Story and photos by Dr. Michael Lim The Travelling Gourmet TM
All rights reserved copyright
The debonair and energetic Travelling Gourmet is in sunny Italy for the
MUCH awaited 52nd Edition of VINITALY the world’s largest edition of Wine , Spirits and Olive Oil!
Sunday 15 April 2018
Make Italian Wines great again! Wahahah!
Yesterday, Sabato 14 April 2018, was the Grand Opening of the 7th OPERAWINE in the Palazzo Gran Guardia. With Italy having no governo/government, there was some confusion with the Guest of Honour, normally the Minister of Agriculture…So ist das Leben. It could only happen in Italy. While US, UK and French warplanes decimated the evil Syrian regime’s poisonous chemical weapons sites, here in Verona it was a celebration of 100 of Italy’s best wines selected by The Wine Spectator magazine. Viva la differenza! “Nemo me impune lacsessit” goes the ancient Roman saying…It means : war appeals to those with no experience of it…
They cut the ribbon which was the in Italian colours and they kindly gave me a piece of it for good luck! I also saw my friends, the Chief of Police who is a lady, as well as Commandante Ettore Bromato, the head of the Carabinieri.
At the Press Conference, Stevie Kim, the MD of Vinitaly elaborated on the close collaboration with Wine Spectator magazine and also introduced a very special guest. She was my friend, Gina Gallo of the E & J Winery in California, USA. My very dear friend, the late Dr. George Thoukis was the Chief Winemaker for Ernest & Julio Gallo. Talking about her late uncle Ernest, Gina became emotional and teary as she told how Italian Immigrants, Ernest and Julio Gallo, were the ‘American Dream’ personified. Gina said, ‘We are lucky to have some wonderful Italian wines in USA. In Gallo we are focussed on the earth and sustainability and making great wines!’ There were speeches also by Bruce Sanders, Senior Editor of Wine Spectator, and Maurizio Danese, the President of Veronafiere.
After that it was a long wait for the Light Lunch with Gallo wines which turned out to be a lavish and BIG lunch in true Italian style. Wow, so much yummie food and Gallo wines!
To be continued…
Su 15 April 2018
FIRST DAY of VINITALY!
1057 I am in the Sala Stampa or Press Room
My first wine was in the International Buyers’Lounge of Bresolin Asolo Prosecco Extra Dry which was most refreshing!
The OLDEST Grappa in the world!
I went next to hall 3 to see my dear friend Antonio Nardini who was in a meeting but I tasted a Mezzo e Mezzo cocktail with Sharla.
On next to Donnafugata in Hall 4 to see dear Jose Rallo the GM who told me, ‘You are the first one to taste our new wine, only 7000 bottles from Mount Etna!’ A most wonderful wine called Sul Volcano 2016 bursting with refreshing minerality, kalamansi flavours and flint. Velvety with a gold hue and stimulating freshness reminscent of the French sauvignon blancs.
Later I had a Mezzo-Mezzo Grappa cocktail with Antonio Nardini the 7th Generation of the Nardini Grappa, the oldest Grappa in the world. Before drinking you must knock the glass twice on the table for buona fortuna or good luck! Cheerful Antonio told me, ‘We have a new Grappa line with lower alcohol and a modern contemporary rebranding focussing on my ancestor Bortoli, and all in starkly impressively dramatic black and white…and a new video too! We saw 5, 6 different companies for the rebranding but they were all the same old thing…except for one! This is the one we chose.’ Antonio and I love dogs very much, and he told me about his 3 dogs, all Boxers, papa, mama and baby. They are named Caligula, Nerone and Poppaea…I was told also of a very exciting new Grappa Event in Singapore on 10th May 2018 so save the date!
to be continued…
The Travelling Gourmet 