by InTrieste
The Collio wine region is experiencing a record-breaking year for tourism, with visitor numbers in the first eight months of 2025 up 22.7 percent compared with last year, according to regional officials. The growth, fueled by both international and domestic travelers, comes as Cormons inaugurates its annual Grape Festival, a tradition dating back to 1938.
The event, which runs through Sept. 21, has transformed this small town in the Friuli Venezia Giulia region into a hub of music, food, and wine. More than 40 stands, along with concerts and cultural programming, fill three central squares designed to attract families, young people, and wine enthusiasts alike.
“Collio is living through an extraordinary season,” said Sergio Emidio Bini, the regional councillor for tourism and economic development, during the opening ceremony at Palazzo Locatelli. “Our territory, with its strong identity and high-quality food, wine, and cultural offerings, is becoming a top destination in both the national and international landscape, also benefitting from the momentum of Nova Gorica–Gorizia as European Capital of Culture 2025.”
This year’s edition of the festival includes new master classes organized in collaboration with the Collio Wine Consortium, held at the recently renovated regional wine center in Cormons. The initiative, supported by the Friuli Venezia Giulia region, PromoTurismoFVG, GO!2025, and Città del Vino, is part of a broader strategy to strengthen the area’s position as a cultural and gastronomic destination.
Tourism data reflects the impact of these efforts. In the first eight months of the year, Collio municipalities recorded more than 44,000 overnight stays, with a 27.2 percent increase in foreign visitors and a 17.9 percent rise in Italian travelers. Foreign guests tend to stay longer, averaging more than two nights, while Italians increasingly opt for shorter visits.
The region is also backing the sector with financial incentives aimed at expanding and upgrading local accommodations. Current programs include funding for the renovation of housing units for tourist use and for the establishment of new four-star and higher hotels, with eligibility extended to Collio municipalities for the first time. The initiatives require a minimum private investment of €4 million, supported by a total fund of €10 million.
For Mr. Bini, the Grape Festival is both a celebration of local heritage and a showcase for the region’s long-term tourism strategy. “It is not only a moment of tradition and cultural identity,” he said, “but also a window into the future development of Friuli Venezia Giulia.”
