UNWTO Secretary-General: ‘The climate emergency is a bigger threat than Covid’
“Going back to the old normal is not an option.”
https://www.unwto.org/news/unwto-secretary-general-the-climate-emergency-is-a-bigger-threat-than-covid
#restarttourism #tourisminvestment #greenvinestment #tourism #climatechange #climateemergency #winetourism #globalwinetourism #UNWTO #news #winenews #winelovers #hospitality #hospitalitynews #sustainability #WTTC #travel #travelnews
This “Special Edition” was a strategic event for consolidating growth in the sector, and profiled incoming buyers from 35 countries.
With attendance of over 12,000 operators, and 2,500 buyers (about 22% of total) from 60 countries: the special and extraordinary edition of Vinitaly closed this week, in Verona, as the third and last Italian stage in the run up to 54th edition scheduled 10-13 April 2022.
“This result goes far beyond our expectations,” said the President of Veronafiere, Maurizio Danese. “Companies, consortia, agricultural and supply chain associations and operators rewarded this business initiative project with a high rate of contacts and sales, as well as a unanimous index of satisfaction. The third event attended in person with Vinitaly today,” Danese concluded, “is part of a scenario of impressive acceleration of Made in Italy exports and Italian wine on all the main target markets, including the domestic market thanks to collaboration activated with Fipe and Vinarius. We are experiencing a strong recovery in which Veronafiere plays a fundamental driving role for the internationalization of SMEs and Italian wine, with a commitment towards increasing the value of sales.”
The map of countries taking part in Vinitaly Special Edition sees Europe (with Northern countries, Germany and Franca in front), Russia, the United States and Canada lead demand for Italian wine at the trade fair, followed by Eastern Europe (Romania, Ukraine, Poland, Belarus, Bulgaria and the Czech Republic), the United Kingdom and China, returning to Verona again. “This geography,” commented Giovanni Mantovani, CEO of Veronafiere, “is perfectly aligned with the growth figures seen on international markets which, in the first 7 months of this year, posted an overall leap ahead of 15% compared to the same period last year. We upheld our declared commitment to organise a highly qualified Special Edition thanks also to the support of ICE Trade Agency,” Mantovani went on, “with international operators arriving precisely from the areas where Italian wine is growing significantly. “Now,” Mantovani concluded, “we are aiming to achieve a great 54th Vinitaly in 2022.”
Areas of interest among operators and buyers saw those dedicated to organic wines achieve a surge in attendance. Over the three days, 42 exhibitors in this segment saw their agendas crammed with b2b appointments, especially with buyers from Northern Europe and Germany. And in relation to new trends, the Mixology Masterclass calendar was sold out.
#ICETradeAgency #Italianwine #Italy #winetourism #vinitaly #2021Vinitaly #instawine #winelovers #wine #wineevent #winebusiness #winetrade #mixology #cocktails #winemarketing #verona #redwine #whitewine #winenews
Chianti Classico Collection in 2021 becomes “Chianti Classico Connection”
The Black rooster is an identifying symbol of one of the most interesting wine areas in Italy. It is a wine that is always evolving. Chianti Classico is a land of such versatility and richness that could be confusing, that’s why the Consortium has an important role in spreading awareness and territorial promotion. The Collection is an annual event of the Anteprime Toscana, dedicated to one of the most fascinating wine areas in the world.
The “Collection”, this year, was entitled “CC” (Chianti Classico) “Connection”. This global event is synchronized in 5 different countries, including multiple days at the end of May for Chicago, Florence, London and New York and the end of June was reserved for Munich, and Tokyo. In these six important cities, the Black Rooster presented a hybrid format combining an in-person tasting for the sector’s professionals and online interaction with the producers. The Consortium gathered a selected international audience from the wine sector, with the attendance being over 2,800 experts and members of the press, 400 wines being presented with10,000 bottles being tasted.
The 27th edition of the Collection was held In Florence, the 20th and 21st of May, in the beautiful Cloister of the Santa Maria Novella Museum, in the 14th-century Dominican convent attached to the Basilica, an iconic symbol of the Renaissance.
Chianti Classico Moving Forward
The Chianti Classico area is a unique “mosaic” of microclimates to discover. It is a wine district always in evolution. Two main measures approved recently: the Consortium formally introduced 11 subzones “Unità Geografiche Aggiuntive (UGA)”, allowing different villages to further express the versatility of the Chianti Classico area, and to label their production with the specific name of their land. The Members of the Council also embraced the introduction of new tight specifics on the Gran Selezione category, showing off the increasingly widespread tendency to enhance the full potential of Sangiovese.
Chianti Classico New Sites on Subzones
This new “micro-site identification” was attributed not only to geological and scientific studies, but also from the so-called human factor, in terms of local culture and traditions. The UGA applies only to the Gran Selezione wines which is t 6% of the production of the vintage but with the goal of broadening it to Riserva and Chianti Classico wines.
Gran Selezione Regulation Switches Toward Sangiovese
The other step was made on the specifications to further the restrictions for the blend of the Gran Selezione. The new approved proposal increases the proportion of the Sangiovese to a minimum of 90%, and eliminates the international grapes in any blend of the Gran Selezione. Finally, the remaining 10% is limited only to Chianti Classico native grapes: Canaiolo, Colorino, Malvasia Nera., and others.
Chianti Classico the Ultimate Wine Destination
The Chianti Classico region has for centuries been one of the most popular destinations for wine enthusiasts. It is a wine paradise held by the arms of its two historical capitals: Florence and Siena.
This area is mainly covered with woodlands, principally oak, chestnut and pine as well as cypress, situated on a plateau at altitudes between 200 and 800 metres. The highest altitude for growing grapes for Chianti Classico wine is 700 metres a.s.l. The local climate is continental with significant day-night temperature variation, generally low winter temperatures – below 4-5°C – and hot, dry summers, often reaching temperatures of over 35°. Geologically the land is a shield of clayey schists (marl), with layers of scaly clay, alberese and fine limestone sandstone.
Chianti Classico Passport
Chianti Classico is offered in three different types that represent its qualitative pyramid:
Chianti Classico ‘Annata’
Chianti Classico ‘Riserva‘, and
Chianti Classico ‘Gran Selezione’
Chianti Classico – A Wine Lovers’ Paradise
Chianti Classico gets its name from an area of Tuscany that is famous for its food, lush rolling hills and medieval towns. A territory to discover through extraordinary wine estates, luxury retreats, beautiful landscapes, historical charming buildings, superb wine and exceptional restaurants. A wine-vocated area that, every year, attracts professionals and wine lovers from all over the world. To assist visitors through the exploration of an area fundamental for our region’s history and culture, the Consortium has now launched the Chianti Classico Card.
A passe-partout to open all the doors into the Gallo Nero world: over 200 unforgettable experiences are available through this card, from guided tastings in the wineries to picnics in the vineyards, visits to museums in the area, and discovering artistic and architectural treasures hidden among the vine rows of Chianti Classico. The Gallo Nero Card aims to guide tourists through an exploration of one of the fundamental elements of our region’s history and culture: Chianti Classico wine and all the gems of its production territory.
My tasting at C.C.C 2021
Having spent only one day at Chianti Classico Collection, I have reviewed 162 wines, from Annata Chianti Classico 2019 and 2018, as well as Riserva and Gran Selezione 2018 categories. The Chianti Classico 2019 Annata showed beautiful lively-colored, ripe fruit with great aromatic intensity. An appropriate level of natural acidity guarantees good fragrance. The vast majority of wines I tasted were graceful with slightly lower alcohol content than average previous vintages. The Chianti Classico 2018 Annata, in general, turned out to be soft, fruity with good structure and balance. This is partly a reflection of the vintage which started cool and continued quite rainy through the summer, ending with nice weather during harvest. I found a wide range of great wines, showing high intensity and complexity of aromas in the Riserva and Gran Selezione 2018 categories.
On my radar : Chianti Classico Annata 2019
Winery: Istine
Wine: Chianti Classico Docg 2019 (100% Sangiovese – bio)
Ruby colour with paler hue towards the edge. Intense bouquet of cherry with balsamic notes. Lovely entrance, round with ripe fruit, medium body. Firm, velvety tannins with a long finish. I love it!
Winery: Castello di Ama – Ama
Wine: Chianti Classico Docg 2019 (96% Sangiovese, 4% Merlot)
Brilliant, ruby red with compacted rim. Pronounced flavour of cassis with overtones of violet. Full-bodied with bright acidity. Well balanced with rich red fruit and soft tannins. Harmonious end. Great wine.
Winery: Fattoria San Giusto a Rentennano
Wine: Chianti Classico Docg 2019 (95% Sangiovese, 5% Canaiolo – bio)
Ruby core with light purple rim. The nose is fruity and dynamic with a hint of spiciness. Well-structured body with medium alcohol and soft tannins. Dry and fresh, with a long persistence. I like it very much.
Winery: Quercia al Poggio
Wine: Chianti Classico Docg 2019 (80% Sangiovese, 5% 10% Ciliegiolo, 5% Canaiolo, 5% Malvasia Nera – bio)
Clean, ruby red with a paler tinge. Lovely aromas of strawberry and cherry with a touch of roses. Full body with round, sweet tannins. Fresh and harmonious finish. Very good wine.
On my radar : Chianti Classico Annata 2018
Winery: Val delle Corti
Wine: Chianti Classico Docg 2018 (95% Sangiovese, 5% Canaiolo)
Intense ruby red with paler reflections. Distinctly rose floral nose mixed with hints of cherry. Full-bodied with pleasant red notes developing on the palate. Medium tannic structure. Long and fresh aftertaste. Ac harming wine.
Winery: Cinciano
Wine: Chianti Classico Docg 2018 (100% Sangiovese)
Ruby core with light purple hue towards the edge. The nose is fruity and dynamic with a hint of pepper. The palate expresses ripe red cherry with a well-structured body, medium alcohol and soft tannin. A bit light at the end. A good wine.
Winery: Castello della Paneretta
Wine: Chianti Classico Docg 2018 (85% Sangiovese, 10% Canaiolo, 5% Colorino)
Medium ruby-red. Intense flavour of red plum and notes of violet. Medium acidity with discreet alcohol level. Fruity and spicy. Quite a long finish. I liked it.
On my radar : Chianti Classico Riserva 2018
Winery: Castello di Monsanto
Wine: Chianti Classico Docg Riserva 2018 (90% Sangiovese, 5% Canaiolo, 5% Colorino)
Medium ruby core, paler towards the edge. The wine displays an intense flavour of wild berry with scents of new leather. Rich and powerful, good balance of body, fruit, acidity and firm tannins. Lovely wine with great potential.
Winery: Bibbiano
Wine: Chianti Classico Docg Riserva 2018 (100% Sangiovese- bio)
Bright, intense ruby with garnet hue. It displays an intense flavour of cherry and blueberry with light earthy overtones. Juicy and vibrant with a medium-bodied palate, soft tannins and toasty light notes at the end. I really appreciated this wine.
Winery: Fèlsina
Wine: Chianti Classico Docg Riserva Rancia 2018
Ruby colour turning slightly garnet on the rim. Beautiful aromas of ripe cherry and prune with balsamic overtones. Blackcherry in the palate with a light smoky scent. Medium body with round, fine tannins. Fresh delicious finish.
Winery: Monteraponi
Wine: Chianti Classico Docg Riserva Il Campitello 2018 (90% Sangiovese, 7% Canaiolo, 3% Colorino – bio)
Deep garnet core with ruby tinge. Complex nose with flavour of black cherry and prune with a note of rhubarb. Fragrant, juicy palate with present acidity. Discrete alcohol level and soft tannins well integrated with the fruit. Long finish. A great, fine wine.
On my radar : Chianti Classico Gran Selezione 2018
Winery: Conti Capponi – Villa Calcinaia
Wine: Chianti Classico Docg Gran Selezione Vigna Contessa Luisa 2018 (100% Sangiovese – bio).
Intense and brilliant garnet colour. Its bouquet is intense and ample with notes of blackcurrant and violet. The palate is rich and elegant. Full-bodied with impressive freshness and velvety tannins. Long finish. Great wine.
Winery: Ricasoli – Castello di Brolio
Wine: Chianti Classico Docg Gran Selezione 2018 (100% Sangiovese)
Clear, deep red garnet colour. Intense flavour of cherry, blueberries and violet. Spicy with notes of liquorice and mint. The mouth is dense with medium soft tannins and toasty hints. An elegant wine with long and pleasant aftertaste Charming, fine wine. This is an excellent wine
Winery: Fontodi
Wine: Chianti Classico Docg Gran Selezione Vigna del Sorbo 2018 (100% Sangiovese – bio)
Brilliant, deep garnet colour with a compact rim. Various and intense aromas of ripe plum, blackberry and chocolate. A full-bodied wine with rich dark cherry fruit well balanced with soft tannins. Elegant and harmonious finish. Outstanding wine, clear expression of pure Sangiovese with long life.
Always a big ”Thank You” to my colleague and friend Liz Palmer !
Filippo Magnani
#italianwine #italy #italianwinelovers #tuscany #chianticlassico #tuscany #chianti #toscana #wine #winelover #vino #italy #winelovers #sangiovese #winetasting #chiantilovers #instawine #redwine #visittuscany #italianwine #winery #travel #tuscanylovers #discovertuscany #GranSelezione #ChiantiClassicoPassport #winelife #madeinitaly
Mark your calendars for #ChampagneDay 2021.
On October 22, take a moment to celebrate the wine only from Champagne, France, while also taking time to celebrate the small moments in life!
#champagne #champagneday #champagnelover #champagnelife #champagneday2021 #wine #winelover #champagnemoments #champagnetasting #champagnelifestyle #instachampagne #celebrate #champagnetourism #champagneofficiel #france #champagneworldwide
@champagne_officiel
“The ancient crowned hill through the eyes of the queen grape”
When you are in the direction of San Gimignano, in the heart of Tuscany, you cannot help but be enveloped by the magical atmosphere, you get catapulted into a fairy-tale. The hills of “Queen Vernaccia” crown the city of San Gimignano; at its foot lies the most fascinating and characteristic landscape of the Val d’Elsa. Impressive from a distance are the tips of the “crown”, a little Manhattan of the Middle Ages. The city of San Gimignano in the first centuries after 1000 AD was embellished with seventy towers and numerous palaces, built by the many wealthy families to display their wealth and power. Still today, the fourteen beautiful towers remain to characterize the city center and to make the unique and recognizable silhouette of the crowned hill. It is right inside the walls of the beautiful San Gimignano that every year we have the pleasure to taste the new vintages of wines made in this fascinating territory.
The event this year was different from the usual February schedule. The Anteprima Vernaccia di San Gimignano 2021, in fact, was a month-long event that started on Wednesday the 19th of May and closed on Monday the 14th of June. The first day was dedicated exclusively to the Italian and international press. For the occasion, the consortium chose two principal venues: the De Grada Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, where all the journalists and writers were called to taste and evaluate the latest vintages of the sixty-nine wines produced by thirty-four wineries (Vernaccia di San Gimignano 2020, Vernaccia di San Gimignano 2019, Vernaccia di San Gimignano Riserva 2018); and the Dante’s Chamber in the Town Hall for the 16th edition of the ‘White Wine and Its Territories’ series: “Vernaccia in Comedy”. A choice linked to the tradition and history of Italy. In fact, this year is the 700th anniversary of the death of the poet Dante. The consortium has intertwined the main six female protagonists of Dante’s work and 6 characteristic white wines of the territory of San Gimignano. These six samples were chosen to be compared with as many wines from those that are among the major denominations for white wines: Alto Adige Valle Isarco Veltliner, Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Classico Superiore, Orvieto Classico Superiore, Trebbiano d’Abruzzo, Vin de Pays des Côtes Catalanes Blanc and Palette Blanc. A so-called ‘battle’ between elegant queens, in a magnificent hall that narrates through its frescoes the path of our life.
TASTING REPORT
During my stay at San Gimignano, I blind-tasted all the wines, which were majestically presented by the Consorzio del Vino Vernaccia di San Gimignano.
Vernaccia di San Gimignano Docg 2020 (34 wines reviewed)
on my radar
Winery: Fattoria di Fugnano
Wine: Vernaccia di San Gimignano Docg 2020 – Da Fugnano
Brillant with pale straw core and watery rim. Pronounced flavour of pineapple with peachy overtones. Dry and sapid with bright acidity. Well balanced with good fruit and harmonious finish. I like this wine.
Winery: Fattoria San Donato
Wine: Vernaccia di San Gimignano Docg 2020
Pale yellow core with greenish hues. The nose is fresh and fruity with scents of lemon and apricot. Vibrant entrance with medium alcohol. Dry with good acidity and a fruity finish. Lovely wine.
Winery: Il Colombaio di Santa Chiara
Wine: Vernaccia di San Gimignano Docg 2020 – Selvabianca
Pale yellow core, lighter on the edge. Intense flavour of citrus fruit and green apple with light floral notes. Dry with lovely acidity which matches a good alcohol level. The aftertaste is persistent with pleasant notes of almond at the end. Very good wine !
Winery: Il Palagione
Wine: Vernaccia di San Gimignano Docg 2020 – Hydra
Straw coloured with paler rim. The bouquet is intense and ample with notes of grapefruit and apricot with scents of ginger. The mouth is intense and fresh with racy acidity. Quite a long finish. Fine, charming wine !
Winery: San Benedetto
Wine: Vernaccia di San Gimignano Docg 2020 – Selvabianca
Clear with lemon colour turning slightly green on the rim. It expresses nice aromas of lemon and peach mixed with light notes of acacia. The acidity matches well with the rich fruit. Balanced palate with quite a long persistence. I really appreciate it.
Vernaccia di San Gimignano Docg 2019 (18 wines reviewed)
on my radar
Winery: Montenidoli
Wine: Vernaccia di San Gimignano Docg 2019 – Fiore
Deep yellow core, lighter on the edge. The wine expresses a beautiful bouquet of lime and orange peel with overtones of thyme and mint. It is vibrant and structured to the palate with harmonious and fresh finish. Great potential for the ageing.
Winery: Mormoraia
Wine: Vernaccia di San Gimignano Docg 2019 – Ostrea
Intense straw core with paler reflections. Intriguing nose with flavour of pear and maruted fruit with a hint of almond. Lovely, creamy palate with present acidity. Discrete alcohol level with fresh finish. Delicious wine !
Winery: Panizzi
Wine: Vernaccia di San Gimignano Docg 2019 – Vigna Santa Margherita
Colour ranging from medium yellow core to lighter rim. Intense flavour of lemon with scent of candied apricot. Slight notes of vanilla. Dry, lively palate with good acidity. Rich and elegant aftertaste. Great wine.
Vernaccia di San Gimignano Docg 2018 Riserva (10 wines reviewed)
on my radar
Winery: Cappella di Sant’Andrea
Wine: Vernaccia di San Gimignano Docg 2018 Riserva – Prima Luce
Brilliant, deep yellow colour. Intense bouquet of lemon and jasmine flowers with a hint of mint. Fragrant entrance, round with ripe fruit and good acidity. Well structured, mineral and complex. I really like it !
Winery: Cesani
Wine: Vernaccia di San Gimignano Docg 2018 Riserva – Sanice
Medium yellow core with lighter hues. The wine displays an intense perfume white peach, grapefruit, and lemon with a light buttery note. Dry, sapid and intense with good acidity and freshness. Well balanced and harmonious. Excellent wine.
Winery: Guicciardini Strozzi
Wine: Vernaccia di San Gimignano Docg 2018 Riserva
Medium yellow core with paler rims. Clean with beautiful nose of ripe apricot and mango with flowery overtones and a hint of almond. Medium body with lively acidity and freshness. The alcohol is well balanced with the fruit. Elegant aftertaste. Great wine.
A FEW NOTES ABOUT THE 2020 VINTAGE
2020 was characterised by an excellent seasonal trend. The onset of the vegetative stages was a little early but still normal for the long term. The harvest also started a week earlier than in 2019. The health of the grapes was excellent and their quality was good, albeit slightly lower than the previous year. The wines of this vintage are smooth and round, have good aromas and their acidity is not excessive.
SAN GIMIGNANO AND ITS QUEEN GRAPE VERNACCIA
San Gimignano is a small town of Siena, rich in charm and history. The village of San Gimignano is located almost halfway between Florence and Siena (about 60 and 45 km), and is easily reachable by car or a bus. It is a territory situated completely on hills at altitudes between 200 and 400 m above sea level. The soils are of the Pliocene era, dating back between 6.8 and 1.8 million years. And it is certainly the composition of the ancient soil that makes the wines produced in this denomination extremely fascinating and complex. The terroir of this area is characterized by the presence of fossils and shells, it is composed of pliocene soil and clay. These extremely calcareous sediments make the soil ideal to create vigorous and mineral white wines.The surface area of the Municipality of San Gimignano is of about 12,500 hectares, 5,600 of which are destined to farm productions (vineyards, olive groves, cereal crops). The San Gimignano hills present variable exposures, altitudes, soil compositions and availability of water. The multiple and sometimes unique combinations of these single factors have, even in such a small area, a significant effect on the characteristics of the wines made there. The combination of the unique variables for wine growing in San gimignano: different exposures, altitudes, soil compositions and water…, determine, even in such a restricted area, a significant impact on the characters of the wines produced there.
Vernaccia di San Gimignano is a white grape variety present in Tuscan since ancient times. Its bunches are large, long and pyramidal in shape, with an average density of compact and medium berries, round, very pruinose with thick peels. It has an unmistakable amber color when it is shone by the sun. A vine that finds its perfect condition in growing in calcareous-clay or tuffaceous soils
Always a big thanks to my colleague and friend Liz Palmer !
