Vinitaly International Academy to establish physical Tasting Centres

December 24, 2020 by evebushman

VERONA, ITALY (PRWEB) – News is coming for the Vinitaly International Academy (VIA), the gold standard of Italian wine education for foreign professionals. Created in 2014, the organization trains Italian Wine Ambassadors and Italian Wine Experts by delivering courses all over the world. This year, VIA had to adapt its activities to the new international situation caused by the COVID-19 emergency. During 2020, the course was revamped twice: back in June, with the introduction of the Agile Edition, and now, with the establishment of Tasting Centres starting from the next scheduled courses.

The Italian Wine Ambassador Certification Course is made up of two modules, the first theoretical and the second practical. The first module has students explore each and every Italian region: the wines produced here, its viticulture, the wine making methods, the culture and the regional dishes related to each territory. This section, that has been delivered online since the last edition of VIA Verona, is now on-demand and accessible through an educational platform.

The second module is dedicated to the hands-on part of the course, the Guided Tastings. During this section and under the guidance of VIA Faculty Sarah Heller MW and Henry Davar IWE, students get the chance to taste a variety of wines coming from some of the best Italian wineries. During the Tastings, future ambassadors learn how to promote Italian wine by personally experiencing it, getting to look, sniff and taste the wines they had previously studied during the theoretical lectures. The second makeover of VIA will allow these sessions to place safely and socially distanced thanks to the addition of Tasting Centres.

Starting from the 2021 USA courses, VIA is planning on establishing physical centers in each of the countries where courses are usually held to facilitate the Guided Tastings. In these so called “Tasting Centres”, future Ambassadors will have the chance to meet and taste wines in total safety. The VIA Community will play a fundamental role in the setting up of these physical centers. The running and the managing of both Tasting Centres and Guided Tastings around the world will be up to a number of VIA Italian Wine Ambassadors operating locally. With this manouvre, VIA will shorten both the geographical distance between the delivery of the course and the students, as well as the one between the old and new members of the VIA Community. Final exams will also be held in the new Tasting Centres.

Since its inception, VIA has been supported by ITA – The Italian Trade Agency, which shares the organization’s objectives and contributes to the realization of its courses. Together with the Faculty, the Community, Supporters, Advisory Board and the Scientific Director, ITA makes up the VIA Ecosystem: a body that operates the Academy from start to finish. Scientific Director Attilio Scienza commented on the introduction of the Tasting Centres:

“We know that the theory behind these grapes and wines is fundamental, but it does not mean anything if you do not have the opportunity to taste them, to experience them. These Tasting Centres and the Ambassadors who will host them are an asset to the new formatted programme”.

The introduction of Tasting Centres will help VIA in pursuing its mission: providing the world of Italian wine with qualified ambassadors capable of mastering and promoting the culture, history and variety of Italian wine around the world. To get more information on the certification, contact the VIA staff at via@vinitalytour.com.

Next VIA Courses include:

VIA USA
Module 1: December 2020-January 2021
Module 2: 1-3 February 2021 in San Francisco, Houston and Las Vegas; 29-31 March 2021 in New York, Boston, Memphis, Princeton and Florida

VIA HONG KONG
Module 1: December 2020-January 2021
Module 2: 8-10 March 2021

About: Vinitaly International Academy (VIA) aims to be the gold standard of Italian wine education. It offers a complete educational path with standardized courses that will teach professionals and educators to master the diversity of Italian wine in a rigorous, organized manner. VIA’s main objective is to foster a global network of highly qualified professionals such as Italian Wine Ambassadors and Italian Wine Experts: in turn, they will support and promote Italian wine throughout the world. VIA was founded by Stevie Kim, Managing Director of Vinitaly International. The new VIA ecosystem avails of the guidance of Italian trade associations Federdoc, Federvini, Vignaioli Indipendenti FIVI, and Unione Italiana Vini as members of the Institutional Advisory Board. Italian vine genetics scholar, Prof. Attilio Scienza, oversees VIA’s scientific and educational direction as the Chief Scientist. VIA Faculty Sarah Heller MW and Henry Davar teach the flagship Italian Wine Ambassador course. The following trade associations in the Italian wine industry have also joined as VIA Supporters: Italia del Vino; Italian Signature Wines Academy; Le Famiglie del Vino, Wi-Fi Wine from Irpinia, Consorzio di Tutela Vini del Trentino; Consorzio di Tutela Sicilia DOC; Franciacorta; Consorzio di Tutela Vini d’Abruzzo. To date the VIA community comprises 215 certified Italian Wine Ambassadors and 15 Italian Wine Experts. Since its foundation in 2014, over 615 candidates from all over the world have taken VIA’s courses.

5StarWines and Wine Without Walls: the blind wine tasting that survived a global pandemic

August 6, 2020 by evebushman

VERONA, ITALY (PRWEB) – The recent pandemic put the world on pause. This was the case for the wine market as well. 5StarWines & Wine Without Walls, the annual Wine Tasting held in Verona by Veronafiere, did not stand still but reshaped its format into an “agile” edition to follow through with the tasting and turn it into a virtual experience.

While the world was taking a break, so was the economy and everything that goes along with it. Veronafiere was supposed to host not only Vinitaly, the biggest fair in the world dedicated to wine and spirits, but also 5StarWines & Wine Without Walls, a blind wine tasting conducted by a number of wine experts with a range of profiles, such as Masters of Wine (MW), journalists and Vinitaly International Academy (VIA) Ambassadors. Among these were Pedro Ballesteros Torres MW, Robert Joseph, Bernard Burtschy, Joe Fattorini, Regine Lee MW, Sarah Abbott MW, Elizabeth Gabay MW, Michelle Cherutti-Kowal MW, Lin Liu MW, Andy Howard MW, Jonas Tofterup MW, Thomas Curtis MW. Leading the coordination were Monty Waldin, Daniele Cernilli, and Gabriele Gorelli. The ultimate goal was to create a Top-Wines Guide to use as a marketing tool for producers, capable of creating business connections around the world.

As a major aim of the Wine Selection is to support and spur on producers, by giving them the opportunity to create international connections, rescheduling was not an option for Veronafiere. Doing so would have conflicted with the event’s very own mission and vision. The decision was to reshape the format of the blind wine tasting, to make sure that producers would still have results to show for their labor, especially important in difficult times. This is where the term “agile” plays a key role. The ability to move quickly and easily was completely embodied by the team of 5StarWines & Wine Without Walls: if many of the international judges selected for the wine tasting were now unable to get to Verona due to new safety regulations, the team would organize the blind tasting to be conducted from the judges’ own homes, connected to Verona by video conference and WebApp.

The rules and regulations of the tasting stayed the same, but the logistics had been completely reshaped. Now the participating labels—besides being anonymized as usual—had to be classified, baled, and shipped to individual judges all over Europe. Beginning June 10th, each morning the judges prepared their “tasting station.” They’d turn on their computers, open a WebApp, and start the tasting with the supervision of the team in Verona.

The “agile” edition of 5StarWines & Wine Without Walls saw 52 international judges, over 2,100 samples belonging to more than 700 companies, and resulted in 847 wines selected (find the full list on the 5starwines.it home page). Selected wines will be published in the 5StarWines – the Book Guide, will be given the recognition their efforts deserve, and will be able to attend business-to- business (B2B) events with the aim of creating new business opportunities both in Italy and abroad.

In the words of Daniele Cernilli, 5StarWines judge, Doctor Wine, and founder of Gambero Rosso: “This is the first tasting after what happened. We are all trying to get back on our feet and in doing so we show our desire, our pride and our courage in wanting to look at the future with eyes of hope.” None of this would have been possible without the active participation of the judges, who attended several preparation meetings and stored a large number of samples in their cellars. Meanwhile, participating producers waited patiently for the Selection to confirms results, and category winners were finally surprised by the team with a video call announcing the best performing wines.

5StarWines – the Book is the annual wine selection organized by Veronafiere, held in the lead-up to the biggest Italian wine fair in the world. The event is now in its fourth edition. 5StarWines & Wine Without Walls is a blind tasting aimed at shedding light on wineries investing in the improvement of their products. During the event, a highly qualified panel of wine professionals will taste and score—using a 100-point scale—participating wines. In this edition, over 2000 bottles took part in the competition and 847 were selected for inclusion in 5StarWines – the Book. The Guide is a useful tool both on the promotional and commercial side. It introduces international buyers and wine lovers to new wine products of great value. It guarantees wine quality and it maintains and certifies their value at an international level.

Vinitaly International Academy Goes Live In New Agile Format

July 18, 2020 by evebushman

VERONA, ITALY (PRWEB) – Italian wine does not stop and the same goes for Italian wine education: an agile format was designed for the 2020 edition of the Vinitaly International Academy certification course in Verona, it’s annual flagship edition. Being the Academy’s birthplace, Verona has always been the preferred location for students, and Vinitaly International wanted this edition to feel as special as previous ones. With a new updated format that combines live lectures and prerecorded warm-up sessions with onsite practical tastings, 60 international students participated in the best possible version of the Italian Wine Ambassador certification course.

At the beginning of 2020, due to the global health situation, Vinitaly International was faced with a new challenge: deliver the gold standard of Italian wine education, online. The VIA team quickly accepted the new landscape and — with support from the VIA Advisory Board and Chief Scientist Attilio Scienza — came up with an agile solution for wine students, splitting the Ambassador course into two modules.

The first module wrapped up on June 12, 2020, where theoretical lectures were delivered online. Access to e-sessions were made available to candidates all over the world at any given time. Faculty members Sarah Heller MW and Henry Davar IWE led the interactive sessions, giving students real time support and guidance. In addition, students were able to pre-watch a series of warm-up sessions to focus their studies. On the new approach, VIA Faculty Member Henry Davar observed: “This month we made a pivot with our flagship Italian Wine Ambassador Certification Program. We premiered the agile edition of the course… what’s changed? Well, we continue our mission to offer the broadest, most in depth and most up to date Italian wine curriculum. We also made good in our commitment to expand our offerings, notable additions this month include new Masterclass sessions. When we premiered the course back in 2018 we started with 3 Masterclasses, today we’ve expanded to 7! These Masterclass sessions have been prerecorded so students have the flexibility to study on their own time and to review the materials as often as they wish. This has left us to expand our live-virtual sessions to dig deeper into the wine regions of Italy and their native grapes. Moreover, because Sarah and I alternate lectures it frees one of us up to address any questions that our students might have during the lesson without disturbing the flow of the lecture. This has made the course much more interactive as well.”

The second part of the course will take place in Verona, Italy on November 19th to the 24th, 2020. In the new Agile format, tasting and recognizing the key grape varieties and wines will continue to be fundamental components in the VIA assessment. Therefore, the practical module will encompass two different types of activities: the intensive tasting section that will run on November 19th and 20th, and the participation portion, from November 21st to the 24th which will include field trips and events such as OperaWine and the wine2wine wine business forum.

Students benefit from the Agile version because of the more flexible schedule, there is more time to prepare for the final exam and there are extended warm up sessions. Fiona Chin, Business Manager at De Majestic Vines Singapore and VIA student, commented on the format saying: “Vinitaly Academy Agile edition has made the impossible possible: making us feel part of the VIA Community during this difficult time. I was able to feel surrounded by fellow classmates, share my passion for Italian wine and feel close to the heart of Italy through my screen! I was completely blown away by the enthusiasm and knowledge shared by excellent Italian wine expert Henry Davar and Sarah Heller MW!” Roddy Ropner, Japan based wine journalist, remarked: “The extra detail around soils and history is very helpful. And the ‘tag team’ format – especially answering questions without interrupting the flow of the lecture is great!”

Italian wine profits from the Agile format too: the Verona flagship edition of the Italian Wine Ambassador Course keeps the conversation about Italian wine culture alive and happening, even during these challenging times. Vinitaly International Academy is proud to have been able to adapt; to find a solution for those students who hoped to continue in this field. This has also been beneficial for the evolution of the course itself, VIA has managed to build on an already great course, this edition as well as those to come will provide the best possible Italian wine education for wine lovers all over the world.

Native Grapes Academy 2019 by numbers

January 16, 2020 by evebushman

VERONA, ITALY (PRWEB) – Three nations, 490 wines tasted, and 120 “heroes”: these are the 2019 achievements of the Native Grapes Academy (NGA). NGA is a project co-financed by the European Union and coordinated by Unione Italiana Vini (UIV) and Organización Interprofesional del Vino de España (OIVE) aimed at training wine specialists on PDO, PGI and TSG wines of Italy and Spain in three target countries, Canada, Russia, and Japan.

To train the “European Quality Wine Heroes”, NGA created the Native Grape Odyssey (NGO) Maestro, course which, in 2019, was held in three cities in three different countries: Toronto (15-19 September), Moscow (28 October-1 November), and Tokyo (2-6 December). In five days and 30 hours of lessons in total, participants discovered Italian and Spanish wines studying these countries’ enological production. They immersed themselves into Italian and Spanish grape varieties, wine regions’ climate, history, and culture. Rebecca Lawrence, education development manager of the NGO course, described the methodological approach of the lessons: “The NGO Maestro is a course that has based its methodology in understanding the quality of European wines, in particular Italian and Spanish wines, by exploring the native grape varieties specifically as they relate to their territories as well as making the connections between the shared heritage (both cultural and genetic) of Mediterranean grapes. The course first describes the territory and then explains why native grapes have thrived there and places them into the broader context.”

To study the viticulture and wine-making tradition of these countries, NGA supplied students with a course text characterized by a multidisciplinary approach. Native Grape Odyssey Volume I was written by Prof. Attilio Scienza, Full Professor at the University of Milan and renowned expert in vine genetics, together with science writer and researcher Serena Imazio. Complimentary copies of the book were distributed to the 120 participants of the NGO’s educational activities. The volume is the first of six publications which will be compiled throughout the three-year period of the project (2019-2021).

In the NGO educational experience, wine tasting takes central stage. In addition to the tastings during the lessons, each course also featured a final Walk-Around Tasting, where importers could showcase their portfolios of Italian and Spanish wines to a bigger audience of students, professionals and wine lovers who gathered for the occasion.

The NGA project strives to furnish students and wine lovers with free and open access training tools. Through the project’s official website and social media channels updates about the world of Italian and Spanish wines are shared on a daily basis. In addition, in November 2019, NGA launched its NGO Tasting Webapp. The Webapp allows users to record tasting notes, working as a sort of online tasting diary; moreover, with the app, users can share their tasting notes with other members of the community. Furthermore, by subscribing to the NGO Tasting Web-app, users who will compile the best tasting notes, will be selected for participation in the Vinitaly 2020 Incoming program and for the Spanish 2020 Incoming program. Selected users will have their travel and accommodation expenses covered and will join an exclusive program of b2b meetings, thus becoming active members of the NGO community.

In the next two years of the project, NGA initiatives will grow exponentially: new destinations for educational and trade activities will be added and new “European Quality Wine Heroes” will join the community after taking part in the NGO program of discovery of Italian and Spanish wines. In 2020 and 2021 one-day seminars and Walk-Around Tastings will be organized in five different cities in each of the three target countries (15 events per year).

Updates on the next NGA events are available on the official website nativegrapeodyssey.com and on the project’s social media channels.

About: Native Grape Odyssey (NGO) is a brand of the Native Grapes Academy (NGA) project. NGA is a project financed by the European Union and managed by Unione Italiana Vini and Interprofesional del Vino de España (OIVE) for the promotion of PDO and PGI European wines abroad, in particular in three countries: Japan, Canada and Russia. In order to achieve this, the NGA educational program will organize wine seminars, workshops and b2b meetings both in these countries and in Verona, Italy, inviting wine experts and influencers from these countries. These events realized across the span of three years (2019-21) aim to create awareness about European native grapes abroad, as well as the wines produced from them, in particular Italian and Spanish wines, which share a long tradition and a high standard of quality.

Attilio Scienza and Serena Imazio’s nonfiction bestseller about the historical and genetic journey of European grapevines – finally published in English

November 9, 2019 by evebushman

VERONA, ITALY (PRWEB) – Attilio Scienza and Serena Imazio’s wine history opus ‘Sangiovese, Lambrusco, and Other Vine Stories’ is finally available in hardback, following its official launch in the European market on Thursday, October 17th, 2019. The publication, which is the English translation of Italian nonfiction bestseller ‘La Stirpe del Vino’ (Sperling & Kupfer, 2018) can now be purchased in Italy and, through Amazon.it, also in Europe; the digital version is also widely available through Amazon Kindle. Focusing on a number of iconic vine varieties (Sangiovese, Lambrusco, Pinot, Chardonnay and others), the book reconstructs the lineage of wine by analyzing stories of migration, conquest, and cross-cultural exchange underpinning wine commerce and viticulture. It is a must-read for wine professionals and enology students, while wine lovers and the general public will be drawn into learning more about the topic by the authors’ accessible prose.

From the website: Silvano Romani Parma

The book focuses on the history and ancestry of vines that are cultivated in Italy (e.g. Sangiovese, Ribolla, Primitivo, Traminer, and the many Moscato, Malvasia, and Lambrusco grapes), but also includes international varieties such as Chardonnay, Merlot, Syrah, and Pinot in the conversation, highlighting cross-currents and contamination: “What is certain is that research into the origin of the vine—as well as man in Europe, by a singular analogy—highlights a plurality of roots and matrices,” write Scienza and Imazio in the Introduction, “This is what happened in Italy […]: the variety of approaches demonstrates and confirms that our wine civilization is the result of a tormented hybridization of cultural contributions from the most diverse origins, ranging from Europe to Africa, from the Middle East to Central Asia. In this sense, the Italian case is archetypal for the whole of Europe: from the research on the identity of the vine in the different regions, emerges a continent without rigid borders, a continuous crossroads of migrations, interactions, hybridizations, contrasts and conflicts between peoples, which has drawn fundamental sap from the diversity of roots, on a cultural and political level.” (XXII)

Authors Scienza and Imazio have worked extensively on vine genetics. Scienza, who is Full Professor at the University of Milan, specializes in genetic improvement of the grapevine; he has published over 350 scientific articles and 15 books aimed at both academic and non-specialist audiences. He has also served on many national and international research committees and participated in the zoning of over 35 viticultural areas throughout Italy. A biologist by training, Imazio was a researcher in vine genetics at the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia and at the Centro di Trasferimento Tecnologico dell’Emilia Romagna; she now works as a science writer for various outlets and has published books and articles on wine history, ampelography, and genetics. Thanks to both authors’ untiring curiosity for all-things vine, the book successfully blends together genetic research on grapes’ DNA, ampelography and botanical studies, anthropology, the history of ancient civilizations, linguistics and literary studies in a monograph which also critically expands on the notion of ‘native’ or ‘indigenous’ grape: “…the word ‘autochthonous’ gradually loses its meaning: the vines are the result of an intense and ancient varietal circulation between areas sometimes even spanning great distances, often without geographical boundaries, so the term no longer refers to a place, but to a time, in which the vine is manifested in an optimal way through its production characteristics. The meaning of autochthonous can also be extended to the place where the vine gives its best, such as Sangiovese which, although of southern origin—as we shall see—expresses its DNA in the best way in Tuscany and Emilia, where it is now considered autochthonous” (Scienza and Imazio, XXV).

In the book’s Preface, Vinitaly International’s Managing Director Stevie Kim, who has been working with Scienza since 2018 on the Vinitaly International Academy project, comments on the educational value of this publication for the international community of professionals working in the beverage sector: “The English translation of ‘La Stirpe del Vino’ (which literally translates ‘the lineage of wine’) is another powerful tool to assist wine professionals in their study of Italian wines. The revised title—Sangiovese, Lambrusco, and Other Vine Stories—aims to give prominence to iconic Italian grapes and wines that are well-known internationally. […] To our Vinitaly International Academy (VIA) community no glass of Italian wine will ever taste the same after reading Attilio and Serena’s ‘Sangiovese, Lambrusco, and Other Vine Stories’: this book […] will bring them closer than they have ever been to the wines that they taste, professionally assess, or drink for pleasure.”

‘Sangiovese, Lambrusco, and Other Vine Stories’ can be purchased on Amazon Italy for €18,90 and on Amazon Kindle for $9,99 (€ 9,02). Publisher Positive Press also provides shipping options. Additional information on the book can be requested by emailing info@italianwineunplugged.com.

Authors’ biographical note:

Attilio Scienza is Full Professor at the University of Milan, where he taught genetic improvement of the grapevine. His research interests include the genetic improvement of grape varieties and rootstocks by crossbreeding and clonal selection, the appraisal of old vines, and the study of interactions between the vine and the environment to enhance wine quality. He also worked on the preservation and enhancement of the Georgian germplasm. He is the author of 350 scientific publications and 15 books—both academic and of wider appeal—on topics related to the description of grape varieties as well as their relationship with the environment and historical origin. He also serves as the Chief Scientist of the Vinitaly International Academy, wine education provider specialized in teaching the diversity of Italian wine to international professionals.
After completing her degree in Biology in 2000, Serena Imazio begins her extraordinary journey into the wine world by pursuing doctoral studies on the origin and genetics of the grapevine. After her doctorate, she worked as a researcher at the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia and at the Centro di Trasferimento Tecnologico dell’Emilia Romagna, where she started to get in touch with the world of communication and scientific dissemination of knowledge to wider audiences. She considers herself very lucky since she managed to turn her unabashed curiosity for all things science and her love for the wine world into a fantastic job.

Praise for the book:

“The unique triumph of Scienza and Imazio’s new book on Italy’s viticultural heritage is how, rather addressing it in isolation, it successfully sets Italy’s story in a larger geographical, historical and scientific context. In so doing, the authors reinforce rather than diminish Italy’s importance, expertly demonstrating how the peninsula and its myriad peoples were often key connectors joining the dots of seemingly disparate traditions. Sweeping in its scope, but retaining the intimacy of a personal anecdote, this book is a must for anyone who would seek to truly know Italian wine.” Sarah Heller MW, Proprietor, Radix
“Wine grapes are the most human fruits. Wherever they are planted, if successful, they not only represent in their wines the societies that took care of their cultivation, but also mark the character of the lands in which they grow. Attilio Scienza and Serena Imazio share a series of most exciting real stories about grapes travelling and transforming landscapes. Their angle—solidly based upon science and knowledge with as much global perspective as depth—is unique. They are like this book’s grapes, well traveled and exceptional. I have not seen many books so soundly structured and so easy to read, books that provide knowledge while stimulating the imagination of the reader. I enjoyed the Italian version first and then its English version masterfully translated by Joy Livingston. Thanks, Serena, Attilio for your contribution to the understanding of the world of fine Italian wine and, most of all, for giving to me (and I think that to many readers too) lovely hours of intellectual enjoyment.” Pedro Ballesteros Torres MW, International Wine Judge
“To speak with Professor Scienza, to read his books, and to listen to him is always a great experience as well as a profound learning journey that we can teach us new notions which at times were overlooked. For decades, Attilio Scienza has stimulated and energized the production sector of the agronomic and enological world. I don’t think we would have reached today’s results without his scientific commitment. Even now, every time I meet him, I always feel the excitement and reverence of a student. Thank you Professor Scienza!” Lamberto Frescobaldi, President, Marchesi Frescobaldi
“Attilio Scienza and Serena Imazio’s scholarly quest to understand the genetics of the vine and their passion to narrate their lineage weaving together anthropology, archaeology, sociology, and linguistics make this book a perfect learning tool for people who work in wine, but also for wine lovers at large.” Stevie Kim, Managing Director, Vinitaly International

About:
Sangiovese, Lambrusco, and Other Vine Stories (Positive Press, 2019) is the English translation of Italian nonfiction bestseller about wine history La Stirpe del Vino (Sperling & Kupfer, 2018). In the book, vine genetics experts Attilio Scienza and Serena Imazio illuminate the interaction between human communities and vines, in a journey which will reveal the lineage of wine through stories of migration, conquest, and cross-cultural exchange. Using DNA analysis, archeology, anthropology, myth, and literary sources, authors discuss the origin and ancestry of vines such as Sangiovese, Ribolla, Primitivo, Traminer and the many Moscato, Malvasia, and Lambrusco grapes. Chapters also cover more widely planted varieties such as Chardonnay, Merlot, Syrah, and Pinot, as well as the impact of the phylloxera epidemic in the nineteenth century. Maps and genealogical charts of vine families also grace the book. Available on Amazon for €18,90 and on Amazon Kindle for $9,99.

Vinitaly International Academy proclaims 12 Ambassadors in New York City

August 15, 2019 by evebushman

VERONA, Italy (PRWEB) – After an intense week of lectures and tastings as well as a final examination in New York city, Vinitaly International Academy (VIA) has just certified 12 new Italian Wine Ambassadors. The new Ambassadors are all operational in the United States:

• Rose Thomas Bannister, Sommelier, Rose Thomas Bannister, New York;
• Bobby Domenick, Sommelier, Vetri Cucina, Philadelphia;
• Tiziana Forni, Brand Ambassador, Dark Star Imports, New York;
• Paola Pavan, Marketing & Sales, Italian Trade Commission, New York;
• Matteo Bolla, US & Canada Development Manager, Valdo USA, New York;
• David Pinzolo, Marketing & Sales, Ca’ di Rajo USA, New York;
• Gianluca Queiroli, Wine Director, Wine Empire, Ashland, Massachusetts;
• Susannah Gold, Marketing & Sales, Vigneto Communication, New York;
• Amy Ezrin, Wine Consultant, Amy Ezrin Consulting, New York;
• Alessandro Boga, Importer/Distributor, Wilson Daniels, New York;
• Diane Heck, Importer/Distributor, Southport Wines LLC, New York;
• Stefano Campanini, Marketing & Sales, Wine by the Bay, Miami.

The re-formatted, tasting-intensive VIA Italian Wine Ambassador course saw the participation of 39 highly-qualified candidates, who joined the VIA Faculty and Team in New York from June 26th to 30th. The 2019 New York cohort featured wine professionals who are active players in the New York wine and restaurant scene, as well as importers and marketing specialists operating, for the most part, in New York city and states such as Florida, Massachusetts, California, Nevada, Texas, Tennessee, Rhode Island, Iowa, and Pennsylvania. The group also included a small number of professionals from Canada and the U.K..

VIA New York proceedings were officially opened by Gioia Gatti, the Head of the Wine and Food Section at ICE – Italian Trade Agency in New York. In 2019, ICE – Italian Trade Agency supported also the Los Angeles and Verona editions of the Italian Wine Ambassador course. During the New York course, students sampled 215 wines: 70 during the guided tastings led by Faculty members, and 144 during the additional tasting sessions labelled “Tasting Labs” which of walk-around tastings with wines offered by VIA Supporters Italia del Vino, Italian Signature Wines Academy, Famiglie del Vino, Wi-Fi Wine from Irpinia, Consorzio Franciacorta, Consorzio Vini del Trentino, Consorzio Vini d’Abruzzo, and Sicilia DOC.

The 70 wines sampled during the guided tastings and studied for the blind tasting component of the Italian Wine Ambassador final exam represent benchmark Italian wines and have been carefully selected by VIA Faculty and team of specialists to reflect global market trends combined with local winemaking expertise. In New York, candidates trained their palates and improved their tasting skills with benchmark wines from key denominations across the 20 regions of Italy, native grape varieties and different styles. VIA Faculty Henry Davar commented on the wine selection: “With every new edition of the Vinitaly International Academy Ambassador Course, thanks to the continuing participation of our producer, supplier, and consorzio partners, we’re able to offer benchmark wines from the top producers in the most important wine growing areas. In our the section on sparkling wines for example, we had the opportunity taste iconic wines such as Ca’ del Bosco’s Franciacorta Annamaria Clemente and Ferrari’s TrentoDOC Riserva del Fondatore. I’d say that was a pretty good start!” Candidates also availed of the new VIA Tasting Schematic booklet, VIA’s standardized tasting grid with descriptors which are specific to Italian wine. The selection of benchmark wines per categories, VIA’s Tasting Schematic and the increase of the number of wines sampled in both guided tastings and Tasting Labs partake in VIA’s mission to maximize international candidates’ exposure to Italian wines.

Additionally, In New York, VIA’s constant commitment to become the gold standard of Italian wine education was reflected in the course’s attention to market niches such as the Organic, Biodynamic, and Natural wine markets. During the five-day of lectures on Italian wines, VIA guest lecturer and Biodynamic wine expert Monty Waldin, led a module on “Biodynamic and Organic Wines in Italy.” Waldin commented on the importance to learn more about this category: “Italy is one of the world leaders in terms of the surface area of its organic vineyards, so it is natural for VIA students to immerse themselves in Italy’s burgeoning organic and Biodynamic wine categories. Understanding how such wines are grown and made and how they taste enhances a deeper understanding of their intricacies and attributes to both trade and private buyers.”

The next VIA Italian Wine Ambassador course will be held in Hong Kong from November 3rd to 7th, 2019, a few days before the International Wine and Spirits Fair (November 7th to 10th) where Vinitaly will also organize a dedicated expo of Italian wines (Vinitaly Hong Kong). Applications to the VIA course in Hong Kong are currently being received.

About: Vinitaly International Academy (VIA) aims to be the gold standard of Italian wine education. It offers a complete educational path with standardized courses that will teach professionals and educators to master the diversity of Italian wine in a rigorous, organized manner. VIA’s main objective is to foster a global network of highly qualified professionals such as Italian Wine Ambassadors and Italian Wine Experts: in turn, they will support and promote Italian wine throughout the world. VIA was founded by Stevie Kim, Managing Director of Vinitaly International. The new VIA ecosystem avails of the guidance of Italian trade associations Federdoc, Federvini, Vignaioli Indipendenti FIVI, and Unione Italiana Vini as members of the Institutional Advisory Board. Italian vine genetics scholar, Prof. Attilio Scienza, oversees VIA’s scientific and educational direction as the Chief Scientist. VIA Faculty Sarah Heller MW and Henry Davar teach the flagship Italian Wine Ambassador course. The following trade associations in the Italian wine industry have also joined as VIA Supporters: Italia del Vino; Italian Signature Wines Academy; Le Famiglie del Vino, Wi-Fi Wine from Irpinia, Consorzio di Tutela Vini del Trentino; Consorzio di Tutela Sicilia DOC; Franciacorta; Consorzio di Tutela Vini d’Abruzzo. To date the VIA community comprises 202 certified Italian Wine Ambassadors and 14 Italian Wine Experts. Since its foundation in 2014, over 560 candidates from all over the world have taken VIA’s courses.

Wine Spectator Reveals Selection of OperaWine 2019 Italian Producers

January 20, 2019 by evebushman

VERONA, Italy (PRWEB) – Wine Spectator’s senior editor and tasting director Alison Napjus announced the 103 wineries that will pour their signature wines during OperaWine 2019, Vinitaly’s opening gala to be held in collaboration with the prestigious wine magazine in Verona, Italy, on Saturday 6 April. As is been customary for the past three years, the announcement has been made in Verona during the wine business convention wine2wine organized by Veronafiere, Vinitaly, and Vinitaly International. Napjus proclaimed the 103 finest Italian producers for 2019 on Monday 26 November at wine2wine in the presence of Maurizio Danese (President of Veronafiere), Giovanni Mantovani (CEO of Veronafiere), Gianni Bruno (Area Manager of Vinitaly), and Stevie Kim (Managing Director of Vinitaly International), and called the wineries’ representatives on stage for the traditional group photograph.

Every year, Wine Spectator’s selection of Italian wineries strives to showcase both the high quality and regional diversity of Italian wines. For the 2019 selection Wine Spectator chose 15 producers that had never participated before. Moreover, as Napjus pointed out in her announcement speech, the Montalcino area and its Brunello producers have undergone the most significant change in the magazine’s selection process: “To keep the tasting interesting and fresh we change part of that roster of producers every year. Over the course of 7 OperaWine, we highlighted more than 200 different producers and this year 15 producers will be pouring at OperaWine for the very first time. The biggest change in this line up is seen from Brunello. All 6 of the Brunello producers who poured at last year’s OperaWine will not be there in 2019, instead we will see 6 faces who are making equally outstanding examples from Montalcino. We also have 7 wineries returning to OperaWine after a hiatus of a year or two and all together it’s a beautiful group of wines with representation from every region of Italy, encompassing more than 70 red wines, 15 whites, and 10 sparkling and dessert wines, and including bottlings all the way back to the 1998 vintage.”

The 100 top Italian wines have been selected among 2600 samples from Italy that Napjus along with Wine Spectator Senior Editor Bruce Sanderson received in 2018. Criteria for the selection are the quality of the wines as showcased during the rigorous blind tasting process the magazine is famous for as well as, in Napjus’s words, “leadership, historical significance, diversity for the tasting itself.” The wines will be poured to a select cohort of press and trade professionals during the 8th edition of OperaWine Grand Tasting that will take place in the heart of Verona city center in the historic Palazzo Gran della Guardia on Saturday 6 April 2019.

Wine Spectator’s list of the 2019 100 best Italian wine producers is available below and additional information on OperaWine can be accessed on its website.

OperaWine: 100 Great Producers
1.    Aldo Conterno | Barolo Romirasco 2010
2.    Allegrini | Amarone della Valpolicella Classico 2013
3.    Antoniolo | Gattinara San Francesco 2012
4.    Argiolas | Isola dei Nuraghi Turriga 2013
5.    Arnaldo Caprai | Montefalco Sagrantino 25 Anni 2012
6.    Avignonesi | Merlot Toscana Desiderio 2013
7.    Baricci | Brunello di Montalcino 2010
8.    Bastianich | Venezia Gulia Plus 2009
9.    Bellavista | Brut Franciacorta La Scala 2013
10.    Benanti | Etna Rovitello 2004
11.    Binomio | Montepulciano d’Abruzzo Riserva 2008
12.    Bisci | Verdicchio di Matelica Riserva Senex 2010
13.    Bortolotti | Dry Valdobbiadene Superiore di Cartizze U. Bortolotti NV
14.    Boscarelli | Vino Nobile di Montepulciano 2012
15.    Braida di Giacomo Bologna | Barbera d’Asti Bricco dell’Uccellone 2016
16.    Ca’ del Bosco | Franciacorta Cuvée Annamaria Clementi Riserva 2008
17.    Canalicchio di Sopra | Brunello di Montalcino Riserva 2006
18.    Cantina Sociale di Santadi | Carignano del Sulcis Superiore Terre Brune 2012
19.    Cantina Terlano | Sauvignon Alto Adige Terlano Quarz 2013
20.    Cantine Lunae Bosoni | Vermentino Colli di Luni-Liguria Black Label 2015
21.    Carpineto | Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Riserva 2013
22.    Castellare di Castellina | Toscana I Sodi di San Niccolò 2014
23.    Castello d’Albola | Chianti Classico Gran Selezione 2013
24.    Castello di Ama | Chianti Classico Vigneto Bellavista Gran Selezione 2015
25.    Castello di Volpaia | Chianti Classico Coltassala Riserva 2015
26.    Cavallotto | Barolo Bricco Boschis Vigna San Giuseppe Riserva 2011
27.    Cesari | Corvina Veronese Jèma 2010
28.    Cleto Chiarli e Figli | Secco Lambrusco di Sorbara Vecchia Modena Premium 2017
29.    Di Majo Norante | Molise Don Luigi Riserva 2015
30.    Donnafugata | Passito di Pantelleria Ben Ryé 2015
31.    Elena Fucci | Aglianico del Vulture Titolo 2003
32.    Elena Walch | Alto Adige Beyond the Clouds 2016
33.    Elvio Cogno | to be confirmed
34.    Eredi Fuligni | Brunello di Montalcino Riserva 2007
35.    Falesco | Lazio Montiano 2005
36.    Falletto di Bruno Giacosa | Barolo Falletto Vigna Le Rocche Riserva 2012
37.    Fattoria di Fèlsina | Chianti Classico Berardenga Rancia Riserva 2009
38.    Ferrari | Extra Brut Trento Perlè Nero 2008
39.    Feudi di San Gregorio | to be confirmed
40.    Feudo Maccari | Sicilia Saia 2015
41.    Fontodi | Chianti Classico Vigna del Sorbo Riserva 2010
42.    G.B. Burlotto | Barolo Acclivi 2013
43.    Gaja | Barolo Sperss 2014
44.    Garofoli | Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Classico Podium 2016
45.    Gianfranco Fino | Primitivo di Manduria Es Riserva 2014
46.    Gini | Soave Classico Contrada Salvarenza Vecchie Vigne 2010
47.    Giuseppe Mascarello & Figlio | Barolo Monprivato 2013
48.    Grosjean Freres | Pinot Noir Valle d’Aosta Vigne Tzeriat 2016
49.    Hofstätter | Pino Bianco Alto Adige Barthenau 2016
50.    Jermann | Venezia-Giulia Vintage Tunina 2014
51.    La Stoppa | Emilia Macchiona 2007
52.    Le Colture | Brut Valdobbiadene Prosecco Rive di Santo Stefano Gerardo 2016
53.    Le Macchiole | Bolgheri Paleo 2004
54.    Leone de Castris | Salice Salentino Per Lui Riserva 2014
55.    Leonildo Pieropan | Soave Classico La Rocca 2015
56.    Lisini | Brunello di Montalcino Riserva 2011
57.    Livio Felluga | to be confirmed
58.    Livio Sassetti | Brunello di Montalcino Pertimali Riserva 2004
59.    Lungarotti | Torgiano Rubesco Vigna Monticchio Riserva 2011
60.    Maculan | Veneto Acininobili 2011
61.    Mamete Prevostini | Sforzato di Valtellina Albareda 2015
62.    Marchesi Antinori | Chianti Classico Badia a Passignano Gran Selezione 2013
63.    Marchesi de’ Frescobaldi | Toscana Montesodi del Castello di Nipozzano 2015
64.    Marchesi di Barolo | Barolo Sarmassa 1999
65.    Marco Felluga | Collio Russiz Superiore Col Disôre 2013
66.    Masciarelli | Montepulciano d’Abruzzo Villa Gemma Riserva 2012
67.    Masi | Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Campolongo di Torbe 2009
68.    Massolino | Barolo Vigna Rionda Riserva 2008
69.    Mastroberardino | Taurasi Naturalis Historia 2011
70.    Mazzei (Castello di Fonterutoli) | Chianti Classico Castello Fonterutoli Gran Selezione 2013
71.    Montevetrano | Colli di Salerno 2009
72.    Morgante | Nero d’Avola Sicilia Don Antonio 2014
73.    Nino Franco | Brut Vino Spumante Grave di Stecca 2012
74.    Nino Negri | Sforzato di Valtellina 5 Stelle Sfursat 2013
75.    Odoardi | Calabria GB 2014
76.    Ornellaia | Bolgheri Superiore 2011
77.    Paolo Scavino | Barolo Monvigliero 2011
78.    Paternoster | Aglianico del Vulture Don Anselmo 2013
79.    Pietradolce | Etna Vigna Barbagalli 2015
80.    Planeta | Etna White 2017
81.    Prà | Soave Classico Monte Grande 2016
82.    Produttori del Barbaresco | Barbaresco 2009
83.    Quintodecimo | Aglianico Irpinia Terra d’Eclano 2013
84.    Renato Ratti | Barolo Marcenasco 2010
85.    Roagna | to be confirmed
86.    Roberto Anselmi | Veneto White Capitel Foscarino 2017
87.    Rocca delle Macìe | Chianti Classico Sergio Zingarelli Gran Selezione 2014
88.    Salvatore Molettieri | Taurasi Vigna Cinque Querce Riserva 2009
89.    San Felice | Chianti Classico Poggio Rosso Gran Selezione 2015
90.    San Filippo | Brunello di Montalcino Le Lucére Riserva 2012
91.    San Martino | Aglianico del Vulture Arberesko 2013
92.    Tabarrini | Montefalco Sagrantino Colle Grimaldesco 2010
93.    Tasca d’Almerita | Contea di Sclafani Rosso del Conte 2008
94.    Tenuta delle Terre Nere | Etna Calderara Sottana 2015
95.    Tenuta di Trinoro | Toscana 1998
96.    Tenuta Pederzana | Lambrusco Grasparossa di Castelvetro Cantolibero 2016
97.    Tenuta San Guido | Bolgheri-Sassicaia Sassicaia 2006
98.    Tenuta San Leonardo | Vigneti delle Dolomiti Red San Leonardo 2013
99.    Tormaresca | Aglianico Castel del Monte Bocca di Lupo 2013
100.    Umani Ronchi | Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Classico Superiore Casal di Serra Vecchie Vigne 2016
101.    Vietti | Barolo Lazzarito 2013
102.    Vincenzo Ippolito | Calabria 160 Anni 2013
103.    Zenato | Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Sergio Zenato Riserva 2006

About: The grand Vinitaly 2019 will be held from April 7th to the 10th. Every year, Vinitaly counts more than 4,000 exhibitors on a 100,000+ square meter area and 130,000 visitors from over 140 different countries with more than 30,000 top international buyers. The premier event to Vinitaly, OperaWine “Finest Italian Wines: 100 Great Producers,” which will be held on the 6th of April, one day prior to Vinitaly will unite international wine professionals in the heart of Verona, offering them the unique opportunity to discover and taste the wines of the 100 Best Italian Producers, as selected by Wine Spectator. Since 1998 Vinitaly International travels to several countries such as Russia, China, USA and Hong Kong thanks to its strategic arm abroad, Vinitaly International. In February 2014 Vinitaly International launched an educational project, the Vinitaly International Academy (VIA) with the aim of divulging and broadcasting the excellence and diversity of Italian wine around the globe. VIA this year launched the seventh edition of its Certification Course and today counts 157 Italian Wine Ambassadors and 13 Italian Wine Experts.

Over 20 natural wines have been selected at third edition of Wine Without Walls

July 12, 2018 by evebushman

(PRWEB) – Italy is in pole position for organic, natural and biodynamic wine-growing. The country also has the largest surface area of vines under certified organic management worldwide, ahead of both Spain in second place and France in third. In light of this important reality, Vinitaly International added the “Wine Without Walls” section to its annual wine selection 5StarWines. Held April 11th to the 13th 2018 in Verona, the third edition of 5StarWines welcomed over 2,700 wines from around the world and showcased 45 bottles in Wine Without Walls. Chaired by biodynamic wine expert Monty Waldin, Wine Without Walls gives recognition to the ever-present growing importance and relevance of natural wines. The section is solely dedicated to wines either without added sulphites or wines with total quantity of sulphites (naturally produced and added ones) not higher than 50mg/l. During the last edition, 24 Italian wines made it through the selection, once again proving Italy as prime location for organic wine growing. The selected organic wines will be published on the 5StarWines – the Book, which will be available from July 2018.

During the first two editions of Wine Without Walls former Chairperson Alice Feiring devised criteria for judging to include the descriptors: ‘liveliness’, ‘evolution’, ‘balance’, ‘drinkability’, ‘savoriness’, ‘sense of place’, ‘emotional impact’, and ‘transparency’. Based off these editions, Monty Waldin decided to use and adapt six of the descriptors, changing ‘emotional impact’ with ‘individuality’ and ‘transparency’ with ‘clarity.’

Waldin chose ‘individuality’ to represent the individuality of a wine that can only come from vineyards and each individual vine transmitted from its particular piece of terroir: the exact type of soil and sub-soil it is on, the exact part of the slope, the exact amount of sun, rain, and wind that it gets. Individuality also stems from the human factor, i.e. how the vines were planted, picked, and pruned. These aspects, combined, affect how each berry will taste and how they are measured; whereas descriptors such as ‘emotional impact’ are less measurable and therefore more subjective.

Substituting ‘transparency’ with ‘clarity’, Waldin sees that clarity in wine not only comes from the winemaker, but also from the grapes themselves. A wine embodying clarity shows that the winemaker has a clear vision of how the wine will be made. Winemakers whose aim is to make wine as naturally as possible, must guide every step of the winemaking process with their mastery, skills and knowledge to include—date of harvest, choice of fermentation vessel, choice of bottling date—in such a way that the wine clearly expresses the terroir, grape and human touch. A wine with clarity will always be transparent, from the beginning to the end.

On the the experience, Monty Waldin commented “One of the delights of judging wines made by people working in tune with nature, rather than working against it, is that the wines show a brightness and levity which makes wine tasting a joy rather than a chore. We all felt refreshed at the end of the day’s judging as these natural, organic and Biodynamic wines tend to have lower levels of alcohol compared to conventional wines because the vines are in balance.”

Accompanying Monty Waldin in this year’s tasting, Wine Without Walls included 4 natural wine connoisseurs. Regine Lee, Christopher Barnes, Richard Kershaw MW and Gill Gordon Smith, all coming from various countries around the world, joined together at wine2digital. The panel agreed, at the end of the selection, that the wines far exceeded their expectations in terms of quality, complexity and, most importantly, value. Furthermore, the judges were pleased to see that the wines came from not only from small, artisan producers but also from medium to large scale producers. Despite their size, they showed that they are well organised and fully capable of bringing grapes into the winery at optimal ripeness and with diverting flavours.

Here’s the list of the Wine Without Walls selected wines:

ADRIANO GRASSO with BARBERA D’ASTI DOCG

CANTINA ALDENO S.C.A. with TRENTINO DOC GEWURZTRAMINER VINO BIOLOGICO

AZIENDA VINICOLA ATTILIO CONTINI S.P.A. with CANNONAU DI SARDEGNA DOC VINO BIOLOGICO

SOCIETÀ AGRICOLA TENUTA MARA SRL with RUBICONE IGP SANGIOVESE VINO BIOLOGICO

AZIENDA AGRICOLA LUSENTI DI LODOVICA LUSENTI with COLLI PIACENTINI DOC MALVASIA

BORTOLIN F.LLI SRL with VALDOBBIADENE PROSECCO DOCG SUPERIORE SPUMANTE BRUT

TENUTE DEL GARDA SRL with VINO SPUMANTE EXTRA BRUT

PIEVALTA SOC. AGR.R.L. with VERDICCHIO DEI CASTELLI DI JESI DOC CLASSICO SUPERIORE VINO BIOLOGICO and CASTELLI DI JESI VERDICCHIO RISERVA DOCG CLASSICO VINO BIOLOGICO

OLIS SOCIETÀ AGRICOLA SRL (FATTORIA LA MALIOSA) with TOSCANA IGT BIANCO VINO BIOLOGICO

AZ. AGR. LE CARLINE DI PICCININ DANIELE with VENEZIA DOC PINOT GRIGIO VINO BIOLOGICO and LISON PRAMAGGIORE DOC REFOSCO DAL PEDUNCOLO ROSSO VINO BIOLOGICO

AZ. AGR. CARLO TABARRINI “CANTINA MARGÒ” with UMBRIA IGT BIANCO

CASCINA DEL COLLE DI D’ONOFRIO A. & C. S.S. with ABRUZZO DOC BIANCO VINO BIOLOGICO and ABRUZZO DOC ROSSO VINO BIOLOGICO

LA CAPPUCCINA SOCIETÀ AGRICOLA S.S. with SOAVE DOC VINO BIOLOGICO

POSSENTE SOCIETÀ COOPERATIVA AGRICOLA with SICILIA DOC GRILLO VINO BIOLOGICO and TERRE SICILIANE IGP CATARRATTO VINO BIOLOGICO

FOLICELLO SOCIETÀ AGRICOLA S.S. with PIGNOLETTO DOC FRIZZANTE VINO BIOLOGICO

MARCHISIO FAMILY ORGANIC ESTATE S.S.A. with ROERO DOCG ARNEIS VINO BIOLOGICO and LANGHE DOC NEBBIOLO VINO BIOLOGICO

AVIGNONESI SRL with ROSSO DI MONTEPULCIANO DOC VINO BIOLOGICO and TOSCANA IGT ROSSO VINO BIOLOGICO

ERNST TRIEBAUMER with BURGENLAND QUALITÄTSWEIN BLAUFRÄNKISCH

5StarWines Proclaimed Over 600 International Treasures – Scoring 90+

May 17, 2018 by evebushman

Verona, Italy (PRWEB) – On April 13th, the third edition of 5StarWines came to a close at wine2digital, Verona. Organised by Vinitaly, 5StarWines is a three-day tasting aiming at shedding light on wineries investing in the improvement of their products. During the event, a highly qualified panel of wine professionals tastes and gives score on a 100-point scale to more than 2.700 wines.

Under the guidance of Vinitaly International Managing Director Stevie Kim and Vinitaly International Academy Scientific Director Ian D’Agata, the international team of judges is led by 3 General Chairmen: Bernard Burtschy, president of the French Wine Press; Robert Joseph, Editor at Large for Meininger’s Wine Business International; and Spanish Master of Wine Pedro Ballesteros Torres. Main task of the Chairmen is to re-taste wines with an initial score of 90, that is the score a wine needs to be published on 5StarWines-The Book. On the selection he chaired for two years in a row, Joseph commented, “There are new producers, new regions, and new grapes every year. I just love being here, discovering all these flavours, and then go on to Vinitaly to meet the actual people that produced them and understand why and how they are making these wines.” Ballesteros Torres, who finds 5StarWines enriching from a personal point of view, added, “I think it is a great opportunity for the Italian wines participating. 5StarWines is a major tool for Italian producers because they will have the chance to have a feedback from top level experts from all over the world. Another quality of the event is that while tasting, judges get the chance talk with each other, creating an environment of exchange and growth.”

5StarWines-The Book is a wine-guide including all the wines selected at 5StarWines that aims at giving visibility to worthy wineries. A special feature of the guide (and of the event) is Wine Without Walls, a section solely dedicated to wines either without added sulphites or wines with total quantity of sulphites (naturally produced and added ones) not higher than 50mg/l. Chaired by biodynamic wine expert Monty Waldin, Wine Without Walls gives recognition to the growing importance and relevance of natural wines. In the case of Wine Without Walls, the tasting’s assessment criteria are not numerical but rather descriptive like liveliness, individuality, sense of place, etc. Regine Lee, Head of Customer Business Support at Liberty Wines and one of the judges of the Wine Without Walls section observed, “WWW is a really interesting opportunity for us to valuate a lot of natural wines through quantitative and qualitative assessments that really look at whether the wine is of quality or not. US judges are able to look across wide diversity styles, mostly Italians, and I think it’s a really nice way to understand what makes natural wines particularly good and whether they can be judged in themselves or across wines as a whole.”

Coming from all over Italy, California, Argentina and other countries, the wines participating at this edition of 5StarWines were around 2700, 500 more than last year’s. Out of these 2700, more than 600 scored more than 90 out of 100 and therefore will make it on The Book.

For the second year in a row Italy stood out as one of the best producers at the selection, with Cantine del Notaio Soc.Agr. A R.L. taking home the “Best Winery of the Year – Gran Vinitaly 2018”. Worth a mention is the fact that this year, the selected 5 star wines will also be indicated as 5StarWines on Wine-Searcher’s online listings, one of the most famous web search engines for wine. Moreover, The 5StarWines label will also feature on the Vinitaly App during and after Vinitaly ,for all buyers and trade.

You can see the complete list of wines on http://www.5starwines.it/

About
The grand Vinitaly 2018 will be held from April 15th to the 18th. Every year, Vinitaly counts more than 4,000 exhibitors on a 100,000+ square meter area and 130,000 visitors from over 140 different countries with more than 30,000 top international buyers. The premier event to Vinitaly, OperaWine (https://www.vinitalyinternational.com/?page_id=646) “Finest Italian Wines: 100 Great Producers,” which will be held on the 14th of April, one day prior to Vinitaly will unite international wine professionals in the heart of Verona, offering them the unique opportunity to discover and taste the wines of the 100 Best Italian Producers, as selected by Wine Spectator. Since 1998 Vinitaly International travels to several countries such as Russia, China, USA and Hong Kong thanks to its strategic arm abroad, Vinitaly International. In February 2014 Vinitaly International launched an educational project, the Vinitaly International Academy (VIA) with the aim of divulging and broadcasting the excellence and diversity of Italian wine around the globe. VIA this year launched the third edition of its Certification Course and today counts 122 Italian Wine Ambassadors and 9 Italian Wine Experts.

8 “lucky” Italian Wine Ambassadors proclaimed in Chengdu, China

April 23, 2018 by evebushman

(PRWEB) – Under the good auspices of Chinese lucky number 8, the 8th edition of the Vinitaly International Academy (VIA) Certification Course in Chengdu welcomes 8 new Italian Wine Ambassadors (IWA) to the evergrowing VIA community. VIA adds another Chinese city to its map, with Chengdu being the third city in China to hold VIA courses after Beijing and Shanghai last year.

Vinitaly China

Chengdu is renowned for being the homeland of Chinese national drink Baijiu (a grain based spirit), therefore the city has a thriving beverage industry where Italian wine can shine brightly. For this reason, Chengdu was the perfect place to gather Chinese aficionados of Italian wine and spread its story of biodiversity.

The Certification Course comprised a week of training with internationally renowned wine critic Dr. Ian D’Agata and a challenging final exam held on March 20th. “I’m so honored to have taken this class and exam. The course is intensive and hard but definitely worth it!” says Joseph Cheng, Director at Story Wine Company in Hong Kong and one of the newly proclaimed IWAs. Sylvie Xuan Zuo, wine consultant at Peng She Da International Trade Company, also confirms, “Now that I’ve got the title of IWA, there’s much more out there for me to learn. I’ll do my best to make Italian wine better known in China; it’s such a beautiful shining pearl in the sea of wine.”

A unique opportunity for wine professionals to enhance their knowledge of Italian native grapes and distinctive wines, the VIA Certification Course enables all professionals to speak of Italian wine in a unified, organized, and thorough manner. Stevie Kim, Managing Director of Vinitaly International, speaks highly of the Chinese students’ commitment to Italian wine studies: “Sometimes we are criticized by the low percentage of pass rate but in the end candidates will often resit the exam. I’m always amazed by how much enthusiasm and determination exist amongst the Chinese candidates, despite the difficulties in broaching the course in English, not to mention the less familiar pronunciation of the most obscure native grapes.” Further evidence of the students’ passion for Italian wines was the fact that many of them provided tips to pair Italian wine with Chinese food from their personal and professional experiences, as recorded in the entertaining video “Best Italian Wine to Pair with Chinese Hot Pot” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o2sq4y-x4JE&feature=youtu.be&a).

After the proclamation of the 8 new IWAs in Chengdu, there are now 139 VIA-certified IWAs worldwide. Currently, VIA is home to 3 IWEs and 41 IWAs from USA, and 2 IWEs and 38 IWAs from the Greater China area. After the “lucky” Chinese edition, the next VIA Certification Course comes home to Verona, Italy, from April 6th to 10th, 2018, in the lead-up to Vinitaly.

Full list of our 8 newly certified Italian Wine Ambassador Chengdu Edition 2018

Jing Zhang, Shanghai, China, Sales Manager, EMW Fine Wines
Joseph Cheng, Hong Kong, Director, Story Wine Company
Yan Zeng, Senior Manager of Strategic Development at CIMIC Enric
Ada Xiaowen Zhang, Shanghai, China, Sales Manger, Le Service Divin
Maria Grazia Furbato, Jakarta, Indonesia, Wine Educator and Consultant, reWined
Haixia Xu, Chengdu, China, Co-Founder of Sichuan Ocean International Trade
Chunnju Emilia Hsiao, Taiwan, Co-Founder of Enjoyino Co.
Sylvie Xuan Zuo, Kunming, China, Manager and Wine Consultant, Zhong Peng Shi Da International Trade Company

For more details about the VIA Certification Course and the Ambassador’s BIO see:
https://www.vinitalyinternational.com/?page_id=663

About:
Veronafiere is the leading organizer of trade shows in Italy including Vinitaly (http://www.vinitaly.com), the largest wine and spirits fair in the world. During its 51st edition Vinitaly counted more than 4,270 exhibitors on a 100,000+ square meter area and 128,000 visitors from 142 different countries with more than 30,000 top international buyers (up by 8%). The next edition of the fair will take place on 15 – 18 April 2018. The premier event to Vinitaly, OperaWine (http://www.operawine.it) “Finest Italian Wines: 100 Great Producers,” will unite international wine professionals on April 14th in the heart of Verona, offering them the unique opportunity to discover and taste the wines of the 100 Best Italian Producers, as selected by Wine Spectator. Since 1998 Vinitaly International travels to several countries such as Russia, China, USA and Hong Kong thanks to its strategic arm abroad, Vinitaly International. In February 2014 Vinitaly International launched an educational project, the Vinitaly International Academy (VIA) with the aim of divulging and broadcasting the excellence and diversity of Italian wine around the globe. VIA this year launched the fourth edition of its Certification Course and today counts 130 Italian Wine Ambassadors and 9 Italian Wine Experts.