Best Wine Stars

Best Wine Stars is one of the wine festivals that anchors the Lombardy calendar, drawing both local visitors and international wine travellers each year. It is held at Palazzo del Ghiaccio in Via Piranesi 14, in the heart of one of Italy's most distinctive wine areas. The festival has been running since 2020 and reaches its 7th edition in 2026, giving it one of the longer track records among Italian wine events of its kind. International fair dedicated to wine, food and spirits excellence in Milan; showcases producers from across Italy and the world. Calici di Stelle takes its name from the Night of San Lorenzo on 10 August, when the Perseid meteor shower peaks over Italy. Wineries and town councils across the region run open-air tastings under the night sky, often combined with local food, live music and astronomy programmes. The atmosphere is relaxed and family-friendly, with wines typically poured in the form of guided tasting flights through the participating area. The event is organised jointly by Movimento Turismo del Vino and Citta del Vino, with each participating town or winery setting its own programme within the broader nationwide framework. Many editions include amateur astronomers giving talks during the evening, adding a cultural dimension to the wine tasting itself. The event is organised by Prodes Italia, which sets the tone and direction of the programme each year. Lombardy spans an unusually wide range of wine styles within a single administrative region. Franciacorta produces Italy's most respected traditional-method sparkling wines from Chardonnay and Pinot Nero. Valtellina makes Alpine Nebbiolo (locally Chiavennasca) on steep terraced slopes along the Adda valley. Oltrepo Pavese is Italy's largest Pinot Nero plantation and a major source of Pinot Nero spumante. The Garda area, including Lugana DOC, completes a varied regional picture. The 2026 edition is scheduled for 16-18 May 2026. Cost details are best confirmed directly with the organiser ahead of travel. Full programme, ticketing and updated information are published on the official site at bestwinestars.com. Visitors are advised to check directly with the organiser for the latest schedule, as Italian festival programmes are sometimes updated close to the event date. Lombardy is reached via Milan (Linate or Malpensa airports, central rail links), Brescia or Bergamo. Wine tourism in the region splits between Franciacorta (around Lake Iseo, an hour from Milan), Valtellina (near the Swiss border, reached via train through the Adda valley), Oltrepo Pavese (south of Milan in Pavia province) and the Garda lakefront (Lugana). Milan itself is the natural urban base for visits combining wine, design, fashion and Italian gastronomy.