 The pin-drop silence at one of the sessions of the Vinitaly International Wine Competition 2010 last week at the Veronafiere grounds was broken by the marching steps of several carabinieri (the Italian police- in contrast to Polizia, the municipal police responsible for traffic control and similar services) who marched through the room towards the window curtains on one side of the tasting hall, as if looking for imaginary terrorists. Barely a few minutes of unobtrusive presence and checking a few spots through the curtains, and they vanished as quietly as they came.
That’s when the secret of their visit was revealed by Giuseppe Martelli, chairman of the competition. Mr. Giorgio Napolitano, the 11th President of the Italian Republic, who is visiting Verona on 8th and 9th April would formally inaugurate on 9th April, the show which opens to the trade professionals on 8th .
Nicknamed as Il Principe Rosso ("The red prince"), with "red" referring to his earlier allegiance and now communist leanings, according to Wikipedia, one could hopefully surmise that people fondly address him so because of his love for red wine.
When delWine asked Claudio Valente, the Vice President of Veronafiere, organisers of this prestigious international annual event, at the gala dinner on the last evening of the Competition, whether this wasn’t an unprecedented step, he was slightly non-plussed but then confirmed that at least during the last 30 years no Italian President of the Republic had inaugurated Vinitaly.
Stressing the importance of his visit, Claudio said that wine sector was extremely vital to the Italian industry and despite the recession, Italy had been aggressive and making more inroads into the exports markets. He did not mention that the President would be accompanied by Luca Zaia, the Italian Agriculture Minister who had just won the election on 29th March as the new President of Veneto and would accompany him, playing a double role.
“I thank the President for sensitivity he has shown by deciding to visit this edition of Vinitaly. He knows this is one of the most important events worldwide for wine; a strategic sector for Italians- food and all that is ‘Made in Italy’. It is a major milestone for the economic and cultural fabric of the Veneto'', said the new President of the Veneto Region, Luca Zaia.
With over 4,200 exhibitors waiting to welcome about 1,50,000 visitors including a significant number of international buyers the show will have around 50 special tasting events, the highlight being a vertical tasting of the famous blue chip Italian label Solaia from Marchesi Antinori, on 9th afternoon when six of their best vintages 1978, 1988, 1994, 1997, 2004 and 2007 will be tasted for charity.
Also on cards on 9th April will be a gala dinner organised by Comitato Grandi Cri d’Italia, an Association of top producers of Italy where the winner for the
‘Best Foreign Journalist of the Year’ will be announced. Subhash Arora who was honoured as a Cavaliere and knighted last year by the President Napolitano
has also been nominated in this category. The evening will also be a great opportunity to taste several premium wines from the producers, who are members of the Comitato and guest speakers will speak about the wine world.
Last but not the least, results for the Vinitaly International Wine Challenge 2010 will be released at the Show with an opportunity to taste the wines. 105
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| Tasting- Last Day of Judgment (Spot India!?) |
journalist and enologists from Italy and overseas had aggregated to judge over 3600 samples over 5 days. Results and other details are available at www.Vinitaly.com.
Zonnin Bags Top Vinitaly Award
Results announced by Vinitaly on Tuesday declared Zonin winning the special ‘Grand Vinitaly 2010 Award’. This top prize of the competition is calculated as the sum of highest scores for two wines winning medals in different groups. Zonin wines are exported to India through Aspri Spirits. Similarly Banfi from Montalcino, exported through Brindco won the special Vinitaly Nation Award for Italy. For details of wines winning medals and ‘Special Mention’
Click Vinitaly 2010 Results |