A handover always marks a pivotal moment, especially when it takes place within a project that has made shared vision its defining strength. Italian Signature Wines Academy (ISWA) announces the renewal of its Board of Directors and the election of Antonio Capaldo, head of Feudi di San Gregorio, as its new President. A choice that opens a new phase for the alliance, now more than ever called upon to strengthen the role of Italy’s fine wines on international markets.
The Handover After the Marilisa Allegrini Era
After four consecutive terms as President, Marilisa Allegrini steps down from the leadership of ISWA, having played a decisive role not only in the creation of the consortium project but also in its development and consolidation. The leadership transition represents a natural territorial and strategic renewal, accompanying the Academy’s evolution without interrupting its continuity of values.
Antonio Capaldo, a founding member of the Consortium, was elected unanimously by the members’ assembly, confirming shared trust and recognition of a vision aligned with the current challenges of the sector.
The new mandate opens with a clear objective: to make ISWA an increasingly effective instrument of synergy, sharing, and positioning, capable of enhancing the visibility of its member brands and creating new opportunities for growth and profitability.
“Never more than at this moment does being together have strategic value for ISWA,” comments Antonio Capaldo. “We need scale, flexibility and cohesion to face the challenges shaping the wine world, and we need to do so by reaffirming the cultural values that guide all our companies. The role of the Academy—the ‘A’ in our acronym—is fundamental for the wine of the future.”
A statement that encapsulates the very identity of ISWA: not merely a promotional platform, but a cultural and industrial project built around shared values.
Continuity and New Appointments in the ISWA Executive Committee
Alongside the new President, governance focused on operational continuity is confirmed. Stefano Benini, Vice President & Export Director of Frescobaldi, and Roberto Bruno, Managing Director & VP of Sales at Fontanafredda, retain their roles as Vice Presidents, ensuring a solid vision across both domestic and international markets.
Joining the Executive Committee is also Marina Cvetic, sole director of Masciarelli, appointed Vice President. She brings a distinctive contribution marked by dynamism and openness to initiatives capable of creating value for producers and territories.
Italian Signature Wines Academy: A Strategic Alliance for Italian Wine
Operational since 2015, Italian Signature Wines Academy was founded on the initiative of five wine companies and today brings together nine major family‑owned estates representing some of Italy’s most prestigious denominations: Allegrini, Arnaldo Caprai, Bellavista, Feudi di San Gregorio, Fontanafredda, Frescobaldi, Masciarelli, Planeta, and Villa Sandi.
An alliance that goes beyond sharing costs for trade fairs or promotional activities and, thanks to internal synergies, functions as a generator of significant commercial agreements with international players across multiple channels and markets.
Italian Signature Wines Academy: Numbers and Vision of a Long‑Term Project
The figures illustrate the scale of the project:
over €550 million in combined turnover, an average 60% export share, approximately 35 million bottles produced, more than 60 brands, 50 owned wineries, 2,000 employees, and 5,000 hectares of vineyards.
Beyond the numbers, ISWA positions itself as a guardian of authenticity and quality, committed to helping consumers understand the true meaning of Italian wine and the hospitality culture that surrounds it.
With Antonio Capaldo’s presidency, the Academy strengthens its role as a strategic laboratory for high‑end Italian wine, at a time when cohesion, vision and culture are becoming decisive levers for addressing the future of the sector.
