A new generation has officially taken the helm of Assovini Sicilia. The association, which brings together 100 wineries across the island, has appointed Gabriella Favara as its new president, simultaneously entrusting the leadership of the organization to a Board of Directors composed entirely of under‑40 representatives of the Next Generation. A transition that marks a historic turning point for one of the most representative bodies of Sicilian wine, in the name of generational renewal, innovation, and continuity with the values that have helped establish Sicily among the leading players in the Italian and international wine scene.
A new leadership for Assovini Sicilia: who is Gabriella Favara
The appointment took place during the meeting of the new Board of Directors held on Monday, July 6. Leading the association will be Gabriella Favara, an under‑30 manager from Marsala and International Marketing Manager at Donnafugata.
Her election represents a significant moment in the history of Assovini Sicilia, which has chosen to entrust its governance to a team composed exclusively of young professionals belonging to the Next Generation, the project created to encourage the involvement of younger generations in the future strategies of the regional wine sector.
After joining Donnafugata four years ago, following a degree in Business Administration and a Master’s in Business Management in Oxford, Gabriella Favara gained various experiences in trade marketing before returning to Sicily to focus on developing the company’s international markets.
Her profile therefore combines international training, managerial skills, and a deep knowledge of the Sicilian wine sector—elements that define the new leadership class called to guide Assovini in the coming years.
In her first statements as president, Gabriella Favara emphasized the value of teamwork and the desire to accompany the association into a new phase of growth:
“It is a great emotion for me to take on this role and to share this journey with my teammates from the Next Generation. The idea of continuing to give energy and vitality to this association together, with a young voice eager for change and innovation, is very powerful. It will certainly be a major challenge that will allow us to contribute by inaugurating a new chapter without questioning the values of this association. Our goal is to listen more and more to market needs, to keep pace with change, and to be reactive and proactive in seizing opportunities in the sector. We want to elevate Sicily even further—Sicily which, through Assovini, represents an exemplary case of associationism capable of promoting such an important sector as wine and of fostering teamwork.”
Words that outline a strategy based on market awareness, adaptability, and the enhancement of the associative model that over the years has helped strengthen the image of Sicilian wine worldwide.
A Board of Directors entirely under 40
The true novelty of the new governance lies in the composition of the Board of Directors. For the first time, the governing body is entirely an expression of the Next Generation, marking a structured and shared generational transition within the association.
Alongside President Gabriella Favara, the new Board includes Pietro Pollara as vice president. Other members are Graziano Nicosia of Tenute Nicosia, Costante Planeta of Planeta, Alessandro Tasca of Tasca d’Almerita, Cristina Madaudo of Camporè, Enrica Spadafora of Dei Principi di Spadafora, Pierfilippo Marchello of Cantine Pellegrino, and Totò Navarra of Tenute Navarra.
These are representatives of some of the most significant wineries in the Sicilian wine landscape, united by the desire to lead the sector toward new market challenges while maintaining a strong connection with the island’s territories and productive identity.
The decision signals Assovini Sicilia’s intention to invest in the skills, international vision, and innovative capacity of the new generations.
In a constantly evolving context—characterized by changing consumption patterns, new market sensitivities, and increasing global competition—the association entrusts its future to a team of young professionals called to interpret the next chapter of Sicilian wine.
