A memorable debut accompanied by exciting news. The Maxi Yacht 90 Prosecco DOC Shockwave3, owned by the Monfalcone Yacht Club with Claudio Demartis as owner and Pompeo Tria as co-owner, got the season off to a great start, winning Line Honors in the Brindisi-Corfu race and setting a new course record. The occasion also marked the official announcement of the partnership with Jonian Dolphin Conservation (JDC), alongside JDC founder Carmelo Fanizza and current President Vittorio Pollazzon.
Jonian Dolphin Conservation is a scientific research association that, for over 15 years, has been studying and protecting cetaceans—primarily dolphins—in the Gulf of Taranto and neighboring waters. Its activities include approximately 200 sea excursions every year, engaging around 10,000 citizens annually in an innovative Citizen Science model that has also been adopted in other European countries. Among its most significant initiatives is the San Paolo Dolphin Refuge, the first facility in the Mediterranean dedicated to dolphins born and raised in captivity in European dolphinariums that are gradually closing.
“The partnership between Jonian Dolphin Conservation and Prosecco DOC Shockwave3 was founded on the principles of environmental sustainability and absolute respect for the sea—values shared by these two organizations that live for and on the sea. Although sailing is already inherently eco-friendly, as it harnesses the power of the wind, we were positively impressed by all the best practices implemented on a daily basis aboard Prosecco DOC Shockwave3 to eliminate or further reduce its environmental impact: the prudent use of resources, waste management, and more. These are the same best practices we adopt aboard our two research catamarans, Taras and Extraordinaria, with which we carry out our scientific research missions at sea. These activities are always conducted with the utmost respect for the marine ecosystem, particularly the cetaceans we study—the magnificent marine mammals that inhabit our seas,” said Vittorio Pollazzon, President of JDC.
Starting this June, the Jonian Dolphin Conservation flag will fly aboard Prosecco DOC Shockwave3 in every port it visits, while the association will be actively promoted through the yacht’s 2026 project.
“Among the many organizations working to protect the marine environment—all of which are worthy of support—we were drawn to JDC thanks to two friends: swimming champion Luca Dotto and former freediving world champion and respiratory specialist Mike Maric. The JDC team stands out for its professionalism and dedication, always prioritizing concrete action over words. We also chose JDC because we share the same spirit with which we experience the sea—with passion and respect—and, personally, I love dolphins,” explained Claudio Demartis, owner of Prosecco DOC Shockwave3.
Official website of Jonian Dolphin Conservation: https://www.joniandolphin.it/
The ninth edition of the Perazza Calendar, the charity project promoted by the Treviso-based communications agency Perazza srl, closed with a new record. Once again this year, athletes from Benetton Rugby, Nutribullet Treviso Basket, and Prosecco DOC A. Carraro Imoco Conegliano lent their faces to the charity calendar.
The funds raised this year for children undergoing treatment in the pediatric ward of Ca’ Foncello Hospital in Treviso and at the IOV – Veneto Oncology Institute total 36,120 euros: the best result in the initiative’s history, which has raised a total of more than 230,000 euros since 2018.
The check, divided equally between the two institutions, was officially presented on June 8 at the headquarters of the Prosecco DOC Protection Consortium, the initiative’s main sponsor, in the presence of representatives from the participating teams, sponsors, and local institutions.
The 2026 edition introduced a new feature that once again highlighted the connection between the project and the local area: the collaboration with the Treviso Comic Book Festival.
Three illustrators from the Festival worked to integrate photographs of male and female athletes with original graphic designs. The result is a calendar that speaks different languages: vibrant colors for Benetton Rugby, charm and elegance for Prosecco Doc A. Carraro Imoco Conegliano, and an urban, contemporary aesthetic for Nutribullet Treviso Basket. Three versions that leave a lasting impression, united by the same charitable goal.
Sold online and distributed in arenas, stadiums, and the teams’ official stores starting in November, the calendar once again received a warm welcome from fans, sports enthusiasts, and local communities. This response confirms just how much the project has become a beloved and eagerly anticipated event, year after year.
Mario Conte, Mayor of Treviso, had this to say about the initiative’s success: “Over the years, the Perazza Calendar has become an extraordinary symbol of how sports, creativity, and solidarity can come together for the
good of the community. Riccardo Perazza, the champions of our professional teams who stepped up, and all the partners who made this initiative possible deserve our applause because the result achieved—a significant fundraising total for the Pediatrics Department of Ca’ Foncello Hospital and the IOV—once again demonstrates the great generosity of our community. Treviso is capable of producing sporting excellence at the national and international levels, but above all, it knows how to transform success and visibility into a concrete opportunity to help those who need it most. This is the most beautiful value of a project that, after nine years, continues to grow and do good.”
“We are proud to host the presentation of this important check again this year, which testifies to the generosity of our community and the effectiveness of a project that unites sports, art, and solidarity. “Being the main sponsor of the 2026 Perazza Calendar allows us to provide concrete support to outstanding organizations such as the IOV and the pediatric department in Treviso, confirming the Consortium’s commitment to promoting initiatives that bring real benefits to our community,” states Giancarlo Guidolin, President of the Prosecco DOC Protection Consortium.
“We accept this contribution with deep gratitude, as it is intended to support the children and families staying in the Pediatric Ward at Ca’ Foncello Hospital,” emphasizes Giancarlo Bizzarri, General Director of ULSS 2 Marca Trevigiana. “Local initiatives like the Perazza Calendar demonstrate just how generous our community can be and how close it stands with those most in need. The constant commitment that Perazza Srl and the champions of our region renew year after year in the name of solidarity represents an extraordinary example of social responsibility and genuine closeness to the community. Sincere thanks go to Riccardo Perazza, to all the project’s supporters, to the athletes, and to all those who, through their purchase, have chosen to do good.”
“I would like to wholeheartedly thank everyone who contributed to this extraordinary achievement of solidarity,” states Dr. Patrizia Simionato, General Director of the IOV-IRCCS. “Once again, the Perazza Calendar demonstrates how the local area, businesses, culture, and sports organizations can come together in a concrete way to support the most vulnerable patients. I thank those who conceived and participated in this commendable and well-established project, which allows our Institute to benefit from concrete support for cancer research. For the IOV, this is invaluable assistance, enabling us to continue providing care and support to patients throughout their cancer journey.”
For more information: www.calendarioperazza.it
Now in its ninth edition, the Calendario Perazza solidarity project features the athletes of Prosecco DOC Imoco Volley, Benetton Rugby, and Nutribullet Treviso Basket who posed with enthusiasm to support and promote the initiative. The proceeds from sales will be split equally between the Pediatrics Department at Ca’ Foncello Hospital in Treviso and the Veneto Oncology Institute (IOV), continuing a partnership that has lasted for several editions.
The 2026 calendar also features the Treviso Comic Book Festival: three festival illustrators added their own creative touches to enhance the photographs. This collaboration combines sports, imagination, and visual art, while upholding the charitable mission that has defined the calendar since its inception.
In the Prosecco DOC Imoco Volley section, the players shine in elegant black-and-white outfits, surrounded by a cascade of colorful graphic elements created by illustrator Isabella Bersellini. Flowers, stars, and flowing lines accentuate the athletes’ silhouettes, emphasizing their athleticism and individual personalities.
For Benetton Rugby, Osvaldo Casanova brings the action to life with a series of vibrant and dynamic illustrations. Stylized silhouettes of players in motion trail bright streaks of color that wrap around their bodies, creating a striking and expressive visual impact.
For the Nutribullet Treviso Basket calendar, Paolo Gallina created stylized urban scenes in black and white. His visual storytelling fuses street culture with sports identity, blending everyday life and city details with the athletes’ relaxed – and sometimes – playful poses.
Giancarlo Guidolin, President of the Prosecco DOC Consortium, said: “We are delighted to take part once again in a project that brings together sport, creativity, and solidarity. Our denomination has always supported the local community and initiatives that help those facing difficult challenges. Contributing to the Pediatrics Department at Ca’ Foncello Hospital and to the IOV allows us to transform the values of sport and culture into real, concrete support for families. We hope this edition inspires even more people to join forces and ease the burden of those in delicate situations.”
Sharing is at the basis of the philosophy of the Consorzio Prosecco DOC. Arrangements are made at the table, special meetings are held and the family meets after a day’s work. It is with a glass of wine that everything begins and lightheartedness takes over.
But, in this year above all, sharing has taken on a different value, made of generosity and safeguarding a greater sense of family: community. The Consorzio Prosecco DOC has always supported solidarity, which is a very dear topic to the Consorzio , especially in the sports scene, and has done so through support to some really special events and happenings.
One of these is Obiettivo 3, which aims to teach and spread the sport among disabled people, who still represent a category heavily penalized by high costs and especially by the difficulty in understanding how to start. In 2017 already, Consorzio Prosecco DOC supported the association during “Sorsi di Solidarietà” for the purchase of a handbike that would have accompanied a young disabled athlete to the Paralympic Games in Tokyo 2020, and this summer Consorzio was back close to Obiettivo 3 in the big relay that took place in July with three relevant legs, and that saw the participation of of 65 Paralympic athletes. Obiettivo Tricolore, in its second edition, was a great success that traveled Italy from North to South with its arrival in Catania. Prosecco DOC was present as official sparkling partner in Treviso, Jesolo, Bologna, Rome and Catania with a corner with a bar to toast to strength, inclusion and hope.
The same goes for Paralympic Rugby. Consorzio Prosecco DOC supports the “Dogi” team, who practice wheelchair rugby and the athletes, from the provinces of Padua, Treviso, Vicenza, Belluno, Verona and Gorizia, are the backbone of the same Italian national team. Another beautiful story of which Prosecco DOC has embraced the philosophy for two years is Moreno Pesce’s and the climbing he loves to practice in the mountains. The athlete, who was amputated due to a motorcycle accident, represents the enthusiasm and tenacious spirit of all athletes. It’s impossible to not be involved in this thought of him: “A motorcycle accident threw me to the ground in every sense and life changed its meaning. I was reborn when I realized that the only difference is that now I am just a little bit slower when I run or walk. Maybe I was in too much of a hurry and learned to look, think, wait. One is not disabled because a bodily function is lacking or reduced, but because one does not use all the talents we have to achieve our dreams ”.
Also in the sports field, there is a calendar that the Consorzio supports with great affection. We are talking about the Perazza Calendar whose goal is to raise funds for the Veneto Oncology Institute and sees the Treviso teams of Prosecco DOC Imoco Volley Conegliano, Treviso De Longhi Basket and Treviso Benetton Rugby as protagonists. The right mix of culture, sport and solidarity that carries on fundamental values such as hope and optimism which, it is hoped, will be a stimulus and source of inspiration in the children to whom the project is dedicated.
Since 2007, Doppia Difesa, a non-profit organization set up by Michelle Hunziker and Giulia Bongiorno, has raised public awareness and has helped victims of discrimination, abuse and violence to say “enough is enough!”; Prosecco DOC is with the association to embrace these ideals and give a voice to those who believe they have no way to escape. On the other hand, the association speaks clearly and writes it in large letters under the heading Sensitization: “We want to promote equality, the defense of fundamental rights and the strengthening of the role of women, in every context: violence also arises from discrimination . This is why communication activities are one of the primary purposes of our commitment to the community and institutions, a commitment carried out through social campaigns, press articles, thematic columns, public interventions “.
Last but not least, the Covid19 situation which could not remain unheard. Thus, the proximity to the health system of the Consorzio territories was also strong, with visible and immediately effective support: withdrawing from its budget the sum necessary for the purchase of an intensive care station. On the other hand, it is not the first time that Prosecco DOC acts in times of crisis in the area; not only words dedicated to enhancement but also practicality in everyday life: just think of the Vaia storm that hit the region in 2018, devastating the valleys of Lombardy, Veneto, Trentino Alto Adige and Friuli Venezia Giulia for which the Consorzio donated € 100,000 in favor of the most affected Veneto and Friuli areas and an equal amount in favor of the City of Venice, hit by bad weather and the exceptional high water of 12 November 2019.
Generosity and social responsibility are the real founding principles of our production system and our communities and it is of primary importance to carry out initiatives such as these just described in every way. Because toasting for a common good is even more satisfying.
