The UENFW unite Europe’s winemakers across borders through wine, football, and education

Final Online-Meeting "VINOEURO 2026" , 14 March 2026

"What defines us as the UENFW is that we unite Europe’s winemakers across borders through wine, football, and education, creating genuine friendship, cultural exchange, and a living example of European cooperation."

"Uns macht aus, dass wir als UENFW Europas Winzerinnen und Winzer über Ländergrenzen hinweg auf einzigartige Weise durch Wein, Fußball und Bildung verbinden und daraus gelebte Freundschaft, kulturellen Austausch und ein friedliches europäisches Miteinander schaffen." Robert Lönarz, UENFW-Präsident

Our mission:

When Winemakers Play Football – Europe’s Wine World Meets on the Pitch

A warm early summer evening in Tuscany. The sun slowly sets over the vineyards of the Bolgheri, while cypress trees cast long shadows across a small football pitch between olive groves. Players wearing jerseys from across Europe step onto the field — Germany, Austria, Portugal, Slovenia, Switzerland, France and several other wine nations.

At first glance, it looks like an international amateur tournament. But in reality, it is something far more unique. Because the players are not professional footballers.

They are winemakers, oenologists, cellar masters, wine entrepreneurs and students of European wine business. All of them are part of the Union of European National Football Teams of Winemakers (UENFW) — a network that brings together wine and football in a truly distinctive way.

The next morning many of them will return to their vineyards, check fermentation tanks or lead tastings. But on this evening they share another passion: football.

A European network built on an unusual idea

Founded in 2018, the UENFW now brings together national teams of winemakers from numerous European wine countries. At the heart of the movement is VINOEURO, the European Championship of Winemakers, where teams from different nations compete against one another.

Yet the tournament is far more than a sporting competition.

It is a platform for exchange, friendship and collaboration within the European wine community.

A look at the players themselves shows just how diverse this network really is.

The people behind the jerseys

Among the players are family winemakers, managers of international wine companies and the next generation of wine professionals.

From Austria, Karl Diwald represents the Wagram wine region and serves as an ambassador for Grüner Veltliner, cultivated on the characteristic loess soils of Lower Austria.

Portugal is represented by Pedro Almeida Lopes Vieira, Area Manager at the internationally known wine company Esporão — bridging global wine markets with a passion for sport.

Slovenia’s team includes winemaker Miha Dajčman and entrepreneur Mitja Sobočan, who combines wine production with gastronomy and wine tourism — a growing trend in many European wine regions.

Switzerland is represented by Nicolas Cheseaux from Cave Corbassière and by young oenology student Michael Baumgartner, symbolizing the next generation of European winemakers.

Austria’s young wine generation is also present through Maximilian Frühwirth.

Thomas Krischke, production manager at the sparkling wine company Rotkäppchen-Mumm.

The football pitch as a diplomatic space

This diversity is precisely what makes the UENFW special.

Family winemakers play alongside international wine managers. Students run side by side with experienced cellar masters. Differences in winery size, region or market position disappear for ninety minutes.

The football pitch becomes an informal diplomatic space within Europe’s wine world. Many collaborations, friendships and projects begin not in formal meetings but after an intense match on the field.

When the final whistle blows

The true highlight of a tournament day often begins after the match.

Players gather around long tables. Bottles from different European wine regions are opened. A German Riesling meets an Austrian Grüner Veltliner.A Portuguese Port stands next to a Sauvignon Blanc from Styria.

In that moment, it becomes clear what the UENFW is really about.

“Our idea is simple: football brings people together — wine deepens friendship. The UENFW connects Europe’s winemakers across borders and shows that our culture thrives on collaboration.”— President of the UENFW

Wine, football and Europe

At a time when the wine industry faces major challenges — climate change, shifting markets and generational transitions — the UENFW offers a different perspective.

It focuses on encounter, exchange and shared passion.

Football is merely the door opener.

Because after the second glass of wine, one thing becomes clear:

The true strength of the UENFW is not the competition on the field, but the community of Europe’s wine world.