Blog

Strade del Vino and the Web, an impossible love story

At the International Wine Tourism Conference 2012  in Perugia Donatella Cinelli Colombini and Antonio Gnassi analyze Italian Strade del Vino web sites

Fattoria del Colle - Antonio Gnassi speech done via video conference at the International Wine Tourism Conference

 Read for you by Donatella Cinelli Colombini

Firstly the tourist offices were checked and 9 Strada del vino: Barolo, Franciacorta, Piana Rotaliana, Costa degli Etruschi, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, Sagrantino, Castel del Monte, vini dell’Irpinia e dell’Etna.

I begin with a comment regarding the tourist offices: basically in only 3 Strade del vino in centralItalyhad an information point for the public managed directly, all the others depend on the local authorities or don’t have one at all. The contents of the web sites are generally rich but with many critical aspects: often they are only in Italian and with no information regarding wines. Our analysis reveal other problems which are deeper routed and more serious.

Do you feel stupid because you pay your taxes?

<<No receipt given in 4 out of 5 shops. Neapolitan record> is the title on the Corriere della Sera. How is that possible? In the end it’s only the silly like me who pay their taxes!

read and seen for you by Donatella Cinelli Colombini

Donatella Cinelli Colombini

In addition to this, as pointed out by the president of Agriturist Vittoria Brancaccio, those who do not pay taxes are also carrying our an unfair competition towards those who are honest buy offering lower prices on their price lists. 82% of unpaid taxes are in Naples, 47% in Rome and Milan, only Genova is not too bad with only10% without receipt. Increase in sales of 1000% on the day when the tax revenue officials were running riot around Naples. Porsche and Audi registered as belonging to the poor….. ISTAT talks of evasion for 50% in the tourism sector for a total of 36 billion per year. How on earth is this possible? Especially now that everyone pays with a credit card!

Why Benvenuto Brunello must remain in Montalcino

Benvenuto Brunello 2012 is only five days away and I would like to explain why I’m against moving this event to Florence and want to keep it in Montalcino

Seen for you by Donatella Cinelli Colombini

Montalcino - old picture

During the past few days and during a recent mission to the USA with the Consorzio del Chianti Classico and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, the producers of Brunello and mostly I have been often solicited so that the previews of the Tuscan red wines became a large event to be organized in the Stazione Leopolda in Florence. I have underlined to everyone and everywhere how contrary I am, as I did to the Regional councillor Gianni Salvadori a few months ago.

Toscana Lions visit Chiusi, curiosities and considerations

Chiusi – February 18th 2012 – the Distretto Lions 108 la Toscana reunited around the Governor Michele Manzari and his “great dream” the Dynamo Camp

Seen for you by Donatella Cinelli Colombini

Lions MicheleManzari - Governatore Distretto108LaToscana

The call it “recreation therapy” and in the camping site in the Pennines dreamed of by the Governor is the first in Italy. It accepts children from 7 to 17years of age, with serious or chronic illnesses, or during their post op period. The children concentrate on their own abilities rather than on the limits imposed by the illnesses and find the courage necessary to follow the therapy. There are animators, sport and animals.

There is good news regarding the Dynamo Camp, on June 3rd the hospitality centre will be inaugurated and the collection of funds is continuing to cover the costs of the tents.

Buonconvento seen through my eyes

To get cultural and historic information about this medieval village in Val d’Arbia, on the borderline with the Crete Senesi, its sufficient to Google the word Buonconvento, and you get the info which you might need.
But the history of this village is not covered by the few pages available, at least not in the opinion of those, like myself, who were born here and have lived her until I was 20.

Seen for you by Bonella Ciacci

Some days ago I went to lunch at my parents, and after lunch I went for a walk along the main roads in the historic centre.

During my walk I realized that every wall, every door, every narrow lane tell me some of my history, which is unique and personal, but at the same time in entwined with the history of all of us buonconventini (or “bocconventini”, as we say).
The first part of my walk brings me to the “Cattivi Frati” bar, in via Soccini (just as a second thought I realize that the Soccini’s, or Socini’s, were my boss, Donatella Cinelli Colombini‘s ancestors).The bar belongs to a friend of mine Andrea, who has taken it over from his brothers. He has given it this name because of the local saying “Buon convento, cattivi frati”, sad epitaph of the inhabitants of the village, something they earned seven hundred years ago.

Awaiting Benvenuto Brunello 2012 and the new wines from Montalcino

During “Buy Tuscany” the previews of the great Tuscan red wines: Brunello di Montalcino, Chianti Classico and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano

Seen for you by Donatella Cinelli Colombini

Donatella Cinelli Colombini - introducing "Benvenuto Brunello 2012"

La series of events to present the new vintages of Brunello, Chianti Classico and Nobile is a marathon that lasts 9 days and that will involve journalists and operators from all over the world.
It begins Monday 20th in the great Chianti region, then moves to the fortress in Montepulciano, and the grand finale in Montalcino where 220 journalists are expected, half of which from abroad and 4000 buyers. The will taste the wines of 140 wineries.

There are millions of stars…. 5 those for country inns

Fattoria del Colle has “tre spighe” “three ears of wheat” . It might seem as though it’s a three star hotel but it in fact means that it belongs to the highest category of country inns in Tuscany.

Read for you by Donatella Cinelli Colombini

In this region in fact the tourisms structures in the countryside are rated one,

Fattoria del Colle - farmhouse in Southern Chianti

two and three wheat ears.

Having a different criteria of evaluation in each region is very confusing for tourists who must choose between 21.500 structures spread all over Italy, but also damages those who run these activities.

Luckily the new minister Mario Catania has decided to listen to the Osservatorio Nazionale dell’Agriturismo approving a national criteria for classification and putting the Osservatorio in the directors cabin for re-launching the entire sector. The country inns will also be able to reach 5 stars like hotels this way ending the useless confusion that was sometimes damaging.

The USA wine lover is won over through the heart

Getting a lesson from “Balzac” the producers of Brunello, Chianti Classico, Prosecco and Vino Nobile to face the largest and most competitive market in the world.

Seen for you by Donatella Cinelli Colombini – chronicle of the mission to New York

New York: the seminary is a spectacular place: Apella a building looking over the Hudson river where every

Apella - New York - Workshop regarding the American market with Balzac

architectural element and furnishing is by great architects

The seminary regarding the American market is held by the communication and events society Balzac, one of the best in USA where Paul the owner organized courses in the most prestigious university for wine lovers, Davis.

In the American market there are 100.000 types of wine on sale and of these 5.000 (of which 1.000 Italian wines) have obtains ratings above 90/100inl “Wine Spectator” . It is understandable that it is a crowded market where the importers have difficulty in selling the wines that they already have in their portfolio. This makes thing s difficult for those wishing to begin exporting.