ROCCHETTA TANARO, ITALY - On 5 November 2026, the spirit of international rugby meets the art of winemaking as Braida and Idiom face off at the Braida Wine Resort in Rocchetta Tanaro, Piedmont, for The Wine Rugby Match: La Sfida del Vino.
Conceived as a playful encounter between two wine cultures from opposing hemispheres, the evening will feature five pairings of Italian vs. South African wines made by these two leading producers. While the format may borrow from the rugby field, with each pairing representing a character clash between two opposing rugby positions, in this case the real competition will take place in the oval glass.
At the heart of the evening is a focus on Barbera, a grape whose modern history is inseparable from Braida. Under the vision of Giacomo Bologna, who founded the winery in 1961, wines made from Barbera evolved from being simple, traditional table wines into ones recognised for exceptional depth, structure and ageing potential. The celebrated Bricco dell’Uccellone became a landmark in that transformation, helping establish Braida amongst Italy’s most distinctive fine wine producers.
For Idiom, this friendly ‘incontro’ presents an opportunity to showcase Barbera through a South African lens. The Bottega Family started planting Italian grapes at Idiom in the southern part of the Stellenbosch appellation in the late 1990s, mostly to honour their family’s Italian heritage. Now a quarter of century later, the evening at Braida offers them a chance to showcase their interpretation of one of Piedmont’s most famous grapes at the home of one of Italy’s Barbera families. “Playing away from home definitely has its challenges,”, says Roberto Bottega smiling, “the Italian palate is mostly used to Italian varieties made in Italy, so on Thursday they will definitely have home ground advantage. However Italians are also becoming more open to foreign wines, in the same way that more foreign players are now present in their rugby teams.”
“As a sign of respect, we have been quite defensive with our selection of wines and vintages for the evening, but we’re hoping to win a few scrum penalties and score at least one intercept try during the match.” Idiom’s promising Barbera 2022 recently received Grand Cru Best in Class at the 2026 National Wine Challenge in South Africa, adding particular significance to the evening’s Barbera comparisons.
The programme brings together Braida’s Timorasso, Curej, Montebruna, Il Bacialé and Bricco dell’Uccellone wines alongside Idiom’s Viognier, Zinfandel, Barbera, Cape Blend and Barbera 900 Series. Each pairing offers a different perspective: lively whites, explosive reds, Super-Piedmont vs Super Cape, and, ultimately, the capacity of one grape to reveal the character of two very different wine regions.
Among the highlights is the captain’s comparison between Braida’s Bricco dell’Uccellone and Idiom’s limited release Barbera 900 Series, vintage to be revealed on the evening- a meeting between a benchmark of Piedmontese winemaking and a brawny Stellenbosch interpretation of thesame variety. Both wines possess power, stamina and excellent conditioning. It is a fitting finale for an evening that celebrates both Barbera’s heritage and its continued evolution beyond its homeland.
Set among the vineyards of Monferrato, Braida Wine Resort provides the perfect backdrop for an evening of discovery, conversation and friendly rivalry. While the invitation may ask guests to choose sides, the greater ambition is to celebrate the diversity of wine and the connections that emerge when different traditions meet.“When the final whistle blow, we will shake hands and embrace, and leave with a better understanding of each other’s philosophies!”
The Wine Rugby Match - La Sfida del Vino
Date: Thursday, 5 November 2026
Venue: Braida Wine Resort, Rocchetta Tanaro, Asti, Piedmont, Italy
Experience: Dinner and wine tasting featuring five Italian–South African wine pairings.
Further information: Braida Wine Resort
EXTRA TIME UPDATE…
Idiom will also be featured in Turin on the same night in a special lineup of South African wines that will be presented by top Italian wine educator Guido Invernizzi to a full house of wine lovers from the Piedmont Italian Association of Sommeliers (AIS Piemonte) at the AIS offices in Via Modena, 23, Torino. All the South African wines that will be poured form part of specialist South African importer, Afriwines.
“The fact that we can field two teams on the same night says something about our South African squad depth,” jokes Bottega, “We might be in the wine industry, and not professional rugby players, but the moral of the story is that we can all take a leaf out of coach Rassie’s book if we want to be champions on the world stage!”