The Fifth Annual Conference of European Wine Economists (EuAWE) will take place from 8 to 11 June 2026 in Trieste and Koper.

The EuAWE Conference will open on Monday, June 8, 2026, at 3:00 PM, in Conference Room 1_A on the first floor of the Department of Economics, Business, Mathematics, and Statistics, Building D of the University of Trieste, at Via A. Valerio 4/1, Trieste. The conference will feature a high-profile roundtable discussion featuring five voices from the production and association sectors of Friuli Venezia Giulia and Primorska. The roundtable will foster open discussion and shared reflection with the local community and wine enthusiasts.

The world of wine, and the world around it, is changing rapidly. How are the regions responding? Prospects and challenges for the wine sector in Friuli Venezia Giulia and Primorska.

The wine sector is undergoing an unprecedented transformation. Climate change is severely challenging vineyards and harvests; geopolitical tensions and the slowdown in international trade are squeezing markets; energy and agricultural input costs are squeezing company balance sheets. At the same time, consumption patterns and experiences are changing, amid health concerns, declining consumption, and a growing interest in the no- and low-alcohol segment.

Producers, consortia, and operators in the winemaking industry of Friuli Venezia Giulia and Primorska are confronting these emerging challenges firsthand. These challenges require the adoption of new strategies and a rethinking of business models, while maintaining a focus on or disrupting the territorial and cultural identity of local production, fundamental pillars of the concept of terroir. What are the most pressing issues and avenues to explore in these two border regions, which have made quality and a connection to the territory their hallmarks?

The Conference will dedicate three intense days of research and international scientific discussion on these topics. But, before the academic sessions, the opening event of the conference at DEAMS will give space to a more direct conversation with those who produce, protect and represent wine every day.

Speakers:

Andreja Škvarč (Vrhpolje Vine Selection Center), Filippo Butussi (President of the Friuli Colli Orientali and Ramandolo Wine Consortium), Ingrid Mahnič (President of the Winegrowers' Association of Slovenian Istria), Noris Vesnaver (Colja Jožko, Association of Women in Wine FVG), Saša Radikon (Radikon, member of the Board of Directors of the Collio Wine Consortium, Association of Producers of Ribolla di Oslavia – Proizvajalci rebule iz Oslavije).

Introducing and moderating:

Gianluigi Gallenti (University of Trieste), Francesco Marangon (University of Udine), Armand Faganel (University of Primorska).

The fifth annual Conference of European Wine Economists (EuAWE) and the inaugural Round Table are jointly organized by the University of Trieste, the University of Udine, and the University of Primorska.

This event is bilingual with simultaneous translation.