Category: Italian Wine

Italy’s largest Wine Museum to open in Verona

A few weeks ago, it announced that the city of Verona has the approval to develop a wine museum “Museo del Vino (MuVin)”, with support from the Italian Ministry of Tourism and various Italian tourism agencies. Verona is also hosting Vinitaly, one of the world’s largest wine fairs, a wine museum seems to be a good fit.

“I was in Edinburgh, Scotland, years ago, and there I had the opportunity to visit the popular Scotch Whisky Experience”, said Enrico Corsi of the Veneto Regional Council, who promoted and developed the idea behind the project, to wine news platform Decanter. “I wondered why something similar could not be done with wine in Italy. I realised that we did not have anything comparable in our country, apart from a bunch of smaller private initiatives.”

Minister of Tourism Massimo Garavaglia was pleased with the promotion. “The real innovation here is that, with the MuVin, Verona will become a hub for the whole country and in particular for the Italian wine tourism sector. This project has the capacity to go far, and we’re 100% behind it”, Italian food news platform Foodtop reported.

MuVin is now a €50 million project that will feature a museum, visitor and exhibition centre located in Verona’s Gallerie Mercatali. The venue will be opposite the city’s exhibition area, which hosts a number of popular shows all year-round, including Vinitaly itself. MuVin will also feature an ‘experiential path’ that will show visitors the history of wine, viticulture, wine production, the impact of climate change on wine production, and wine and food pairing.

The museum wants to offer educational activities as well, with wine lovers welcomed to learn wine-tasting techniques as well as to conduct virtual visits to wineries and UNESCO heritage vineyards in augmented reality rooms. According to Corsi, the project should be finished in four years. “We expect MuVin to be ready by 2026, when Northern Italy will host the next Winter Olympics.”

Sources: Decanter, Euronews, Foodtop (Italian), L’Adige (Italian)

 

#wine #winenews #winetrade #winetourism #winemuseum #verona #MuVinVerona
#italianwine #italianwinelovers #Vinitaly #wineandfood #MuseodelVino #MuseodelVinoVerona
#winelovers

Sicilia en Primeur 2022…. It’s a Wrap!

What an amazing experience attending Sicilia en Primeur 2022!  Assovini Sicilia has certainly set the bar high for its eighteenth edition, and I believe the attending journalists will attest that this.

By the Numbers

This year is the 18th edition. In attendance were 80 national and international journalists. There were 7 wine tours, over 500 wines tasted, and 1 Masterclass.

After two years, the itinerant event organized and produced by Assovini Sicilia, was held in Erice, in the historical venue “Centro di Cultura Scientifica Ettore Majorana.” The medieval town of Erice has previous welcomed journalists, scientists, scholars, institutions, and enologists.

Inaugural Conference – some highlights 

The conference and opening of Sicilia en Primeur 2022 was held on April 30 with renowned Journalist Massimo Giletti as the host and various guest speakers giving their technical-scientific presentations on the theme “Back to the roots. Sicily experiencing the future.” Including a presentation by Professor Antonio Zoccoli, (President of the National Institute of Nuclear Physics) “Wine is also physics, and neutrino detectors are useful to unmask wine frauds” and he further states that “There is no wine without neutrino.”

Professor Marco Moriondo (Institute of Bioeconomics of CNR in Florence) states “Wine-growing Sicily is less exposed to climate change thanks to its soils, terroir, biodiversity and microclimates.”

Enologist Mattia Filippi and founder of Uva Sapiens states “Sicily is nowadays enjoying a privileged condition and its viticulture structure is so strictly connected with its traditions that a series of productive variables are extremely relevant also with regard to climate change.”

The Mayor of Erice, Daniela Toscano, along with Lorenzo Zichichi, both hosts of the “Centro di Cultura Scientifica Ettore Majorana”, mentioned the historical and scientific vocation of the medieval town of Erice.

Laurent de la Gatinais, the President of Assovini Sicilia, spoke of Sicily as “a miniature continent. Its diversity will be the key of our future. Therefore, we need to focus on vine, its study, its development. It has always been said that the human factor is fundamental in the production cycle, and today I strongly believe that it is more and more actual and understood as science, knowledge, and know-how. This is the only way we can tackle important issues, such as that of climate change. Assovini Sicilia wants to be the advocate and pioneer in leading the future of Sicilian viticulture following new models.”

“Sicily is today the largest organic wine area in Italy” comments Antonio Rallo, the President of Consorzio di Tutela Vini DOC Sicilia. It is a territory that by its very nature identifies sustainability as the keystone of the Sicilian viticulture system. This is the direction to where the industry of the island is moving, towards quality wines, authentic and recognizable in their identity and sustainable throughout the whole production process.”

Sicilia en Primeur is not only an important event for the Sicilian wine industry. It is also a perfect opportunity to showcase Sicily’s viticulture and historical-archaeological heritage through its wine tours. Stay tune for my updates on the wine tour.

#winesofsicily #sicilianwines #italianwines #travelsicily #siciliaenprimeur2022 #siciliaenprimeur #DocSicilia #ViniDocSicilia #SiciliaDoc #Sicilia #Sicily #SicilyWine #WineofSicily #DrinkSicily #sicilianwine #sicilianwines #vinosiciliano #vinosicilia #vinisiciliani #winelovers #wineexperience #travelling #instadaily #winetravels #winetourism #traveler #travelgram #winetasting #wineinfluencer #wineadventures #traveldiary #traveling #italianwine #italianwinelovers #AssoviniSicilia #erice2022

The Balio Gardens – Erice Sicily

A few days ago we had an amazing lunch with local specialities, accompanied with some lovely Sicilian wines on the grounds of The Balio Gardens, Erice.

Some History and Viewpoints

The Balio Gardens are built in 1872 by Conte Pepoli around the Castle of Venus. The gardens are of English design and style.

While enjoying our incredible lunch at the various stations around the castle, we are welcomed with stunning panoramic views of the Gulf of Trapani, salt pans of Trapani, Egadi Archipelago and the coast of Marsala. Apparently, on a clear day, it is possible to see Capo Bon, North East Tunisia.

#foodiesofinstagram #eats #foodstagram #instafood #foodpic #foodgasm #delicious #foodoftheday #foodpics #Italianfood #foodandwine #foodandwinetasting 

#winesofsicily #sicilianwines #italianwines #siciliaenprimeur2022 #siciliaenprimeur #SicilyWine #WineofSicily #DrinkSicily #sicilianwine #sicilianwines #vinosiciliano  #winelovers #wineexperience #travelling  #winetourism #traveler #wineinfluencer #wineadventures #traveling #italianwine #italianwinelovers #AssoviniSicilia #erice2022

@assovinisicilia @just_sicily @wineinsicily 

Sicilia en Primeur 2022: April 27 to May 1

From April 27 to May 1, the town of Erice is hosting the most important Sicilian wine event. “Sicily has proven to be able to govern the climate change and it is a candidate for pioneer and leader in sustainable viticulture 4.0 even in the new context related to climate change”

I’m absolutely thrilled to participate this year in the 2022 Sicilia en Primeur! This year it is back is back in the historic medieval town of Erice for the 18th edition.

This year the theme is: “Back to the roots, Sicily experiencing the future”, this not only represents a message of sustainability of the Sicilian wine production, but it is also representing the future of Sicily’s viticulture.

Besides presenting a preview of the wines of the previous vintage, the event was organized by Assovini Sicilia, who also introduce the Italian and international press to the extraordinary variety of wines with a series of tastings of 500 wines from Assovini Sicilia associate wineries.

Sicilia en Primeur is also an opportunity to promote Sicily’s viticultural and historical-archaeological heritage through wine tours hosting national and foreign press, to emphasize that the binomial wine and culture is an increasingly winning drive in Sicily.

“The topic chosen for this edition, “Back to the roots. Sicily experiencing the future”, takes on a significant and actual value because it puts the Sicilian wine production at the center of the debate on climate change, and nominates the island as a pioneer in sustainable viticulture 4.0 also in this new context, says Mr Laurent de la Gatinais, President of Assovini Sicilia. Thanks to its privileged position, its pedoclimatic and geopedological characteristics, continues Mr de la Gatinais – Sicily proves to be capable of ruling the consequences of climate change. The ability of producers and of the Sicilian territory to adjust to certain extreme conditions over the years – from lack of water to high temperatures- has allowed them to acquire a know-how which is today the base of a Sicilian model of sustainable viticulture, as well as the key to success. Variables such as biodiversity, good traditional practices, current and sustainable agronomic techniques and indigenous varieties play a fundamental role in the future of Sicilian viticulture. All these elements, combined with research, study, experimentation and the quality of production, make Sicily a unique wine laboratory and a leader in the sustainable management of climate change”- concludes Mr de la Gatinais.

In this edition and after two years of absence, Italian and international journalists started wine tours April 27 and will end on April 29 followed by all meeting up on April 30 with the conference and opening ceremony of Sicilia en Primeur 2022. Numerous speakers will give their technical-scientific contribution to the topic of Sicilia en Primeur “Back to the roots. Sicily experiencing the future”, including professor Antonio Zoccoli, (President of the National Institute of Nuclear Physics – “There is no wine without neutrino”), Professor Marco Moriondo (Institute of Bioeconomics of CNR in Florence “Climate change: observed and expected impacts on viticulture”) and the enologist Mattia Filippi (Uva Sapiens “The good practices of Sicilian wine companies following climate change”). The latest news includes a special focus on Catarratto, with the masterclass held by Professor Nicola Francesca “Catarratto: Time and Altitude giving Birth to the Beauty of an Aroma”.

The première of the wines from the latest vintage will be at the center of the walk-around tasting, which has always been an opportunity of confrontation and meeting between the press and Assovini Sicilia producers.

The technical tasting organized by AIS (Italian Sommelier Association) scheduled on May 1st, will be the final event for Sicilia en Primeur 2022.

“Sicilia en Primeur is an important event for the Sicilian wine sector because it represents its excellence. Assovini Sicilia plays a fundamental role in spearheading new solutions and understanding the challenges. Today, over 94% of the wine sector is represented by three pillars: Assovini Sicilia, the Consorzio di Tutela vini DOC Sicilia and the Fondazione SOStain Sicilia. Together, we can lead the change” states. Mr. de la Gatinais, President of Assovini Sicilia.

#winesofsicily #sicilianwines #italianwines #travelsicily #siciliaenprimeur2022 #siciliaenprimeur
#DocSicilia #ViniDocSicilia #SiciliaDoc #Sicilia #Sicily #SicilyWine #WineofSicily #DrinkSicily #sicilianwine #sicilianwines #vinosiciliano #vinosicilia #vinisiciliani #winelovers #wineexperience #travelling #instadaily #winetravels #winetourism #traveler #travelgram #winetasting #wineinfluencer #wineadventures #traveldiary #traveling#italianwine #italianwinelovers #AssoviniSicilia #erice2022

The première of the wines from the latest vintage will be at the center of the walk-around tasting, which has always been an opportunity of confrontation and meeting between the press and Assovini Sicilia producers.

The technical tasting organized by AIS (Italian Sommelier Association) scheduled on May 1st, will be the final event for Sicilia en Primeur 2022.

“Sicilia en Primeur is an important event for the Sicilian wine sector because it represents its excellence. Assovini Sicilia plays a fundamental role in spearheading new solutions and understanding the challenges. Today, over 94% of the wine sector is represented by three pillars: Assovini Sicilia, the Consorzio di Tutela vini DOC Sicilia and the Fondazione SOStain Sicilia. Together, we can lead the change” states. Mr. de la Gatinais, President of Assovini Sicilia.

#winesofsicily #sicilianwines #italianwines #travelsicily #siciliaenprimeur2022 #siciliaenprimeur
#DocSicilia #ViniDocSicilia #SiciliaDoc #Sicilia #Sicily #SicilyWine #WineofSicily #DrinkSicily #sicilianwine #sicilianwines #vinosiciliano #vinosicilia #vinisiciliani #winelovers #wineexperience #travelling #instadaily #winetravels #winetourism #traveler #travelgram #winetasting #wineinfluencer #wineadventures #traveldiary #traveling#italianwine #italianwinelovers #AssoviniSicilia #erice2022

Discover the Kingdom of Vernaccia di San Gimignano Through the Wine Preview “Anteprima  2022”

March 2022: The Tuscan Previews explore the charming hamlet of San Gimignano. The event was dedicated to Vernaccia di San Gimignano Docg 2021, Vernaccia di San Gimignano Docg Riserva 2020 and the wines of previous vintages that are yet to be released, all accompanied by an impeccable sommelier service. For the occasion, the consortium chose two principal venues: the De Grada Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art for the tasting of the seventy-six wines produced by thirty-five wineries and the Sala Dante in the Palazzo Comunale that will be the location of the 17th edition of the comparative technical-professional tasting series “White Wine and Its Territories”. A day in which the whole town of San Gimignano is coloured “gold” showing off the sense of belonging and sharing of this small piece of land.

2022 marks an important year: fifty years ago, a group of landowners and forward-looking producers gathered to organize a Consortium. The road was paved, and with every passing year, more awareness and determination are put in by the producers enhancing the path of success of the Vernaccia di San Gimignano. It is a place where man and nature have lived together for centuries in a mutual relationship of respect.  It is this indissoluble link to the theme of the tasting because San Gimignano has always been an example of the quality of life, professionalism, and know-how in terms of viticulture. Man brought art, culture and wrote its history, nature gave them the extraordinary Vernaccia Grape, a real “White Queen in the Land of Red Kings”. Surrounded by the city wall of San Gimignano every year professionals and wine lovers have the chance to taste the new vintages of wines made in this fascinating territory.

SAN GIMIGNANO, THE CRADLE OF THE WHITE WINE PRODUCTION IN TUSCANY 

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 with altitudes of between 200 and 400 m above sea level. The soils are of the Pliocene era, dating back to 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 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 impact on the characteristics of the wines produced there.

San Gimignano, A Magical Wine Destination 

San Gimignano is definitely a destination worth discovering and visiting. Hidden in the Tuscan countryside, the small “town of the towers” is completely integrated into the gentle nature surrounding it. It is a land characterised by a long farming tradition that dates back to the middle of the 13th century, a place where the experience of wine blends with the history of man on its rolling hills. San Gimignano was a place loved by important nobles and political figures of the past who left the trace of their passage, enriching this unique place with culture and art.

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, fourteen beautiful towers remain to characterize the city centre and making the unique and recognizable silhouette on the crowned hill.

TASTING REPORT 

During my stay at San Gimignano, I have blind tasted all the wines, majestically presented by the Consorzio del Vino Vernaccia di San Gimignano.

Vernaccia di San Gimignano Docg 2021 (40 wines reviewed)

on my radar

Winery:  Fornacelle  

Wine:   Vernaccia di San Gimignano Docg 2021

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:  Casale Falchini  

Wine:   Vernaccia di San Gimignano Docg 2021 –  Benozzo   

Pale straw core with a watery rim. Intense flavour of ginger with scent of apricot.

Dry, fragrant palate with good acidity. Rich and elegant aftertaste. I enjoy it!

Winery:  Guicciardini Strozzi  

Wine:   Vernaccia di San Gimignano Docg 2021 –  Villa Cusona

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 like it very much.

Winery:  Fattoria di Fugnano  

Wine:   Vernaccia di San Gimignano Docg 2021 – Da Fugnano 

Medium yellow core with light hues. The wine displays an intense perfume white grapefruit, and lemon with a light note of mint. Dry, sapid, and intense with lively acidity. Well balanced and harmonious. An excellent wine.

Winery:  Tenuta Le Cancinaie

Wine:   Vernaccia di San Gimignano Docg 2021

Straw coloured with paler rim. Pronounced flavour of pineapple with peachy overtones. Vibrant entrance with medium alcohol. The mouth is intense and fresh with racy acidity. Quite a long finish. A very good wine!

Winery:  La Lastra 

Wine:   Vernaccia di San Gimignano Docg 2021

Brilliant, yellow colour. Intense bouquet of lemon and jasmine flowers with a hint of petrol. Fragrant entrance, round with ripe fruit and high acidity. Well-structured, mineral, and quite complex. I really like it!

Vernaccia di San Gimignano Docg 2020 (12 wines reviewed)

on my radar

Winery:  Montenidoli   

Wine:   Vernaccia di San Gimignano Docg 2020 – Fiore 

Pale yellow core with greenish hues. The bouquet is intense and ample with notes of grapefruit and apricot with scents of ginger. Dry with good acidity and a fruity, long finish with pleasant light notes of almond. A great wine.

Winery:  Panizzi 

Wine:   Vernaccia di San Gimignano Docg 2020 – Vigna Santa Margherita  

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 A fine, charming wine!

Winery:  Cesani 

Wine:   Vernaccia di San Gimignano Docg 2020 – Clamys 

Straw yellow core. The wine expresses a beautiful bouquet of lime and orange peel with overtones of thyme. Fresh, balanced palate with good persistence. The acidity matches well with the fruit. A delicious wine!

Vernaccia di San Gimignano Docg 2020 Riserva (4 wines reviewed).

on my radar

Winery:  Signano     

Wine:   Vernaccia di San Gimignano Docg 2020 Riserva – La Ginestra

Clean with a beautiful nose of apricot and mango with flowery overtones and a hint of almond. Medium body with crispy acidity and lovely sapidity. The alcohol is well balanced with the fruit, elegant aftertaste. A fine wine with aging potential.

Vernaccia di San Gimignano Docg 2019 Riserva (10 wines reviewed).

on my radar

Winery:  Cappella Sant’Andrea  

Wine:   Vernaccia di San Gimignano Docg 2019 Riserva – Prima Luce

Clear gold yellow core with paler reflections. Intriguing nose with flavour of pear and matured fruit with a hint of almond. Lovely, creamy palate with present acidity and good persistence. Lovely wine.

Winery:  Il Colombaio di Santa Chiara   

Wine:   Vernaccia di San Gimignano Docg 2019 Riserva – L’albereta 

Medium yellow core with paler rims. It expresses nice aromas of lemon and peach mixed with light notes of acacia. It is vibrant and structured to the palate with harmonious and fresh finish. Good aging potential.