From 23 to 25 July, the 2026 edition of Regina di Puglia took place in Noicàttaro, in Italy’s Apulia region. The international event showcased the region’s world-class table grapes, their cultivation, and Apulia’s rich culture and traditions. Karlskroona took part alongside international buyers, journalists and other industry representatives.
Apulia is one of Europe’s most important table grape-growing regions, and Regina di Puglia has become a significant event bringing together agriculture, innovation, local culture and tourism. This year’s event brought together seven municipalities – Noicàttaro, Rutigliano, Mola di Bari, Castellaneta, Adelfia, Casamassima and Polignano a Mare – which are working together to promote the region and its high-quality products internationally.
During the three-day event, participants visited local companies, learned about the cultivation and packing of table grapes, took part in the grape harvest and had the opportunity to taste new table grape varieties. Particular attention was also paid to the modern and digital agricultural solutions actively used by Apulian growers.
We met with several local grape growers, and it was wonderful to see the younger generation increasingly taking over the work of their grandparents.
At Vandelia, for example, Giuseppe Maldera is actively involved in the business, carrying on his grandparents’ traditions while also introducing new ideas and innovations. AgriMessina, founded by Francesco Messina in 1960, is now being run by the third generation of the Messina family. Brothers Francesco and Giuseppe Messina are proud of the business their grandparents built, and today, under their leadership, Apulian grapes reach markets all over the world.
“Regina di Puglia has paved the way for a new kind of tourism that combines our agricultural excellence with the beauty and traditions of our land. This event is not just about grapes – it is about sharing the story of Apulia with the whole world,” said Raimondo Innamorato, Mayor of Noicàttaro.
Bringing the world’s finest produce to the people of Estonia
For Karlskroona, bringing the world’s finest produce to Estonian consumers is a key priority. As Estonia’s largest fruit and vegetable wholesaler, Karlskroona has maintained important relationships with Italian growers and intermediaries for many years. Regina di Puglia further confirmed the many opportunities that closer cooperation with companies in Apulia can offer.
It is important to us to bring Estonian consumers the finest produce from around the world – high-quality, fresh and distinctive products that offer new taste experiences. Apulian table grapes are certainly among the products that Karlskroona would like to introduce more actively and make available to consumers in Estonia.
For Karlskroona, it is important to visit growing regions in person, see how the produce is grown, meet the growers and gain a deeper understanding of the entire supply chain. When it comes to Apulian table grapes, we are talking about a region with a strong reputation for quality and a long-standing tradition of grape cultivation.
Regina di Puglia 2026 once again demonstrated that modern agriculture is about much more than growing and producing food. It is also about innovation, international cooperation, local culture and the opportunity to introduce the best products from a region to people around the world.
For Karlskroona, closer cooperation with Apulia and Italian growers represents another important step towards our goal: bringing the world’s finest fruit and vegetables to the people of Estonia.
