ITALY. Italian wine specialist Masi Agricola has partnered with Lagardère Travel Retail to open a Masi Wine Bar & Restaurant at Verona’s Valerio Catullo Airport. The launch further strengthens the companies’ long-standing partnership, which spans multiple airport locations across Italy.
Lagardère Travel Retail Italy oversees day-to-day operations at the airside restaurant, bringing key elements from the Masi Wine Experience to the travel hub through its established expertise in premium airport dining.
The Masi Wine Bar & Restaurant is positioned as a convivial pre-flight stop that celebrates the Italian wine specialist’s craftsmanship and Verona heritage. The concept blends the elegance of a traditional Italian wine bar and restaurant with a lifestyle-focused approach.
Its debut coincides with Valerio Catullo Airport’s wider expansion and refurbishment. The airport is a key gateway for Verona and Lake Garda, a region that attracts 19 million annual visitors and is recognised as both a major tourism destination and an important business hub.
In keeping with Masi’s ‘wine first’ philosophy, the food & beverage offer showcases the wine specialist’s full portfolio, paired with a diverse menu of dishes ranging from Venetian culinary classics to international options.
Wine also features as an ingredient in several seasonal dishes. These include a traditional Venetian cicchetti alongside a creative menu of cocktails and aperitifs crafted with Masi wines.
The Valerio Catullo Airport location becomes the latest addition to the expanding Masi Wine Experience network. Other venues include the Masi Winery and the Serego Alighieri Estate in Valpolicella, Masi Tenuta Canova in Lazise del Garda, Canevel Spumanti in Valdobbiadene and Masi Tupungato in Argentina.
The portfolio also features lifestyle locations such as the Masi Wine Bar on the ski slopes of Cortina and the Masi Wine Bar & Restaurant on Maximilianstraße in Munich.
Among the company’s most recent developments is Monteleone21 in Valpolicella, described by Masi as a true ‘Amarone Spaceship’, highlighting the brand’s ongoing investment in experiential wine-led destinations.
Lagardère Travel Retail Italy Chief Executive Officer Alberto Niero commented: “We are proud to strengthen our collaboration with Masi Agricola through the opening of the new Masi Wine Bar & Restaurant at Verona’s Valerio Catullo Airport. With this project, we want to offer travellers high-quality experiences that showcase local culture and its excellence.
“Verona is an international gateway, and wine is one of the most authentic and prestigious symbols of this region. With this format, we combine the pleasure of food and wine with the convenience of travel, transforming waiting time into a moment of discovery and conviviality. It is a project developed together with a partner who shares our values of quality and customer care.”
Masi Agricola Chief Executive Officer Federico Girotto commented: “We are key players in the duty-free and travel retail channel worldwide, but we were missing a Masi Wine Bar in a top airport. Now we have one – and right here in Verona – thanks to Lagardère, whose expertise and sensitivity make it the ideal partner for such a synergistic initiative.
“Passengers departing from here, perhaps after visiting our locations in Valpolicella and on Lake Garda, can now enjoy a final toast with Masi before boarding, with the added opportunity to purchase a bottle at the Duty Free Shop. It is another way of staying connected at all times.”
Masi Agricola Export and Travel Retail Director Piergiuseppe Torresani said, “I am very pleased about this new collaboration with Lagardère. It is another important step in our global strategy in the world of travel and duty free.
“Over the years, we have strengthened our presence in the retail sector, and today we work with the main global operators. What we were missing was a presence in the food segment, an area experiencing strong growth and one that is also synergistic with our product offering.
“Travellers are increasingly demanding and are no longer satisfied with simply eating a sandwich. They want to enjoy the entire travel experience, taking the time to savour a well-cooked hot dish—ideally paired with a good glass of wine.
“We therefore enthusiastically embraced Lagardère’s proposal to create a Masi restaurant right in the airport of our city. We are confident that this is the beginning of a new and fascinating adventure within airports worldwide. Without rushing, but with great curiosity and attention, we will evaluate other opportunities in Italy and around the world.” 
