27% market share), an increase of 50 million Canadian dollars from the previous month.
“The two important stops by the Amerigo Vespucci training ship in Canada reflect the extraordinary strategic strengthening currently underway in relations between Italy and Canada, including in the economic and commercial spheres,” said Alessandro Cattaneo, Italian Ambassador to Canada.
“The steady growth of Italian wines in Canada will gain new momentum from Vinitaly’s presence aboard the Vespucci, a symbol of Italian excellence around the world and of the values of innovation, quality, and style that distinguish ‘Made in Italy.’”
Vinitaly.USA 2025 attracted a record number of Canadian participants, including importers, representatives of liquor distribution agencies, agents, and retailers, a trend that had previously been observed in Verona. Last but not least, 31 Italian Wine Ambassadors graduated from the first professional course in Canada offered by the Vinitaly International Academy in June, a record number for this prestigious academy.
At a time when the Italian wine sector requires particular attention, it is essential to structurally strengthen international promotional activities in support of businesses. In this context, the Canadian leg of the Amerigo Vespucci World Tour represents an extraordinary opportunity to showcase, together with Vinitaly, one of the most representative examples of “Made in Italy” excellence in a strategic market such as Canada and, more broadly, North America. Thanks to ITA’s international network and our established collaboration with all stakeholders in the sector, starting with Vinitaly, we bring Italian wine culture to the world through business matching and masterclasses, featuring storytelling, training, and promotional activities that engage the entire industry supply chain. This involves importers, restaurateurs, and chefs, who become the most passionate ambassadors for our wine and the full range of our agri-food products. – said Matteo Zoppas, President of ITA.
According to Federico Bricolo, President of Veronafiere and Vinitaly: “Canada is a strategic market in the internationalization of Italian wine, which is why our commitment to North America is now ongoing. The presence at Vinitaly 2026 of over 300 Canadian industry professionals and the record-breaking delegation of 50 top buyers from Canada confirm the effectiveness of this strategy of market presence, promotion, and growth, through which we aim to expand commercial opportunities for Italian companies. Last June, together with ITA Agency, we organized Vinitaly.USA preview events in Toronto, Ottawa, and Montréal, combining meetings with buyers and provincial liquor boards with training sessions from the Vinitaly International Academy. Today we are continuing this work aboard the Amerigo Vespucci, following our recent stop in New York: a collaboration that brings together two ambassadors of “Made in Italy” and strengthens the Sistema-Paese’s ability to present itself abroad in a coordinated manner. Furthermore, this event in Québec City marks the debut of our collaboration with ENIT, which will allow us to expand the narrative of Italian wine at Vinitaly.USA, highlighting the regions and wine tourism destinations.”
Continuing along this path, Vinitaly.USA 2026, to be held in New York on October 26 and 27, will welcome an even larger Canadian delegation than at the previous edition.
Since its launch, Vinitaly.USA has become a strategic hub connecting Italian producers with key buyers, importers, distributors, and decision-makers in the North American sector. Complementing the flagship Vinitaly fair in Verona, the New York edition expands Vinitaly’s international reach, creating year-round business opportunities and strengthening Italy’s leadership in the North American wine market.
“Québec, together with Ontario, accounts for about 80% of the Canadian wine market and is the province where we see our best performance in the premium wine segment,” said Carlo Angelo Bocchi, Italian Trade Commissioner to Canada –. “Canadian consumers’ extraordinary appreciation for the quality, variety, and winemaking heritage of Italy continues to strengthen our market presence. The growth of Italian wines in British Columbia and Alberta as well confirms a demand increasingly focused on authenticity, excellence, and value.” The joint presence of Vinitaly and the Amerigo Vespucci training ship represents the natural evolution of our commitment to creating new commercial opportunities, while simultaneously strengthening the bond between Canadian professionals and the Italian wine sector. Identifying new business opportunities for our companies is ITA’s mission, a goal we consistently pursue across all nine Canadian provinces.”
Credits
With the “Amerigo Vespucci World Tour – North America Campaign 2026”—which began in Genoa on May 9—the Italian Navy’s training ship continues to bring the beauty, identity, dialogue among peoples, and culture of Italy and Italians to the world.
The Amerigo Vespucci World Tour – North America Campaign 2026 is an initiative of the Ministry of Defense and the Italian Navy, produced by Difesa Servizi S.p.A.
It is developed in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the Ministry of Culture, and the Ministry of Sports and Youth and the Ministry for People with Disabilities.
The following organizations support the Vespucci World Tour – North America Campaign 2026: ITA – Italian Trade Agency, Fiera di Verona-Vinitaly, and Enel.
The Vespucci will call at Québec City from July 23 to 27, 2026, where it will be the star of the Rendez-vous naval de Québec, a prestigious international gathering of ships hosted by the port.
