Vinitaly

Vinitaly is an international wine competition and exposition that is held annually in April in the Italian wine region of Verona in northeast Italy. The event is exclusively for wine professionals featuring an average of 3000 wines from several dozen countries.[1] First held in 1967, VinItaly has been called the "most important convention of domestic and international wines"[2] and the "largest wine show in the world".[3][4]

Entrance to the 2011 VinItaly expo.
One of the many "press meetings" held by producers, officials and organizations that happen throughout the VinItaly exposition when new partnerships are announced or wine industry awards are given.

For producers in the Italian wine industry, attendance and the reception that their wines receive is considered a barometer for measuring the health and success of the market, particularly for emerging Italian wine regions. The event is also used as an opportunity by wineries to release new wines and wine styles or announce partnerships with universities, organic and biodynamic wine organizations or even other wineries.[5] Along with Vinexpo, which is held every other year in the French wine region of Bordeaux, VinItaly is considered one of the premier international wine events.[6][7]

Wine competition
One of the tasting and judging panels at VinItaly.

The wine competition aspect of VinItaly involves a sensory judgement of wines grouped within their own category—dry wine, sweet wine, still wine, sparkling wine, fortified wine, etc. The wines are judged by five member panels which usually includes two Italian judges, two members of the international wine press and an additional, non-Italian judge. After calculating the average of the scores received by the five judges, with the highest and lowest scores tossed, wines are awarded medals (in descending order of prestige) of Grand Gold, Gold, Silver and Bronze.[8]

Industry awards
Visitors outside the exhibition halls which includes several buildings to house wine exhibits from across the globe.
Attendees of the 2011 VinItaly expo visiting some of the presenter booths staffed by participating wineries.

In addition to awards giving to individual wines, the VinItaly expo also host the award presentation for several industry awards in the field of wine journalism. These awards include Best Foreign Magazine which has been won by such wine publications as Wine Enthusiast Magazine (2010) and Decanter (2012),[9] Best Young Journalist won by wine writers such as Monica Larner (2008 and 2010)[10] and Matt Skinner (2012),[9] Best Italian Journalist won by Ian D'Agata[9] and Best International Journalist, also won by Larner (2012).[9]

Since 1996, VinItaly has also given out a top International Vinitaly Award to wineries and individuals who have contributed to spreading wine culture international. Previous winners of this award have included:[11]

See also

References
  1. Fodor Travel Fodor's Italy 2014 pg 622 Random House LLC, Oct 1, 2013 ISBN 0770432328
  2. Rick Steves "Rick Steve's Italy 2013" pg 194, Avalon Travel, Jan 8, 2013
  3. Marc Vetri, David Joachim "Rustic Italian Food" pg 142, Random House LLC, Nov 1, 2011
  4. C. Michael Hall, Liz Sharples "Food and Wine Festivals and Events Around the World" pg 13, Routledge, Jun 14, 2012
  5. Bill Nesto & Frances Di Savino The World of Sicilian Wine pgs 41, 62, 123, University of California Press, Feb 9, 2013, ISBN 9780520955073
  6. Thom Elkjer and Tony Aspler Adventures in Wine: True Stories of Vineyards and Vintages Around the World pg 100, Travelers' Tales, 2002, ISBN 9781885211804
  7. Alice Feiring "The Battle for Wine and Love: or How I Saved the World from Parkerization" pgs 140-141, Mariner Books (May 5, 2009) ISBN 0156033267
  8. M. L. Balinski, Rida Laraki "Majority Judgment: Measuring, Ranking, and Electing" pg 152, MIT Press, 2010
  9. Claudia Ricci "Monica Larner Named Best International Journalist" Wine Enthusiast Magazine, Web 2012. Accessed: December 19th, 2013
  10. Editors "Wine Enthusiast Magazine Wins Best Magazine at Grandi Cru Vinitaly Awards", Wine Enthusiast Magazine, April 2010. Accessed: December 19th, 2013
  11. Wine News "CRISTINA MARIANI, JEANNIE CHO LEE, AND LIDIA BASTIANICH RECEIVE THE 2009 INTERNATIONAL VINITALY AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN PRODUCTION, THE DISPERSION OF THE WINE CULTURE IN ASIA, AND THE PROMOTION OF THE ITALIAN WINE AND FOOD CULTURE IN THE U.S.", April 8th, 2009. Accessed: December 19th, 2013
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