There are openings available for only five of the ten prestigious tasting sessions scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, 10–11 November. These important events, promoted by Helmuth Koecher and coordinated by Ian Domenico D’Agata, offer wine enthusiasts a unique experience and their aim is to collect funds for the earthquake victims of Emilia and L’Aquila. One of the most noteworthy is the grappa tasting organized by NONINO DISTILLATORI, offering products that are not sold anywhere and are being brought from the cellars exclusively for this occasion in order to demonstrate that, as opposed to what French literature says about ageing, the best Reserves do not come solely from neutral spirits. Tastings and tickets are on presale at www.meranowinefestival.com
A mouth-watering programme will once again transform
the GOURMETARENA into a stage
for 13 renowned chefs from
restaurants, country residences and luxury hotels, who will present
the dishes they have created to interpret this year’s theme, ECOLOGICAL
SUSTAINABILITY.
They are:
- Alberto Fol – Europa Regina Westin in Venice
- Alfio Ghezzi* – Locanda Margon (Trento)
- Alois Haller* – Castel Fragsburg (Merano)
- Carlo Molon – Il Canneto restaurant, Sheraton Milan Malpensa
- Danilo Bei* – Ristorante Emilio (Fermo)
- Diego Rigotti – Maso Franch (Giovo – Trento)
- Giuseppe di Iorio – Palazzo Manfredi (Rome)
- Ivan Justa – Gran Hotel Palazzo Parenzo
- Massimo Mentasti – La Gallina restaurant, Relais Ostelliere (Gavi – Alessandria)
- Michele Gioia* – The Cesar restaurant, La
Posta Vecchia (Ladispoli – Rome) - Rocco Melchiorre* – Auberge de la Maison (Courmayeur)
- Tomasz Kavcic – Gostisce Pri Lojzetu, Zemono,
Slovenia - William Zonfa* – Magione Papale (L’Aquila)
GourmetArena’s exceptional
partner will be ARCA by INOXPIÙ, the kitchen truck by the Trento-based company that
is unique the world over: it is a true professional kitchen on wheels. The sponsor for the entire space devoted to gourmets
is Le Tenute di Genagricola, the winemaking division of Assicurazioni
Generali, which will match their estates’ finest wine with the chefs’
creations.
CULINARIA, the space devoted to the artisans of taste, has
enriched its offering, arriving at more than 100 exhibitors with typical
products from all over Italy: a wide variety of olive oils, balsamic
vinegars from ancient producers in Emilia, rare and prized cheeses,
sauces from Sicily, an incredible choice of charcuterie, starting with
choice culatello, and panettone and all kinds of cakes and sweets.
Important innovations await
enthusiasts and connoisseurs on MONDAY, 12 NOVEMBER.There will be a tasting of old vintages (the oldest
is from 1930 – Villa di Capezzana Riserva di Tenuta di Capezzana)
that producers will offer from 10 a.m. until 5 pm., and the CLUB EXCELLENCE, the club
of Italian distributors and importers of fine wines and spirits, will be introduced to the public for the first
time. At the Hotel Terme Merano, in a special space, seven of
the most important distributors and importers of great wines and spirits
will head tastings of prized bottles of Champagne and
international wines, most of which French: Champagne Louis Roederer
Brut Premier, Champagne Pol Roger Blanc de Blanc 2002 Domaine Méo-Camuzet
– Clos de Vougeot grand cru 2007, and Arnoux-Lachaux Vosne Romanée
1er Cru Les Chaume 2009, to name only a few. The Club, established in
July 2012 and chaired by Massimo Sagna, was created to spread the culture
of distributing fine wines and spirits.
For the Festival programme and updates, visit the
new site www.meranowinefestival.com where, as of Friday, 23 September, you can also read WINELIFE, the new digital
bimonthly magazine that talks about food and wine, with the contribution
of Italian and international journalists.
In 2012 the Merano WineFestival – now in its 21st
year – is an event to be experienced, and it will not disappoint producers,
sector professionals, enthusiasts, journalists and bloggers, who every
year enjoy an unmissable event in magical Merano: a rendezvous with
excellence.