The hopeful expressions and the work carried out by the wine makers during the largest Italian wine fair. The courageous proposals by Veronafiere for Asia.

Carlo Gardini and Violante

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What is amazing is the lack of enormous traffic jams we were used to in the past, even though the Vinitaly pavilions were overflowing with people even more than usual. One was even scared to take an escalator in case it was not possible to get off again.

What most explains peoples desire to work hard is the type of shoes worn: no heels, and lots of walking shoes, a proclamation saying “no one is going to stop us!” In the Donne del Vino restaurant, on the first day of the fair, they continued serving lunches until 5pm, as there was such a crowd.

The loft of the Duomo di Siena is about to be opened up to the public, a new emotion from a celebrated and very famous treasure chest full of works of art

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Cathedral in Siena, the inside from the loft

Nicola and Giovanni Pisano, Donatello, Michelangelo, Bernini… the greatest sculptors of their time have left their works of art in the Duomo di Siena. Isn’t that enough? But there is also the largest storiated flooring in the world and, the young Raffaello and Pinturichio, Beccafumi, Francesco di Giorgio …. An endless list of works of art.
Today it is possible to see this wonderful place from a different angle, with a strong and very new emotion. In a months time the loft of the Duomo will be open to the public and visitors will be able to see the Duomo from up high. Mario Lorenzoni, Rector of the Opera del Duomo has had carried out in a few years a great number of renovations and has transformed the Duomo di Siena in tone of the most visited art locations in Italy. He is the artificer of the opening up to the public of the loft and he is the organizer of the tour prepared for the members of the Inner Wheel di Siena where I too was present.

Canada, Vancouver start off in a limousine and then a free day on Sunday with market stalls, ferry boat and American-Indian dances. Monday extra long Brunello

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MOA Vancouver Native American dances

Once again in Canada and this time with the other Brunello producers. We are in Vancouver and we are all dressed for winter, but here it is hot, hotter than Montalcino at least.
Upon arrival the Brunello producers find a limousine with lounge and ceiling with lighting similar to a Christmas tree waiting for them. We were all overawed but happy.
Sunday was a free day with a visit to the market stalls, a ferry boat trip across the bay and then the Museum of Anthropology with the American Indian music festival. Wonderful!
The city is quite rainy but beautiful, what is especially fantastic is the lifestyle, with many young people and many different races. Asians, European immigrants…if there is a really multiethnic place then that is Vancouver. It also seems a happy city, with no tensions and a great love of life.

A day’s work in the cold in Washington with just a little time for tourism with the Brunello producers

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Us Capitol in Washington, Donatella and Carlo

We were up at the crack of dawn, and then took a taxi to Penn Station, the enormous underground station next to Madison Square Garden where Nino Benvenuti’s international boxing contests took place. Here we take a train with very large wagons but they are so old that for 2 hours 45 minutes they shake us ‘til we reach Washington. Once out of the splendid Victoria station we are in front of the United States Capitol, what a sight! The small group of representatives of the Consorzio del Brunello and I had planned a day at the Italian Embassy. The building was constructed in 2001; it is square shaped and has a spectacular glass-domed atrium. There are archaeological objects exhibited and a hall dedicated to Falcone and Borsellino with the photos of the two magistrates killed by the mafia.

After a long meeting and a buffet enriched with 20 odd bottles of Brunello, including mine, – which is something that I am particularly proud of- we are finally free to roam as tourists.

Brunello 2008 is liked by the Americans more than they expected. It’s a 4 star vintage but is earning its fifth on the field.

NewYork-preview-Brunello2008

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500 clients for 41 wineries from Montalcino under the monumental Gotham Hall dome for the first New York toast to the Brunello 2008.

We are in the heart of the Big Apple, in the 19th century branch of a business bank, a sort of modern Pantheon where everything – from the doors to the chandeliers – transmits the opulence of the golden years of America. A location that become a cult for the Batman film and upon entering you really think you see the famous bat fly under the enormous central vault.

The tables for the 41 Brunello producers positioned in a circle around a central buffet with tables for eating on the outside. At midday the assault begins. Really long queues in front of the signing- in desks and an ever growing crowd in front of the producers’ tables, who for 5 hours didn’t have time to go to the restroom. Importers, buyers, journalists and bloggers, restaurateurs, shop owners

Piero_Antinori_NY_tasting_Brunello

….. as if to confirm that Brunello is a star that shines more and more in the first wine market in the world. It is also evident that the 2008 vintage meets with the requirements of the best clientele of the area: it is a “friendly” wine, so much readier and more easily understood than other Montalcino vintages. More importantly it is liked more than everybody expected. It reached here with 4 stars awarded in the harvest rating but is earning its fifth on the field.