Champagne Experience 2025. Bologna becomes the capital of French bubbles

The world of Champagne has found a new home in Italy. After seven editions in Modena, Champagne Experience arrives in Bologna, transforming for two days – on 5 and 6 October – the halls of BolognaFiere into the largest national stage dedicated to the king of French bubbles. The event, organised by Excellence SIDI, will bring together over 700 labels and a packed programme of tastings and masterclasses that is already on the verge of being sold out. The wine editorial team of Gambero Rosso will be at the event and will report on both the labels and the producers, on our website, in the weekly Tre Bicchieri and in the monthly print edition.

From Emilia to the world

The choice of Bologna as the new venue is no coincidence: a well-connected city, logistically strategic and now established as a trade fair hub for food & beverage. The move from Modena marks a natural evolution for an event that over the years has consolidated a central role for Ho.Re.Ca. professionals – restaurateurs, hotel managers, top-level catering – but also for an ever-growing audience of enthusiasts.
The success is already written in the numbers: +20% tickets sold compared to 2024 and an off-show that for weeks has been enlivening Bologna’s restaurants and venues with tastings, meetings and special formats designed to build anticipation.

The protagonists: maisons and vignerons

The beating heart of Champagne Experience remains the tasting counter, this year divided by geographical areas – Montagne de Reims, Vallée de la Marne, Côte des Blancs, Côte des Bar – in a journey that mirrors the sensory map of the French region. Alongside the small vignerons, artisans of the terroir, the historic maisons will also be present, gathered in a dedicated area. A rare opportunity to compare approaches, production philosophies and styles in one major event.
Adding symbolic detail to the experience: for the first time the tastings will be held in the official screen-printed Champagne Experience glass, a gesture that seals the now mature identity of the event.

Unmissable masterclasses

Training and in-depth knowledge have always been the distinctive features of the event. This year wine lovers will be guided by Luca Boccoli, sommelier and communicator, and Alberto Lupetti, journalist and among the foremost experts on Champagne.
The programme begins on Sunday 5 October with “Beyond colours, Champagne in the dark”, a blind tasting that sold out even before the opening. Next, “The great formats”, boams. On Monday 6 it will be the turn of “Spécial Club: is it really special?”, accompanied by Calvisius caviar, and “From White to Pink”, dedicated to the maisons that have made chromatic versatility their stylistic hallmark.
There will also be sponsor classes, bringing Champagne into dialogue with iconic products from Emilia such as Parmigiano Reggiano and Lambrusco, in a meeting that celebrates a borderless gastronomic culture.

Bologna prepares its welcome

The debut in Bologna has been welcomed with enthusiasm by institutions and the local economic fabric. “This event confirms Bologna as a point of reference for international food & beverage”, says Gianpiero Calzolari, president of BolognaFiere, highlighting the value generated for the territory. Daniele Ara, city councillor, agrees, stressing the opportunity to “bring together Emilia’s agri-food excellence with international professionals in the sector”, in a virtuous dialogue between tradition and innovation.

An event for professionals and enthusiasts

Champagne Experience is not just a fair, but a laboratory of exchange, culture and discovery. For professionals it represents a unique opportunity for updates and networking; for enthusiasts, a sensory journey through rare labels and top-level tastings.
Tickets, both for entry and for masterclasses, are available exclusively online on the official website  champagneexperience.it