The Italian winery Follador wins two gold medals at the world's premier sparkling wine competition
The recognition is completed with its inclusion in Doctor Wine's Essential Guide to Italian Wines.
Tuesday, September 15, 2026
The Italian winery Follador dal 1769, based in Col San Martino, has won two gold medals at the 2026 Champagne & Sparkling Wine World Championships (CSWWC) and has been included in Doctor Wine's Essential Guide to Italian Wines 2027. The company announced both accolades on Tuesday, September 15th, placing the winery in two distinct categories: among sparkling wines judged by a panel of experts and in one of the leading guides to Italian wine.
Los dos oros del CSWWC han sido para Ruiol Castei Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG 2025 y Torri di Credazzo Cru Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG 2025. A esa relación se suma una medalla de bronce para Nani dei Berti Rive di Col San Martino Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG 2025. Los tres vinos pertenecen a la añada 2025 y forman parte de la producción de espumosos de la bodega en la zona de Conegliano Valdobbiadene.
The CSWWC is a competition dedicated to sparkling wines, founded by British critic Tom Stevenson. For the 2026 edition, the tasting panel included Stevenson himself, Master of Wine Essi Avellan, and critic George Markus, among others. The awards ceremony is scheduled for October 29th at Merchant Taylors' Hall in London.
Cristina Follador, who runs the company with her siblings Michele, Emanuela, and Francesca, noted that the results have come in a short period and confirm the winery's work. She also stated that receiving two gold medals at such a prestigious international competition and being selected by Doctor Wine's guide reinforces, in her opinion, the quality of the project and the identity of its wines in Italy and other markets. The executive added that the family will maintain its investment in research and the promotion of Conegliano Valdobbiadene.
Inclusion in Doctor Wine's Essential Guide to Italian Wines 2027 adds to Follador's recognition in the Italian market. The publication, edited by Daniele Cernilli, is now in its thirteenth edition. Follador interprets its inclusion in the guide as an endorsement of the consistency of its production and a coherent winemaking process, at a time when many Italian wineries are seeking to gain visibility both domestically and internationally.
The winery is located in Col San Martino, in the heart of the Conegliano Valdobbiadene hills, an area designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Follador traces its origins back to 1769. According to family history, that year the Doge of Venice recognized Giovanni Follador for the quality of his wines. Since then, the estate has passed through nine generations.
The current management team consists of Michele, Cristina, Emanuela, and Francesca Follador. The winery bases part of its identity on the Gianfranco Follador® Method, a proprietary production protocol that, the company states, aims to maintain consistent quality and a defined style in its sparkling wines. This combination of family tradition and technical innovation forms part of the winery's marketing strategy.
International presence is also a key factor in the business. Follador markets its wines in several European countries, including Austria, Germany, Spain, Portugal, Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom, as well as in the United States, China, New Zealand, Malaysia, Thailand, Nepal, Kazakhstan, Cyprus, and Costa Rica, in addition to several Caribbean markets. The accolades received this Tuesday, September 15th, come at a time when the company already has an extensive sales network outside of Italy and a strategy centered on Prosecco Superiore DOCG as the core of its product range.