Events

Vinitaly 2006: forty years of success
April 2006

Vinitaly, a major specialized wine exhibition, marked its 40th anniversary.

A small event ‘Italian wines day’ that was first held in Verona in 1967 turned into one of the largest world fairs. This year 4,200 companies from 25 countries worked on 80,000 sq m of exhibition area. The event was visited by about 140,000 professional operators from over a hundred countries.

Intense programme included tastings, presentations, round tables, conferences and other formats. An international referendum chose 13 legendary wines for Vinitaly’s anniversary. ‘Legend of legends’ became Sassicaia 1998, and the nomination ‘Legendary cellar’ was given to Angelo Gaja for wines Sori San Lorenzo, Sori Tildin and Sperss.

Winners of XIV International wine competition were announced at the fair. The top prize “Gran Vinitaly 2006” was taken to Spain by Segura Viudas company. About 3,500 samples from 30 countries entered the competition. Medals were awarded to 91 wines, special diplomas — to another 1047 wines.

A special competition was dedicated to packaging design. The jury panel included designers, art specialists, journalists and enologists. The main nomination “Label 2006” was won by wine Pignola 2004 Retiche di Sondrio IGT (Marchiopolo) and grappa Duca Enrico (Duca di Salaparuta).

Serena Sutcliffe, wine director for Sotheby’s auction ran ‘Young lions’, or wines of future tasting together with leading winemakers. Among them were Marco Caprai, Angelo Gaja, Piero Antinori, Sebastiano Rosa (Tenute di San Guido), Jean-Baptiste Lecaillon (Roederer), Alexander von Beck (Chateau Giscours), Philippe Guigal, David Powell (Torbreck), Willi Brundlmayer (Weingut Brundlmayer) and others.

Two smaller specialized international exhibitions ran within Vinitaly — Enolitech (equipment and technologies for wine and olive oil production) and Sol, dedicated to olive oil.

The third edition of Vinitaly Russia was held in Moscow and for the first time in St Petersburg. In 2005 imports of Italian wines in Russia grew by 74% by volume and 50% by value in comparison with the previous year. Italian wines account for about 1,5 percent on the Russian wine market.