Vinitaly 2018

Vinitaly 2018

There is no world without Verona walls, But purgatory, torture, hell itself.

Hence “banishèd” is banished from the world, And world’s exile is death

Shakespeare (Act III, Scene III)

“Vinitaly 2018”, a reason to go to Verona 

There are thousands of reasons to visit  Verona . Not only for  Juliet’s balcony’, but also for ‘Vinitaly 2018′ ! This  is the biggest exhibition about wine in Italy and for sure one of the biggest in the world .

Thousands of producers and distributors from all 20 regions of Italy  and from  all over the world present their wines at Verona Expo’, the trade fair of Verona. During the ‘Vinitaly 2018′ I spent a weekend in Verona by friends of mine .

Of course,  I realized that  this ‘City of Lovers’ has much to offer travellers beyond the famous, dramatic love story between ‘Romeo and Juliet . Follow my tips about discovering this stunning Italian city and the best wineries in Italy .

 

What is ‘Vinitaly 2018’?

Vinitaly 2018′ is the world’s largest wine and oenology fair, which takes  takes place every spring in Verona:

  • 4,600 exhibitors from 35 countries.
  • 100,000 square metres of exhibition space.
  • 125,000 visitors from 145 nations.

Not only wine!

Vinitaly 2018′  takes place inside the Verona Expo’ , which is a huge area south of the city, near the main  railway station. Inside there are 20  large pavilions, which are divided by regions . Participating wineries set up the stands for wine presentations and tastings.

In addition to wine, there are sections dedicated to wine technology and equipment, olive oil, spirits, beer, gastronomy. This wine  exhibition  is absolutely  a journey into the world of wine!

My favourite  Sicilian wineries at ‘Vinitaly 2018’

For wine lovers, this is an experience not to be missed! Prior to 2018, I had always heard of ‘Vinitaly 2018′ , but I had never experienced the wonder myself. I attended  ‘Vinitaly 2018′ in April,  and I have to admit I liked  what I saw. It’s an event of international importance, and it is very big  in terms of products, distributers, and actual surface area.

I walked a lot  in one day from one hall to the next . Actually, it required not only  a strong passion for wine, but even research , planning and money! Being an immense area, I  realized I couldn’t  scratch the surface of ‘Vinitaly 2018′ – above all if attending in only  1 day!

I would have flown into a couple regions of Italian wine, but I was able only to  try  3  Sicilian wineries , the ones I would have visited since a lot of time. Here below  my wine  tour in Sicily, my wonderful homeland!

1. ‘Castellaro Winery’, Lipari 

As fate would have it, my first stop was Tenuta di Castellaro winery  of Lipari.  The estate of Castellaro has its headquarters in Quattropiani’, the highest village on the island of Lipari. The owner of the estate is Massimo Lentsch, entrepreneur from Bergamo (Milan area), who fell in love with Sicily and Sicilian wine.

Massimo Lentsch was already producing wine in Dubrovnik, but after a holiday in Lipari,  realized the high potential of this terroir and created this new company. The estate consists of several plots scattered all over the island of Lipari: ‘Vigna’ , ‘Maggiore’, ‘Lisca’, ‘Lisca Alta’, ‘Caolino’ and ‘Gelso’ are the main. The greater area is located in ‘Castellaro’ and from this vineyard is after named the estate.

Massimo Lentsch and Salvo Foti

A very important event was the meeting between Massimo Lentsch and the winemaker Salvo Foti, founder of the Consortium of Vigneri’, who has put his great experience to produce wine in the Eolie islands in the service of the new winery. The goal of the Consortium of Vigneri is to produce wines of excellence, in full respect of the nature and island traditions.

The grapes of Lipari island

In 2013, after four years of work, in Lipari was inaugurated the cellar of the estate, with a solemn ceremony in which, in addition to local authorities, was attended by a delegation of Japanese operators.

This is the largest winery of the Aeolian  Islands, modern with very low environmental impact, all geared to the natural production of wine, where the wine making process takes place by gravity, without the use of pumps, where the musts are fermented on indigenous yeasts.

In volcanic soils rich in pumice and obsidian have found an exceptionally habitat grapes varieties such as:

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2. ‘Benanti Winery’, Mount Etna

Last summer I wanted to go to Mount Etna to visit the ‘Benanti Winery’, but I couldn’t for several reasons .  I promised myself to find a way to do it once in my life! It’s easy to imagine I dashed for this unique winery at Vinitaly 2018′, which  gave me the possibility to meet the producers in person.

First thing, I was impressed was for their elegance: their manners, their way of thinking, their personality and their kindness to tell me the story of their family.

The grapes of Etna

Antonio Benanti  , a charming Sicilian entrepreneur, started talking about their top red and white wines. I tasted them and they are stunning. These wines are unique, because they are produced from three local noble grapes variety you can’t find nowhere in the world:

They are so special, because they are located in Mount Etna that is an insane place to produce wine: volcanic soil, wildly unpredictable weather and steep slopes. This  is the reason why Etna has become one of Italy’s most exciting wine regions, creating wines with intense minerality and effusive flavours.

I asked Antonio the secret of their success and he answered simply : “passion, hard job and professionality”. Antonio with his brother Salvino belongs to the new generation of ambitious winemakers that are pioneering the potential’s of Etna vineyards focusing on what it does best.

Benanti family

Twin brothers Salvino and Antonio Benanti, 42,  spent their lives side by side: growing up in Sicily, studying at business school, working banking jobs in London and then returning to Sicily to take over the family winery.  In 2012 their father, Giuseppe Benanti, handed them the ‘Benanti Winery’ .

Giuseppe Benanti, now 73, is a third-generation Catania pharmacist who built a successful international ophthalmological products company.  In the late 1980s Giuseppe began investing in a dream of making great wines in Mount Etna reviving a family old passion with an extensive and selective study of the Etnean soils. But it was with the twins that there was a qualitative leap. In the past  ‘Benanti Winery’  had lost some of its identity, producing too many wines of varying quality.

The brothers knew what they wanted to do and wasted no time:  the day after Giuseppe transferred ownership to his sons, they started a revolution!  The brothers sold off vineyards in south eastern Sicily along with mediocre performers on Mount Etna, dramatically slashed the number of bottlings from more than 20 to 8,  and eliminated use of international varieties. Their idea was to invest in their core wines.

‘Benanti wines’

Those that ‘Benanti Winery’  does best are its elegant, single-vineyard  Etna flagships including:

Today the ‘Benanti Winery’  farms about 30 acres, producing close to 13,000 cases annually. Benanti Wines’—which five years ago were exported only to Japan, Norway and one U.S. state—now ship to 30 countries. American distribution has expanded from New York only to 11 other states.  Today ‘Benanti Winery’  is  prestigious and its wines are some of the most awarded in Sicily.

3. ‘Fina Winery’, Marsala

Fill your glass with ‘Kikè’ (white,  Traminer and Sauvignon Blanc)  of ‘Fina Winery’ once in your life  ! Can you imagine ?  During a starring summer evening in front of the sea, while having a cosy fish meal somewhere in the Mediterranean!

It happened to me and finally at the Vinitaly 2018′ I met Bruno Fina, the gentle owner of this beautiful and modern winery in Marsala,  who dedicated a little time to me for tasting his gorgeous wines. ‘Fina’s wines’ are the result of a land in the territory of Marsala that is loved and fought for, they have the taste of the passion and of that grapes that have been wisely turned into wine, thanks to the dedication of the work in the vineyard.

The harmony of a winery 

They have the familiar warmth and the experience of who has always done wine and has always know how to narrate it. This is how you transmit the hereditary character of the territory and the harmony of the men that search for excellence on a daily basis.

Those are the fundamental element of ‘Fina Winery’ and for this reason Bruno Fina considers his wines as part of his family. Aiming to get the best from the surrounding territory ‘Fina Winery’  has a modern and efficient structure transferring all the passion in rational organization of spaces and processes, in the maximum respect for the integrity of the grapes.

 

Tips for your upcoming ‘Vinitaly’

Finally some useful tips, if you decide to go to Vinitaly’ next year:

  1. Book Vinitaly tickets in advance on line: they were € 80 per person for a 1 day pass and €145 for all 4 days. If you are affiliated with a wine-related trade (sommelier, restaurant owner, shop owner, blogger, etc.), it is possible to have a discount. If you know someone  who is somehow involved in the wine business, they can sign up for a free entrance.  The reason why  Vinitaly 2018′ is so expensive was because of issues with drunk people in the past.  Lastly, if you are  a journalist, a blogger  and so on, you can request a free 4-days pass to Vinitaly 2018′;
  2. Stay Overnight in Verona: If you have the chance to stay in Verona during the festival, do it! The city comes alive with all sorts of dining and wine events. But make sure you make reservations for any dinners in advance, as most restaurants are sure to fill up;
  3. Stay longer than 1 day:  and figure out a plan;
  4. Go on one of the last two days: If you have to pick a day, pick one of the last two days of the festival. By then, the crowds have died down;
  5. Spend time on  the website of  ‘Vinitaly Website’:  that offers a plethora of useful information about the philosophy, logistics, and wineries at the festival,  conducting some preliminary research for your visit;
  6. Get the Vinitaly App’: it lists every single vendor by country, region, and type of wine. the ‘Vinitaly App’ also has a map of the event and a location capability that can help you find saved wineries once you arrive;
  7. If you want to get to Vinitaly’ consider public transport: if you’re coming from outside of Verona. I  caught a train to Verona Porta Nuova’ (main train station), then immediately hopped on the Vinitaly 2018′  free shuttle bus. It dropped us off right in front of the event, and it took only 3-4 minutes to drive. There are multiple free shuttles running all over the city. See the Vinitaly website’ for more info;
  8. Go early: plan to arrive right at 9:30 when the doors open. Your chances of peacefully enjoying some wine are much higher earlier in the day;
  9. Wear comfortable shoes: I’d recommend choosing somewhere in between from casual to formal dress , but please  comfortable shoes for walking around the event itself!
  10. Be smart: this event is huge and there are thousands of wines you can try.  You don’t have to try every single wine from every winery. Another strategy? Sip and spit. Really. You can try way more wine if you can manage spitting out much of the wine. That’s literally what the dump buckets are there for. No one will look at you weird!;
  11. Bring lots of business cards: If you are in a wine-related business in any way, bring lots of business cards. This event is a wonderful opportunity for networking and getting to know people;
  12. Food brought from home:  there are multiple places you can eat at the event, that means an endless queue and an additional cost . Anyway, there are lots of  cafes around the event in case you need something strong to awake your self from sleep!

What to see in  Verona

Verona is a beautiful town with great history, and  most of the sights are very close to each other.  So it was possible for me to stroll trough almost all of the town’s must-see places.
The best way to start exploring Verona was to go to the Piazza Bra’, where you can find many restaurants to have lunch or dinner, and then towards  the famous  Arena of Verona’, which resembles theColosseum’  in Rome. Nowadays thisArena of Verona’ is used like a concert hall.

3 things to do in Verona 

A further must-see step was Piazza delle Erbe’ with the Madonna Verona Fountain’ in the heart of the square a market square surrounded by elegant buildings:
  1. The Torre dei Lamberti, which is the old town hall;
  2. The Palazzo Maffei’;
  3. The Casa dei Mercanti’ .
It is the central and most beautiful square in Verona, so there are always a lot of tourists drinking coffee in cafes and buying souvenirs, vegetables, and fresh fruits at the market. I  went on crossing the bridge Ponte Pietra’ through the Adige River . Then I reached the top and stopped in the little garden near the castle ‘Castel San Pietro’. From here the right side of Adige River, with the historic centre of Verona, is clearly visible. Here you can enjoy one of the best panoramic views of the town!

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‘Vinitaly 2018’  is always a good idea! 

‘Vinitaly’ is the wine-education experience of a life time, because you can get an amazing wine education experience at Vinitaly’.  If it’s your first (second or third!) Verona  travel adventure, take some time to explore the city. Here below some useful links to discover the city:

Verona  could be a great place where to go for your upcoming holidays!

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Aeolian Islands

Aeolian Islands

Aeolian Islands, the beauty of Sicily

The Aeolian Islands , located off the coast of north eastern Sicily, are one of southern Italy’s greatest natural and cultural treasures. Formed by volcanic eruptions over time, the  Aeolian Islands are formed up  of seven beautiful islands:

Follow me in this incredible adventure at the Aeolian Islands, it’s a paradise for the travellers , who love nature and life!

Aeolian Islands

Aeolian islands, the 7 pearls of the Mediterranean

The Aeolian Islands are collectively called the “seven pearls of the Mediterranean” and according to history, they were named this way after the Greek god of the wind, Aeolus. The Islands were designated a “World Heritage Site” by UNESCO in the year 2000 in recognition of the pure natural scenery possessed by the islands.
The Aeolian Islands  are ideal for tourists to hike, sun bath or just get lost in their endless and amazing beauty. For the more serious visitors, the islands are rich in history, both architectural and archeological.

1 week at Aeolian Islands

My friend Martina Emanuele  invited me to have an holiday in the Aeolian Islands for one week in July . It was a perfect chance to meet her again and to visit again this gorgeous volcanic archipelago in thw North of Sicily .

I took a ferry from Milazzo. You can reach the Aeolian Islands by ferry and hydrofoil from various points in Sicily. I would recommend pre-booking on line your ferry  tickets in advance,  above all during peak season.

Milazzo, a city to discover

Milazzo is the main departure point for the Aeolian Islands with several  hydrofoils leaving daily throughout the year. Crossings take between 45mins to 3 hours, depending on which island your are heading for .

Take your time walking in the center of Milazzo as well . I  love this town. It’s small, has excellent bread shops, cafes and shopping in general. There is a very Old Castle that you can go to. The promenade is great for just strolling along.

Lipari, the Aeolian Islands

Lipari is the main island of the Aeolian Islands and the main town. Lipari town is a pretty little place and easily visited on foot. It’s the  ideal destination for those who come for the first time to the Aeolian Islands and want to take advantage of its central position for trips and excursions to the other islands.

Top 5 things to do in Lipari in one day

  1. Have a typical Sicilian breakfast with granita e brioche  (baked buns with a frozen dessert that is similar to a sorbetto)  getting  lost in the beauty of it’s main  picturesque port  “Marina Lunga”. It’s a functional port where both large ferries and fast hydrofoils dock. Poke your nose into churches and alleyways;
  2. Walk from “Marina Lunga”   to “Marina Corta” simply following Via Garibaldi: a really cute little pedestrian street filled with cafes, bars and shops where relaxing and doing shopping;
  3. Visit the historic centre of Liparistarting from ”Marina Corta” :  here is the ruins of an ancient namesake fortress on a steep rocky coast (it was an ancient Greek Acropolis, and then the Central part of the Roman, medieval and then Spanish cities). The best attractions here are: the  Archeological Park”,  the “Regional Aeolian Archaeological Museum”,  the “Old Castel”  and  “Cathedral of San Bartolomeo” ;
  4. Have a rest taking photos in “Marina Corta”: the historic harbour in the South of the citadel . In this colourful port  you can contemplate scenes of daily life: children splashing in the water, fishermen playing cards in the piazza,  lazy stray dogs dozing, and the sun illuminating a little church out on the jetty. The atmosphere is very peaceful;
  5. Have an unforgettable dinner ay  “Trattoria del Vicolo”It’s located in vicolo Ulisse, 15, just right in the city center in order to get delicious local food , fresh fish and top white Sicilian Wines !
  6. What about nightlife in Lipari? There’s an answer: “Corso Vittorio Emanuele”. It isa lively little road which runs from “Marina Lunga” along the back of the castle headland. Along the “Corso” you’ll find not only most of the island’s useful shops and services, but also amazing clubs ! Try there  “Il Giardino di Lipari to spend the rest of your long and unique day in company of very hospital people.

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“Castello winery” at Aeolian Islands

Finally thanks to my friend Martina I discovered Castellaro Winery”, where she works. I had  a surprising wine tasting in a stunning location and my first wine grape harvest. Martina has got  a chief role in the marketing and organization of Castellaro Winery”.  She is so sunny and so good at this.

The estate was built by Massimo Lentsch and Stefania Frattolillo because they wanted to create a true work of art on the island where they felt a strong connection. The stunning vineyard and micro residences built from ancient ruins sure felt like art to us!

Vulcano, the Aeolian Islands

I spent my second day in Vulcano , which is a “quieter” version of Lipari . Vulcano is one of the most interesting of the Aeolian Islands , where I relaxed and got inside the spirit of  nature. The island was full of volcanic rocks, therapeutic sulphur mud and also alum caves. Vulcano offered  a quiet, romantic and perfect getaway from  the busy Lipari .

Therefore, if you love the city life, you can stay in Lipari but if you prefer calm and quiet, it is best that you sleep in Vulcano

The rest of my day was all about the food and the local white wine. In Vulcano they are passionate about their specialities: fish and capers. Their Food is so fresh that at noon you might be told there is no menu “because we don’t know what we’re getting in tonight”.

Stromboli, the Aeolian Islands

I visited Stromboli in the third day at the Aeolian Islands. Featured in director Roberto Rossellini’s 1950 film of the same name, this island has Europe’s only dependably active volcano.

I first get impressed by its split landscape: the stark light of wildflowers, caper bushes, and bougainvillea and the barren black of the  slopes where the lava flows.

Stromboli  is an ancient and active volcano rising  from the Mediterranean, with a couple of small settlements on the coast.

There is a unique island atmosphere that attracts not just tourists but also film-makers and style-setters (Italian previous president Giorgio Napolitano and designers Dolce and Gabbana – who own a villa – are among celebrities who holiday here).

2 things to do in Stromboli

There are basically three things to do in  Stromboli:

  • One is to potter around the main village, admiring the views and looking at volcano souvenirs in little shops;
  • The second is to take a boat trip around to theSciara del Fuoco”, the steep black lava scar down the volcano’s side, where you can see Stromboli ’s explosions.

Panarea, the Aeolian Islands

My third day was dedicated to Panarea at the Aeolian Islands in the morning : a charming world of its own where time seems to have stopped.

Panarea is the second smallest and most fashionable of the islands. It owes its fame to the “Hotel Raya”, which in the summer attracts the international jet-set.

It’s often described as the “Capri of the Aeolian islands” for its wealthy and chic summer scene. The population explodes in July and August when tourists arrive  by yacht or helicoptert to have fun  sunbathing  and shopping. Shopping in Panarea is exquisite and expensive.

The colourful houses of Panarea

While Panarea may be populated by extreme “haves” , its charm comes largely from what it has not. whitewashed buildings with blue accents remind many visitors of the Greek islands.  The labyrinthine streets winding through the center are without cars or lamps.

There are no city lights. In addition to lovely coves to swim in, this island has thermal springs, scuba diving . Panarea might be small, but there’s no shortage of things to do – even if you don’t have an enormous luxury yacht floating offshore.

I spend most of my days around “Zimmari Beach”.  It’s about a 30 minute walk from the port and you can’t miss it .

Salina, the Aeolian Islands

I was  intrigued by the coloured doors of the homes in Salina the Aeolian Islands. I wandered through the quiet streets of the town of Santa Marina . Salina’s main street is lined with shops selling ceramics, gourmet food, clothing and shoes.

Almost every house in Salina comes with a view of the sea. There is  also a small salt lake, seven dormant volcanoes, and plenty of coves.

The film il “Postino” and the beach of “Pollara” in Salina

Do you know that some emotional scenes of  Il Postino” (“The Postman” ) , a famous Italian film (1994), were filmed in the rocky beach of  “Pollara”in Salina?  “Il Postino”   was directed by Michael Radford and  tells a fictional story in which the real life Chilean poet Pablo Neruda forms a relationship with a simple postman who learns to love poetry.

Finally, I couldn’t miss  a visit at the “Hauner winery”. I already knew their excellent wine Hierà” and their inimitable and exceptional Malvasia.

Filicudi & Alicudi, the Aeolian Islands

Filicudi and Alicudi are raw and rocky, devoid of celebrity attention and at first sight they seem to be hostile. Their sea is crystal clear with amazing visibility, full of fish, and accessible only by crossing over rocks or small beaches made up of pebbles. There are few restaurants and shops. They are  peaceful and remote islands

After my summer holidays here at the Aeolian Islands it was very hard to go back to my daily life. I had my eyes full of the blue of the Mediterranean sea in the Aeolian Islands  where simplicity is a luxury. The only medicine is to go back here again!

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Aeolian Islands, a magic place where to come again soon! 

The Aeolian Islands have been an important tourist destination since time immemorial due to the cultural treasures, the climate, and the sea which is clear and warm and suitable for various different water sports and activities.

I am  so glad I had this incredible travel experience here. I couldn’t find a better place where to go . Why don’t you plan your upcoming holiday here? I think it’s really a great idea!

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