Vinitaly, Italy's most important trade fair for wine and distilled spirits, is ready to rack up another record year with over 150,000 visitors from more than 100 countries expected to attend an event which has become an international landmark for the industry.
Now in its 42nd year, Vinitaly will run April 3-7 and focus its attention on the needs of all operators in the field of wine: producers, importers, distributors, caterers, technicians, the press and opinion leaders.
It is particularly important for Italian wine exports, which have managed to expand despite the rising value of the euro, a falling demand at home and fierce competition from 'new world' producer countries.
Exports climbed 7.8% last year and this ''was a demonstration of the ability of Italian producers and distributors to understand trends and exploit opportunities when they arose,'' observed Vinitaly Director General Giovanni Mantovani.
''They have understood that in a global market it doesn't pay off to limit one's scope to national borders. This has allowed Italy to maintain its 18% stake in the world market, whereas France has lost six percentage points and conceded ground to ambitious new world competitors,'' he added.
A total of 4,300 exhibitors from more than 30 countries will take part in Vinitaly, which aside from wine will again be a showcase for quality olive oil in the Sol exhibition and cutting edge technology in wine and olive oil making in the Enolitech show.
One of the top events at this year's Vinitaly will be a special tasting of some of Italy's top wines from the exceptional vintage of 1997.
Organized together with the Italian trade magazine Civilta' del Bere, the tasting will included the 12 wines that were judged the absolute best by a panel of professionals and experts and that received a vote of excellence by at least three leading wine guides.
The 12 are: Solaia di Antinori, Sagrantino 25 years by Caprai, Brunello Poggio all'Oro Castello Banfi, Santa Cecilia di Planeta, La Poja di Allegrini, Barolo Monfortino di Conterno, Sassicaia di San Guido, Luce di Frescobaldi, Amarone della Valpolicella Mazzano di Masi, Turriga di Argiolas, San Leonardo di San Leonardo and Montiano di Falesco.
Other important events include Trendy Today, Big Tomorrow, which will present wines by emerging companies that are making a name for themselves not only thanks to their quality but also because of their interesting and competitive quality/price ratios.
Foreign buyers and journalists will be able to sample the best production of Italian wines at Taste Italy; Designer Restaurants will offer outstanding performances by the best Italian chefs; Citadel of Gastronomy will present the best regional Italian cuisine; while Signori Restaurant will see three different chefs every day propose a special menu while closed circuit monitors will offer visitors a 'back stage' view during cooking.
For the non-professional visitors, Vinitaly for You will host an evening 'wine bar' with food and live music for fine wine enthusiasts during the five-day event.
Vinitaly was preceded here by the 16th edition of the International Wine Competition (March 26-30) which saw a record 3,669 wines from 32 countries compete in a variety of categories judged by 21 different juries and 105 judges.
Last month also saw the 13th edition of the International Packaging Competition which awarded prizes for Best Label of the Year and Best Packaging 2008
Prizes and recognitions will be handed out at Vinitaly's opening gala night.
This year will again see Vinitaly, together with London's International Wine and Spirit Competition hand out Communicator of the Year and Young Communicator of the Year journalistic prizes.
Vinitaly is produced by the Verona trade fair agency Veronafiere which for the past several years has taken the Vinitaly concept on the road for a world tour.
The travelling trade fair has made regular stops in Russia, China, Japan, India and the United States.
Aside from wine, the Vinitaly road show also promotes quality Italian foods and food products.
