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Switzerland: the Nation of Brunello lovers

In Switzerland the ratio between the number of bottles sold, and the country’s population is the highest in the world, that is to say that the Swiss are the biggest fans of the Brunello wine in the world

Brunello-Trade Mission in Zurich - C. Eder D.Cinelli Colombini S.Campatelli

For this reason the producers of Montalcino feel very at home in Zurich. Every 3 years the Brunello Consortiumorganizes an important tasting in Switzerland, and it has been a runaway success. In the work shop we had 40 wineries and their wines, this means 1/5 of the wine producers, and about 60% of the total Montalcino production. In the great hall we had 600 dedicated workers together with our Swiss fans. At the 2 seminars, which were conducted masterfully by Christian Eder, we had 160 important decision makers present. So pretty much a turnout which is almost double the number which attend a normal tasting organized by producers. The superb lunch, which was created for 40 guests, started with a multi-sensory experience crafted by Filippo Bartolotta. There were photos, music, detailed explanations, and of course the tasting of the Brunello wines all of which created a very evocative experience which surpassed the guest’s expectations.. Vinum, the most read wine magazine in Germany was a partner and co-organizer of the event.

Luca tells us about Detroit, its cuisine and its wine market

The Car Capital of U.S.A is a place of extremes: From incredibly dangerous neighborhoods to areas with top chefs and Michelin-starred restaurants

Brunello Casato Prime Donne - Detroit tasting Banville and Jones

Our departure from New York was distressing particularly for a dog which ran onto the runway and would not go away. The officials tried to capture him for 35 minutes and then they shot it. The result, because of the poor dead dog, was that we were kept waiting for almost an hour in the plane on the tarmac and arrived in Detroit only 15 minutes before the beginning of the tasting.

Detroit, the US car city is the American version of Turin, in fact, the link between Fiat and Chrysler has brought several senior Fiat executives to the area, with Marchionne currently heading up the company. Detroit has suffered various crises from 1960 up until present day. It originally was a metropolis with a population of 2 million people which has reduced down to only 700,000 today, this has created veritable ghost neighborhoods, which are completely uninhabited and dangerous. These areas are currently being studied by social scientists and security experts because of the incredible escalation of violence which has taken place there. Despite the crisis, Detroit still has some positive aspects and desirable areas in which to live. There is a galaxy of small towns and safe residential areas which can be found across the city which in some cases are very beautiful areas in which to reside.

Enoteca Italiana: let’s take a peek in a high society lounge of Italian winemaking

The Enoteca Italiana is the Institute borne in 1933 to promote typical Italian wines and since the nit has taken the best Italian wines around the world, and especially now, with great success

Launching of the Settimana dei vini 2011 in Siena

I have been Vice President of the Enoteca Italiana for the past 4 years and now that the role as administrator is about to finish I would like to show you something on the inside. I was nominated among the administrators by the Mayor of Siena so as to be able to keep an eye on the annual accounts. The economic situation of the institution was in fact critical. However regardless of a decrease in public financing (reduced to a twentieth of what used to be the amount received) regardless of the international financial crisis …regardless of everything, the Enoteca has worked well and has a list of successes. Under the guide of the President Claudio Galletti and the Director Fabio Carlesi the Enoteca Italiana is experiencing a new life.

Gozo the Island that bewitched Ulysses, Sarkozy and Donatella