#Vinitaly2017: 51 Years Of Innovation #Wine #Vino

Highlights from Vinitaly 2017 Verona, Italy

Vinitaly “where business meets tradition, innovation and glamour,” is “the leading wine event in the world in terms of exhibition area and international operator and visitor numbers.” This international wine and spirits exhibition event embraces the historic city center of Verona and, for 2017, it extended to Bardolino on Lake Garda. Vinitaly included many activities, b2b meetings, workshops and a multitude of tasting events. There was the Executive Wine Seminar organized by VIA-Vinitaly International Academy, Tasting Ex…press and other numerous tasting events. Additionally, Sol&Agrifood and Enolitech were held in conjunction to highlight the biodiversity of the local area and to provide an overview of the quality Italian food and wine sectors based on culture, products and unique technology.

Milan Expo 2015:
Vino: A Taste of Italy

Vinitaly debuted in 1967 and has continued to expand each year and receive global recognition. Milan Expo 2015 showcased the Vino: A Taste of Italy pavilion, which was the first ever dedicated to wine in the history of the Universal Exposition. The expo featured 150,000 bottles, about 800 tastings and was visited by 2.1 million people. Read more with our post on Milan Expo 2015.

Milan Expo 2015:
Vino: A Taste of Italy

The 50 year celebration in 2016 was inaugurated by President Sergio Mattarella.

This year (2017) marked the 51st anniversary of Vinitaly in Verona. Verona, Italy is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and famous for Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. Verona is beautiful and the whole city relishes in the festivities. Vinitaly was held for four days, April 9-12 and attendance is always extremely diversified, with Vininternational and international exhibitors, as well as many international buyers. While the event attracted more than 49,000 international visitors from 140 countries last year, 2017 saw even greater numbers. There were over 4200 exhibitors and over 2100 journalists in attendance from all over the world.

The City of Verona, Italy

Arena di Verona, Piazza Bra

Ponte Pietra, Verona

It is without question that Vinitaly is “the event that more than any other has marked the evolution of the wine system on a national and international scale, helping to make wine one of the most exciting and dynamic realities in the primary sector.”

The Wining Hour(s) at Vinitaly:
In terms of wine, Italy is confirmed as the world’s largest producer for the second consecutive year, with an estimated 50 million hectoliters in 2016. The country is also the second largest exporter in terms of volume and value.* There are 75 DOCG, 344 DOC and 118 IGT wines. Vinitaly celebrated and represented every part of Italy, and also highlighted wines from the main international wine-making countries.

*Source for world statistics: ISMEA based on OIV and HIS/Global Trade Atlas data 2016

A major highlight was our participation in a vertical wine tasting with Fattoria di Montemaggio. The Montemaggio Estate is located in Radda in Chianti and situated where there was once a 14th century tower. MonteMaggio, or Monte Maggiore, means big mountain, indicating its elevated position. They specialize in Chianti Classico, of course, and their wines provide an elevated experience for the palate!

Montemaggio certainly did not hold back in giving us the good stuff! Dennis (cellar guy) bought out wine after wine. Our vertical tasting consisted of:

1999 Chianti Classico di Montemaggio
This vintage showed that it is still very much alive and kicking. Earthy, leathery notes, limited red fruits such as ripe plum.

2007 Chianti Classico di Montemaggio

This is an amazing vintage. Notes of graphite, sand and ripe fruits, like cherry and blackberry. The typical light color of Sangiovese is evident. We learned that no chemicals are used, but instead, indigenous yeast. Dry ice is also used to preserve the must against oxidation. This also preserves the aromas and further extract the color.

2011 Chianti Classico di Montemaggio
This is the vintage on the market now. An intense and elegant bouquet, balanced, mineral, earthy notes. This wine is a very different vintage. It’s young, more fresh, less concentrated. It is a mixture of characteristics of the previous two.

Montemaggio Chianti Classico Riserva
paired with yummy Ribollito

1997 Chianti Classico Riserva di Montemaggio

The riserva is clearly an old style, big barrel-aged wine. Even after 20 years, the fruit is still there. This is a balanced vintage, with smooth, round tannins.

2004 Chianto Classico Riserva di Montemaggio

Only 4500 bottles of this vintage were made. This wine would pair perfectly with ribollito, or wild boar stew (and it did!) The color of this wine is much richer, deeper.

2007 Chianti Classico Riserva di Montemaggio

The color is a more intense ruby red and full of spice. This wine is elegant, with smooth tannins and leathery notes. It is very well balanced.

2010 Chianti Classico Riserva di Montemaggio

Spicy plum, chocolate and vanilla on the nose. Black cherry and coffee on the palate. Pleasantly tannic with a lingering finish.

We discussed Montemaggio’s new Etruscan logo, and how it represents women as growers of wine or viticulturists.

Montemaggio’s Logo

Notetaking as Ilaria speaks about Montemaggio Vini

2003 Torre di Montemaggio

Torre is a Merlot di Toscana, made with 100% Merlot grapes. It is aged in barrique and then tonneaux. This vintage was a low yield, but has long life. Great for aging. Torre is intoxicatingly aromatic, with baking spices, vanilla, red berry fruit and anise on the nose. This vintage is packed with flavor, balanced and more towards the full-bodied end of the spectrum. Montemaggio’s Torre is truly a game-changer. This was my favorite vintage of Torre.

2006 Torre di Montmaggio
The tower of Montemaggio is on the label. This vintage has aromas of vanilla with notes of clove. Very tasty.

2007 Torre di Montemaggio
Intense purplish-red and very aromatic. Elegant and smooth like velvet on the palate, Torre is full of rich, dark berry fruit, ripened red plum and black cherry, spicy vanilla, chocolate, coffee and cedar. Ok, actually, I cannot decide between the 2003 and 2007. I just need cases and cases of both vintages!

2015 Rosé di Montemaggio

This delicious, refreshing rosato is an IGT, and is an organic Tuscan wine made from 100% Sangiovese grapes. Bright rose color, with strawberry and mineral notes. A beautiful summer wine. We discussed the pink, reusable glass cork, which preserves the quality and the authentic taste of this wine.

We had a wonderful vertical tasting and ‘wining hour’ experience with Montemaggio at Vinitaly 2017. Special thanks goes to Valeria (owner) and Ilaria (manager) for hosting, and to Katarina of Grapevine Adventures for facilitating this tasting. Be sure to check out our other experience with this winery at their estate in The Marvels of Montemaggio Vini!

We had our pick of guided tastings, walk-around tastings, vertical tastings and a multitude of other tasting events and exhibits. Here are a few:

Consorzio del Vino Chianti

Consorzio del Vino Brunello di Montalcino

Vinitialy Bio
This exhibit was dedicated to certified organic wine made in Italy and abroad.

Well….of course!

As there were many contacts to meet, meetings and workshops to attend, exhibits to see, Italian gastronomy to indulge and wines to taste, we could not do it all. We did try though! Next year, we plan to allocate more time to partake of all the Vinitaly has to offer.

About The Wining Hour

The Wining Hour writes about wine, Italy and global travel. The Wining Hour boutique caters to wine-lovers across the globe by offering all wine-related items. The Wining Hour markets unique wine décor and furnishings, accessories, glassware, barware, wine racks, storage and cooling options, games, gifts and more. The Wining Hour also hosts #wininghourchat on Twitter (@wininghourchat) on Tuesday’s at 9 p.m. EST.(For more, see links at the top of this page)

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