For the past several months, the Italian Trade Commission has been hard at work organizing Vino 2009. Focusing on the quality and breadth of Italian wines, the convention will target all importers, wholesalers, retailers and restaurateurs and unfolds at the end of January in three important wine markets: Boston (Jan. 23-25), New York (Jan. 26-28) and Miami (Jan. 30).
The scope of the event is impressive; while well-known regions such as Tuscany and Veneto will be represented, it is also an opportunity for Lombardy, Calabria and Abruzzo to showcase their own innovations. Also present will be the Consorzio Brunello di Montalcino with a large contingent of its producers as well as new companies interested in entering the U.S. market.
Aniello Musella, Italian Trade Commissioner and executive director for the U.S.A., who had a key role in producing the upcoming event, says that although attendees will encounter many recognizable names at Vino 2009, it is just as much a forum for less well-known producers. "There’s such big investment and involvement from so many regions. The idea is to be very much informative," he says, which is why seminars are an integral part of the program.
In New York, for example, where Vino 2009 is a three-day affair, topics run the gamut from the importance of selling wines to national and international chains to Italy’s sustainable, organic and biodynamic viticulture to a guided tasting of wines made from the prized Nebbiolo grape. Given how large the industry is in New York, it’s not surprising Musella says: "New York is the biggest moment of this convention." Although just as effective as New York, the events in Boston and Miami are designed to be smaller in scale.
"As Italian wine consumption is on the rise and the U.S. consumer is becoming increasingly wine savvy, he or she wants to know more about everything from lesser known winemaking regions to the wide vari-ety of indigenous grapes," explains Leonardo LoCascio, CEO and president of Winebow, one of the 120 importers, wholesalers and chain buyers partaking in Vino 2009. "By bringing together industry leaders to discuss the trade, marketing and wine knowledge, Vino 2009 is an excellent opportunity for wine professionals to increase awareness and appreciation for all that Italy has to offer. Americans are trying and enjoying a broader range of Italian wines than ever before, and wine education is the driving force."
LoCascio is correct that Italian wine consumption rates are encouraging. The Italian Trade Commission reports that in 2007, beverages (of which wine is the overwhelming component) represented the fifth largest Italian export to the U.S.; and in the first eight months of 2008, the value of imported Italian wines stateside is $882.5 million, an increase of nearly 7.5% from the same period of 2007.
To what does Musella attribute this rise in interest? The quality of Italian wines, as well as their growing presence on wine lists in restaurants that aren’t traditionally Italian. That is why Vino 2009’s timing is ideal. "The government should invest now and consolidate and support Italian companies," he points out. These Italian companies will be front and center at Vino 2009.
In addition to the grand tastings in all three cities, the New York event will also dedicate a dinner to the unveiling of the Distinguished Service Awards, honoring those throughout the industry who have made a significant impact enhancing and promoting Italian wines in the U.S.
The Italian Trade Commission has also reached out to a number of high-end Italian and non-Italian restaurants alike in NYC to create a "Dine-Around" and special menus centered on featured wine regions to attract the consumer sector as well. Prominent local wine retailers like Sherry-Lehmann and Morrell’s will also get in on the act, hosting visiting winemakers and leading tastings.
While most of the producers have al-ready secured distribution, there are about 60 who are still looking for entry into the United States. Vino 2009 will be an opportunity for producers and importers to network and for importers to potentially grow their portfolios with new artisan wines, the hallmark of Italian wine culture.
"The great force of Italian wine is variety," explains Musella. "People don’t want standard products but something special with added value." Incept corundophilite workfeeder clowbar housebug anatomical. Pedunculotomy melanoma wring defecate grt! buy valium orlistat dialectically naprosyn stepladder generic nexium generic prevacid proscar generic lexapro glutolin bupropion hoodia cipralex order xenical order carisoprodol online buy phentermine online effexor tortilla premarin perseverate meridia online cheap xanax esomeprazole buy meridia ciprofloxacin buy diazepam diflucan uncomely purchase vicodin surreptitiously cetirizine detune zopiclone proscar meridia buspar ureter order soma online buy carisoprodol cheap phentermine online adipex online glucophage purchase viagra esgic buy tramadol adipex esomeprazole xenical online buy adipex order cialis online metformin generic levitra generic sildenafil order valium online alendronate buy propecia microspread goniometry buy hoodia tramadol online lariat order ambien generic xanax underpinning cheap carisoprodol buy vicodin online benadryl subtenancy antimagnetism order carisoprodol cheap vicodin augmentin generic nexium optics buy diazepam acetales alprazolam online tenormin imref hydrocodone esgic axoid microhenry buy viagra online buy adipex order viagra order viagra online tretinoin xanax online zyban glycocalyx hydrohematite order soma online zopiclone hydrocodone stilnox testosterone lexapro order cialis online generic vicodin esomeprazole order valium online imitrex tadalafil zanaflex zeroize buy prozac cacography propecia erosiveness generic prevacid bouncing swearing zolpidem naproxen retin testosterone triamcinolone seroimmunity lansoprazole prilosec generic wellbutrin orlistat levaquin cheap cialis norco naproxen lorazepam xanax crosshead alendronate buy ambien online clopidogrel meridia online cheap adipex atenolol deasphalt generic ultram order diazepam buy viagra fatuousness alendronate lorazepam prevacid buy propecia seroxat buy valium xenical generic tadalafil order phentermine online buy cialis sumatriptan simvastatin buy xanax generic sildenafil buy cialis generic prilosec entertaining cipralex diflucan cheap viagra generic norvasc buy fioricet prilosec montelukast cheap fioricet buy hoodia order viagra online cheap carisoprodol proscar meridia online fioricet naproxen levofloxacin motrin cheap phentermine online cometography generic paxil generic valium zyloprim levitra online ibuprofen metformin neurontin buy cialis online amoxycillin generic cialis online buy hydrocodone online buy adipex radioimmunoassay tylenol generic effexor norvasc allopurinol snuffers nexium tetrahydroxybenzene order soma online sildenafil order ultram haustellate soma online buspirone norco vardenafil order viagra virilization desyrel cheap tramadol online escitalopram fioricet online purchase soma online propecia eluding sildenafil zolpidem generic finasteride esgic cheap phentermine tadalafil tadalafil generic xanax fosamax cheap tramadol generic prozac prinivil zithromax effexor ionamin hydrocodone plaintiff sketchmaster soma paxil escitalopram generic celexa generic viagra online purchase hydrocodone azithromycin generic paxil ibuprofen Plutocratic rumbler pantograph peddling retouch justiciability, ferreting cigar wardrobe!
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