Although Italy’s attention has recently shifted on the Asian wine market, the United States does remain the strongest ally of Italian wine. Paying homage to this connection and the works of American street artist Shepard Fairey, on April 14th Vinitaly and Wine Spectator will present an urban OperaWine 2018 at Palazzo della Gran Guardia in the heart of Verona.

There was a time when street art was viewed as an act of vandalism. The success of graffiti king Banksy, London gallery Tate Modern inviting artists to create outdoor pieces, and councils worldwide commissioning urban works were some of the trends which elevated this democratic form of expression to the realm of art. This shift was a major and well deserved achievement, since the intrinsic characteristics of street art—accessibility, boldness and openness—are what made it so cutting-edge.