Organisers of showcase event in Puglia report record international demand ahead of three-day programme of visits and networking
The organisers of Italian table grape trade fair Regina di Puglia say they have seen “unprecedented interest” from international trade professionals in the event’s fourth edition, which takes place on 23-25 July in Noicàttaro, near Bari.
This year’s delegation is said to feature prominent buyers from eight European countries – Estonia, Germany, Italy, Latvia, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain, and Sweden – as well as from the United Arab Emirates.
The 2026 edition also marks the debut of leading importers from the Netherlands and Sweden – a development described as “highly promising” for growers in the region Puglia who want to expand their commercial presence in the Nordic and Benelux markets.
The domestic market is also strongly represented, with the planned participation of several leading Italian grocery retail chains confirmed, alongside an extensive contingent of specialised Italian and international trade journalists.
According to the organisers, the fair will emphasise Puglia’s value and identity through a comprehensive programme, including:
Thursday, 23 July: Events dedicated to field operations, technical orchard inspections, and site visits to local packhouses and production facilities. The evening will foster community engagement, with public tasting kiosks lined throughout the historic streets of Noicàttaro.
Friday, 24 July: The core commercial hub of the event, featuring structured B2B matchmaking sessions between Apulian producers, Italian distributors, and overseas importers. At the same time, trade journalists will tour production areas as guests of Le Terre dell’Uva, an institutional network led by Noicàttaro and aimed at strengthening links between agricultural excellence and agro-tourism. The day conclude with the event’s signature networking dinner, hosted at one of the area’s top vineyards.
Saturday, 25 July: Events open to the public in Piazza Concordia, Noicàttaro, kick off at 7pm with a special exhibition of table grape varieties, as well as a high-level trade symposium focused on territorial value and supply chain sustainability. Then at 8:15pm, a live concert called Beat Fest is expected to attract thousands of attendees.
The technical conference features a keynote address by Mario Schiano Lomoriello, market analyst at Ismea, who will discuss the performance and strategic positioning of protected-origin products in the Italian market.
Then Michele Laporta, president of Consorzio dell’Uva da Tavola di Puglia IGP, will talk about his organisation’s role in safeguarding table grapes and promoting their value in the region.
The panel will also offer international perspectives on regional branding, retail merchandising, and sustainability in agrifood.
To wrap up the session prior to the live concert, Ismea will present its latest Table Grape Market Observatory, delivering the latest industry data, volume projections, and macroeconomic trends for the sector.
Appointed by the Mayor of Noicàttaro, Raimondo Innamorato, the Regina di Puglia project is spearheaded by the Councilor for Agriculture, Vito Fraschini, and the Councilor for Territorial Marketing, Culture, and Sport, Anna Maria De Marzo.
The event is organised in close cooperation with Omnibus Comunicazione, the Association of Apulian Fruit and Vegetable Producers and Exporters (APEO), and the Consorzio di Tutela dell’Uva da Tavola di Puglia IGP.
