10 years of Icons: an unconventional vision transformed into a new classic. Pasqua Wines is the signature of a one-of-a-kind collection, celebrating a decade of its most innovative, ambitious, and disruptive spirit. With the birth of Icons, a new perspective has opened up on the world of wine: visionary and radical at their debut, these expressions are now considered by critics to be consolidated realities in the wine scene, demonstrating the strength of a corporate vision. Pioneering interpretations such as Mai Dire Mai, Hey French, 11 Minutes, Cecilia Beretta, and Famiglia Pasqua have successfully codified the identity and history of one of the symbols of Verona and Valpolicella in a new, innovative language. These labels, also featured in the winery’s centennial celebration with the Ode to the Future project, a book celebrating its history and vision, are today celebrating a new milestone in their long list of awards received over the past 10 years from industry guides and critics, with the awarding of Tre Bicchieri (Three Glasses) by Gambero Rosso’s 2026 Guida Vini d’Italia to their Amarone della Valpolicella Terre di Cariano 2018 Cecilia Beretta.
“During our winery’s first 100 years of operation, we have always aimed to convey the richness and variety of our terroir’s winemaking heritage with a distinctive voice, believing in the value of tradition without fear of evolution,” comments Umberto Pasqua, president of Pasqua Wines. “We have presented high-quality and very bold projects. We are very pleased with the appreciation of our wines from industry opinion leaders.”
Regarding the accolades received by the iconic labels, Riccardo Pasqua, CEO of the winery, echoes these words:
“We believe that innovation is essential to writing new chapters in our history. Investments in quality have been our springboard. What were once considered visionary proposals have now become new benchmarks, capable of competing on equal terms with the big names in the sector.”
All the international awards from Icons Pasqua Wines’ 10-year history
The awarding of Tre Bicchieri (Three Glasses) by the 2026 Italian Wines Guide to Cecilia Beretta’s Amarone della Valpolicella Terre di Cariano 2018 is the most recent recognition awarded by Gambero Rosso to Pasqua Wines.
Mai Dire Mai had already achieved this significant milestone with the 2016, 2015, 2013, 2012, and 2011 vintages, demonstrating how much—since its inception—the project had impressed critics with its ability to offer an original, more austere and vertical, yet faithful, interpretation of Amarone della Valpolicella.
Gambero Rosso also awarded Tre Bicchieri to the 2018 Amarone della Valpolicella Cascina San Vincenzo Famiglia Pasqua in 2024, once again highlighting the potential of the region through organic farming.
Among the Icons, Mai Dire Mai has, over the years, achieved important awards (including international ones) for the vintages declared so far: among the awards for the 2016 vintage, the 94 points from the Veronelli Guide, the 93 points from Luca Maroni’s Guide to the Best Wines of Italy and 91 from James Suckling; for the 2015 vintage, the 95 points from DoctorWine and 93 from Falstaff – Amarone Trophy; for the 2013 vintage, the gold star from Vinibuoni d’Italia, 93 points from Wine Enthusiast and 91 from James Suckling; for the 2012 vintage, the 96 points from Decanter; and finally, for the 2011 vintage, there were 93 points from James Suckling and 92 from Wine Enthusiast.
Fear No Dark 2020, the most radical interpretation of the Monte Vegro vineyard, which produces Mai Dire Mai, also earned 94 points from DoctorWine and 93 points from Decanter.
The 2017 Terre di Cariano Cecilia Beretta received 94 points from Luca Maroni’s Guida ai Migliori Vini d’Italia and 93 points from the Guida Veronelli; the 2016 vintage earned, among other awards, the 5 Grappoli from Bibenda, the gold medal from the WineHunter Award, and 95 points from Decanter, while the 2015 vintage earned 94 points from Wine Advocate and 92 from James Suckling, and the 2013 vintage earned 93 points from Falstaff – Amarone Trophy.
Hey French, You Could Have Made It But You Didn’t, with which Pasqua Vini pioneered the Italian multi-vintage blend of still wines, has established itself with its four releases in global guides: the first and second editions received 92 points from James Suckling and Falstaff, among others; the third edition was distinguished by the gold medal for best Bianco Veneto IGT from Wow-Civiltà del Bere, 94 points from Luca Maroni, and 93 points from Wine Enthusiast; the fourth edition received a gold seal from the WineHunter Award and 92 points from Decanter.
11 Minutes, the winery’s first rosé, in addition to the 90 points earned by Vinum for its latest vintage, 2024, has previously achieved 91 points for its 2023 vintage from Vinous, 91 points from Falstaff for its 2022 vintage, 91 points from James Suckling and Decanter for its 2021 vintage, 91 points from the Decanter World Wine Awards for its 2020 vintage, and finally, again from Decanter, for both its 2019 and 2017 vintages.
Alongside its innovative projects, Pasqua Vini maintains its roots in the land and its identity with Famiglia Pasqua, the signature of the first generation, which has consistently received significant scores and awards from the guides: the Amarone della Valpolicella Famiglia Pasqua 2011 achieved 90 points from Wine Spectator; the 2012 edition, 90 points from Wine Enthusiast; The 2013 vintage had won the Tre Bicchieri award from Gambero Rosso and 90 points and a Best of 2018 from Wine Enthusiast; the latter publication had then also awarded the 2015 vintage with 93 points, while Decanter, in the following edition, had assigned the same score to the 2016 vintage; Decanter had also judged the Amarone della Valpolicella Famiglia Pasqua 2017 Best Wine of the Year with 97 points; James Suckling awarded the 2018 vintage 92 points, which also received 94 points from the Veronelli guide; the 2019 vintage earned 94 points from Wine Enthusiast and 95 from DoctorWine, which also assigned the same score to the 2020.
