From 7 to 9 September 2026, REWINE joined the European community of Centres of Vocational Excellence at the 2026 Forum on Vocational Excellence in Graz, Austria. Hosted at FH JOANNEUM, the Forum brought together CoVE initiatives, VET organisations, industry representatives, policymakers and European stakeholders to exchange experiences and explore how vocational excellence can contribute to more innovative, competitive and resilient European regions. The programme placed particular emphasis on the theme of European Education for Resilient Regions, alongside the future of VET, innovation, technology and stronger cooperation between education and industry.

Bringing REWINE into the European CoVE community

REWINE had a strong and active presence throughout the Forum, with representatives from almost all participating countries joining the activities in Graz. The event offered an important first opportunity, only a few months after the project’s launch, to introduce REWINE to the wider European CoVE community and position its work within the European discussion on vocational excellence.

Through the REWINE stand and the Vocational Excellence Exhibition, partners presented the project’s vision, objectives and emerging activities using dedicated communication materials and direct exchanges with Forum participants. The exhibition itself was organised by Wirtschaftskammer Steiermark (WKO Styria) and provided participating CoVEs with a dedicated space to present their initiatives and engage with one another.

From territories to a “Living Destination”

An important contribution of REWINE was its participation in and support of the workshop “The Living Destination: How to Find Common Grounds”. The session built on themes closely connected with the project’s approach: the relationship between vocational education, local businesses, tourism, territorial identity and sustainable regional development.

For REWINE, this perspective is particularly relevant. Wine and beverage regions are not simply places of production. They are living ecosystems, where vineyards, wineries, breweries, gastronomy, tourism, local culture, skills and communities interact. Developing the skills required for their green and digital transition therefore means looking beyond individual occupations and building stronger connections between education, industry and the territory itself.

A taste of the REWINE partnership

REWINE’s presence in Graz also brought the identity of its regions directly into the Forum through a wine-tasting experience featuring wines from Austria, Greece and Cyprus.

More than a social activity, the tasting offered an authentic way to communicate what REWINE represents: diverse European territories connected through wine, local knowledge, skills and a shared commitment to innovation and sustainability. It gave Forum participants the opportunity to experience some of the regional products and traditions that stand behind the project’s work and helped make the REWINE partnership visible in a memorable and engaging way.

The CoVE Forum 2026 marked another important step in REWINE’s European journey. From its Kick-Off Meeting among the wineries and beverage enterprises of Thessaly to its first major European appearance in Graz, the project is beginning to build the connections that lie at the heart of its mission: connecting vocational excellence with industry, people and territories, and cultivating the skills needed for a greener, more digital and resilient European wine and beverages ecosystem.