NEWS AND EVENTS
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The World of Wine in USA – not exactly as you would expect
Luca Mittica reporting from San Francisco, Las Vegas, includes info on computer expert wine lovers and the shocking spectacle of pigs being slaughtered in public
San Francisco- Evento Banville &Jones 2012
The two days in San Francisco were very productive. I met the manager of the distribution company who came to Casato Prime Donne di Montalcino three weeks ago. It’s strange to be able to meet the same people within a short period of time in different locations on the opposite sides of the world and to be bound together by the same passion for great wines! This event with our local business associates was a very successful meeting, but I have to say was not organised in the same way as in the other cities- it was possibly more ..’Californian’! It took place in one of the most fashionable restaurants, ‘A16’, and started with the slaughter and preparation of a pig in front of everyone. It was very graphic and very shocking. Also the venue was quite small and a flood of people arrived for the event which proved quite difficult to manage. There were a lot of buyers from San Francisco, distributors from Seattle and managers from a shop called Tolaini di Winnipeg. Our importer Banville & Jones has proved to be an influential organisation, with a success even beyond our expectations.
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.
My dog Felix walks on water
Let me introduce you to, the Golden Retriever at Fattoria del Colle. His true name is Valerio, but after a query posted on the web he was re-named Felix
Fattoria del Colle –entrance to the swimming pool park
Someone says that it is a name for cats, for cartoon characters, but in truth the name comes from the Latin word felix, which means lucky, and he really is a lucky and happy dog. He was born on the 24th September 2010 at the Antica Etruria kennel in Asciano and now weighs more than 40 kg. He is practically a fair-haired giant. His is sociable and welcomes all guests upon their arrival at Fattoria del Colle.
The wine by world giants
Costellation, LVMH, Treasury Wine, Distell Group, Concha y Toro these are the 5 largest wineries in the world and none of them are Italian
Concha y Toro - Barrio
The first Italian is the Giv -Cantine Riunite in seventh position earning 449 million per year. It seems an enormous amount but in fact it is only one fifth of the American winery Costellation whose yearly business is equivalent 2.494 million Euros. The second in the world is Lvmh group, with 1.664.000.000 € yearly. This is a French luxury company created by Bernard Arnault. The letters – LVMH – Luis Vuitton Moet Hennessy – indicate a group of 60 fashion, jewellery, perfume and wine brands. There is a bit of everything: from the king of diamonds De Beers, to the king of dessert wines Chateau d’Yquem , to the monopoly of great champagne producers to the last arrival, Bulgari.
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.
San Clemente a dream house
Paola and Paolo, the “creative team” at Fattoria del Colle transform the San Clemente apartment into a romantic love net, it’s comfortable, young but with a sensation of a “Tuscan grandma”
Fattoria del Colle - San Clemente - living room
San Clemente is at the top of the hill behind Fattoria del Colle slightly above the swimming pools and the tennis court. It is surrounded by Sangiovese vineyards and olive groves, in the distance the Val d’Orcia and Crete Senesi hills as far as Montalcino and Siena. The silence is practically noisy, and there is a sensation as if one is in a film regarding Tuscany so beautiful is the panorama.
For a love declaration use a pine cone
The pine cone, symbol of the Greek god Dionysus, continue to be a symbol of love, in the Tuscan tradition on the Albis Sunday
Santa Maria a Lamula -Arcidosso
The Sunday after Easter – in Albis – is the day when those who had been baptized took off their white garments used for the Easter ceremony and the day when the young gentlemen in love asked the young women to marry them in front of the Church and with their family’s consent.
Today this tradition continues in Pieve di Santa Maria a Lamula in the municipality of Arcidosso, on the Monte Amiata, 35 km from Montalcino and 50 km from Fattoria del Colle in Trequanda. A nice occasion to experience an old tradition with some pleasing wines.