The World Food Summit was held in Cascais, Portugal on June 18-22, an event bringing together some of the world’s most influential figures in gastronomy, showcasing culinary excellence and innovation from across the globe. The 30th edition of the prestigious Gourmand International Awards, celebrating the best food culture books in the world, took place during the summit. This was an especially important edition of the summit and of the awards ceremony, given that the latter celebrated ‘The Best of the Best, 30 years of Excellence 1995-2025”.
The book Italian Wine Terroirs (available at Amazon Press), co-written by Ian D’Agata and Michele Longo, was awarded first place in the European Wine Books category: “Best in the World European Wine 2025”. The two co-authors had previously also won first place at the Gourmand Award in the Wine Professionals category for their first book written together, “The Grapes and Wines of Italy: The Definitive Compendium Region by Region”, and for their benchmark Barolo Terroir: Grapes Crus People Places, widely regarded as the best and most complete book ever written on Barolo (both books are also available at Amazon Press). “Italian Wine Terroirs was a real labour of love”said co-author Michele Longo upon hearing of the award. “I think it’s a tremendously important award, and something I am very proud of” he continued.
The other co-author of Italian Wine Terroirs, Ian D’Agata added: “Just because I might have been blessed with awards for my wine writing in the past does not mean that I am unaware of just how difficult it is to win, anywhere and at any time, an award from a well-respected, famous and storied institution such as the Gourmand Awards. I never take such an outcome for granted, and words cannot truly express just how grateful I am for this award of real distinction. The Best European Wine book title from the Gourmand Awards both humbles and honours me in ways that you cannot even begin to imagine. Behind every book we write there are years of research and study, and it is deeply moving to have our efforts so recognized. My thanks and deepest gratitude to M. Edouard Cointreau, the Presideent of the Awards, and the judges”. D’Agata also mentioned how sad he had been not to be able to attend the awards ceremony in person this year, as he had planned to do ever since learning of the book’s nomination as one of the finalists. Unfortunately, a fall down a steep vineyard slope that happened just shortly before the awards event in Portugal resulted in strained right leg and knee ligaments that required a three-weeks period of rest off his feet at home, keeping him bedridden.
The Gourmand World Cookbook Awards were founded in 1995 by Edouard Cointreau. Every year, they honour the best food and wine culture books, printed or digital, with or without recipes. And very year, Gourmand organizes a world symposium in a special location for the Awards Ceremony, an opportunity to meet and network among the world’s important wine and food people, including hundreds of publishers, authors, chefs and journalists. These awards not only spotlight outstanding international cookbooks, culinary magazines, and food-related media, but also help highlight the importance of culinary, food and wine storytelling and its impact on food culture worldwide.
Numerous winning books were announced at the 30th Best of the Best edition of the Gourmand Awards, and Italian Wine Terroirs (available at Amazon Press), co-written by Ian D’Agata and Michele Longo, was awarded first place in the European Wine Books category: “Best in the World European Wine 2025”. In second place, Wine Secrets of Romania, Dobrogea Region Vol. II by Elisabeth Gabay MW and Răzvan Stoenescu, followed in third and fourth place respectively by The Wines of Germany by Anne Krebiehl and The Wines of Portugal by Richard Mayson. All the staff at the Ian D’Agata Wine Review extends congratulations to all the winning wine and food writers at this year’s edition of the Awards.
Just a short distance from Lisbon, Cascais is a famous Portuguese city blending seaside charm with cultural sophistication like few others. A beautiful beach town with ancient fishing traditions, a vibrant food scene, and a cosmopolitan, worldly air, it is poised to become a key player in food matters and a hub for global travelers who are food lovers and experts, promoting and fostering an international culinary exchange and a global dialogue on all matters relating to food, wine, sustainability, history, tradition, culture and local heritages.
