France Joins the UENFW – Major Wine Nation Strengthens the European Winemakers’ Community

VINOEURO Italy 2026 (2–7 June 2026) in Tuscany to Become a Sporting and Wine-Cultural Stage for Ten Wine-Producing Nations

The UENFW – Union of European National Football Teams of Winemakers e.V. continues to grow: with France, one of the world’s most important wine nations joins the European network of national teams of winemakers. This week, the two Secretaries General, Erica Fischbach and Nelson Rodrigues, were delighted to receive the excellent application for membership.

The French team “Bleus de la Vigne”, organized within the Association Sportive et Culturelle des Métiers de la Vigne and based in Paris, brings together professionals from vineyard and cellar.

www.bleusdelavigne.fr

President Denis Abraham took up the idea of a French participation during a visit to the Geisenheim Unikeller and, within just one year, successfully transformed it into a sustainable national structure—an impressive organizational achievement and a strong signal of European commitment.

“With France, our Union gains enormous visibility. When a great wine nation like France becomes part of our community, we send a powerful message for a united Europe shaped by wine, culture, and fair play,” says Robert Lönarz, President of the UENFW.

A European Idea with Roots in the Rheingau and Tuscany

The European winemakers’ football movement is largely rooted in the initiative of Dr. Franz Josef Jung, a winemaker’s son from the Rheingau and Honorary President of the UENFW. Together with the Tuscan winemaker and hotelier Luigi Brunetti, he developed the vision of bringing European wine-producing nations together through football.

Dr. Jung emphasizes:“Wine is culture, identity, and dialogue. When winemakers meet on the pitch, trust emerges—and from trust grows European friendship.”

VINOEURO 2026: Tuscany as a European Stage

The ceremonial admission of France will take place during VINOEURO 2026 in Tuscany. The signing of the accession agreement will be celebrated as a dedicated program highlight on the opening evening—a symbolic moment in European wine history.

The tournament combines sporting competition with scientific exchange, cultural encounters, and political impulses for Europe’s wine sector.

“VINOEURO is not an ordinary tournament. It is a European forum. Football is our common language—wine is our identity,” Lönarz adds.

Geisenheim as Europe’s Organizational Heart

The UENFW’s headquarters are located at Hochschule Geisenheim, an internationally renowned center for viticulture and oenology. From here, the network is coordinated and strategically developed.

With France joining, the movement gains fresh momentum—sportingly ambitious, culturally deeply rooted, and politically significant.

VINOEURO 2026 will thus be more than a sporting event: it will stand as a visible symbol of European cohesion—radiating special impact for the Rheingau and all other German wine regions.

Website:www.vinoeuro2026.com