“Mostrami 4 Umberto Cesari”: the art call successfully closed on June 20, 2025 at 11:59 PM (UTC+2)!

Our most recent art call, organized in collaboration with the prestigious winery Umberto Cesari of Castel San Pietro Terme (BO), officially closed on Friday, June 20, 2025, at 11:59 p.m.— with excellent results! We’re thrilled about this contest!

This initiative brought together photographers, graphic designers, illustrators, painters, and digital artists from across Italy and abroad, who were invited to create new artistic labels for the MOMA wine line — an acronym for My Own MAsterpiece — dedicated to the world of art. Following the artistic tribute to Giorgio Morandi in the first edition, the Umberto Cesari Art Contest was launched in 2011 to support emerging young artists, strengthen the bond between wine and art, and periodically renew the labels in the line.

A few words about this remarkable winery: in the early 1960s, Umberto Cesari acquired 20 hectares of vineyards and embarked on the ambitious project of his life — transforming Sangiovese into a prestigious, internationally appreciated wine. He was one of the pioneers in Emilia-Romagna to elevate this variety and other native grapes of the region, such as Albana di Romagna, Trebbiano, and Pignoletto, which were later complemented by renowned international varieties like Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, and Sauvignon Blanc.
Today, the company spans 12 estates located in the hills between Castel San Pietro Terme and Montecatone di Imola, all managed according to sustainable viticulture principles. Currently, 30% of the vineyards have been converted to organic farming.

Umberto Cesari has developed a production method that skillfully combines artisanal expertise with advanced technology: every step, from vineyard to bottle, takes place within an internal supply chain managed by highly qualified professionals. The entire process is carried out on-site, using cutting-edge tools while respecting traditional practices, ensuring complete and constant control over the final product’s quality. A deep commitment to quality, daily dedication, attention to detail, ongoing research, and a drive for innovation have always been the beating heart of the Umberto Cesari philosophy, which is rooted in these very values.

We are excited to have achieved these extraordinary initial results with this contest and such an outstanding partner: over 190 artists, both Italian and international, of various ages and genders, enthusiastically responded to the call, submitting over 600 creative works including photographs, illustrations, graphics, paintings, and digital art!

Each participating artist was allowed to submit up to 10 proposals, resulting in a wide range of artistic styles and approaches. We truly appreciated the diversity and originality of the ideas presented. We believe that initiatives like this serve exactly this purpose: to inspire the artistic community and provide opportunities to grow professionally and gain hands-on experience in this kind of creative project.

Art and wine in a new key

Artists were asked to artistically express the core values of Umberto Cesari (here is the link to their company website) – heritage, sustainability, innovation, responsible consumption, and conviviality – by creating proposals for three labels: white wine, red wine, and sparkling wine.

The theme chosen for the call – “wine culture at the heart of convivial moments in our lives, balancing the right timing and responsible consumption” – encouraged reflection on the importance of wine in food and social traditions, telling stories of passion, land, and quality.

Here is a selection of photos representing the four values around which this art call revolved: responsible consumption, wellness (personal and collective well-being), sociability and conviviality, and the quality and time needed to achieve and experience them.

“Mostrami 4 Umberto Cesari” art call : next steps

What happens now? We retreat to evaluate, read, view, and discover all of your amazing proposals!

The technical jury we assembled for the evaluation is composed of:

• Gianmaria Cesari, CEO of Umberto Cesari;
• Alyssa de Bartolo, Brand and Innovation Director – Dandurand Group;
• Maud Sudan, Vice President Brand Portfolio Management – Univins & Spiritueux, Dandurand Group;
• Marc-Olivier Vaillancourt, Master of Wine candidate & Brand Portfolio Director – Univins & Spiritueux, Dandurand Group;
• Letizia Gamberini, journalist in Bologna at Il Resto del Carlino, with a focus on culture and entertainment. A passionate traveler, book lover, and wine enthusiast, she became a certified sommelier and writes travel guides for Touring Editore;
• Patrick Colgan, journalist at the national and international news desk of Quotidiano Nazionale; his strong passion for food and wine led him to earn a sommelier diploma. He also writes travel guides for Touring Editore;
• Roberto Gerosa, multifaceted artist and eclectic architect; a prominent figure in the world of design and high-quality craftsmanship, currently serving as Creative Director of Fondazione Kenta;
• Sandro Aglialoro, founder and director of Mostrami, lecturer and consultant in Marketing for Cultural Organizations.

This panel will have the challenging task of selecting the 6 shortlisted creative proposals, which will then be presented to our community for evaluation during the summer of 2025!

By September 10, 2025, the six selected artists will be announced, followed by the overall winner whose work will be featured on the labels of the MOMA line and used across all communication channels of Umberto Cesari for a full 8 years.

Additionally, the call awards the winning artist a gross prize of €2,500, to be granted by Mostrami upon invoice or occasional receipt; the other five shortlisted artists will each receive a prize in kind consisting of three cases (MOMA white, MOMA red, and MOMA sparkling) sent by Umberto Cesari, with a commercial value of €200.

Thank you to all participants!

We are proud to have received so many proposals and to have brought together the world of contemporary art with that of quality wine; we thank all the artists who registered and participated in the call!

Here is a page on our website with more details about the “Mostrami 4 Umberto Cesari” art call.

Stay tuned to discover the finalists’ works and the winner of this artistic contest!