Learning to Love VinItaly
4/13/15 -
(There are at least 12 buildings like this one – the Emilia-Romagna pavilion. Some kind of wheeled vehicle might be a good idea…)
We’re kind of learning to love VinItaly. Yes, it’s crowded, sometimes with inebriated sightseers who make it extra-hard to navigate. Yes, the food sucks, but that’s hardly why you go. True, the bathrooms are a topic to avoid – literally, if possible. But it’s exciting to be there. We taste all day long, from the opening gun at 9:30, until close at 6:30. Along the way we see some crazy stuff! The extravagance of some of the stands cannot be believed – photos don’t really do them justice, and please believe me when I say that the photos don’t show how crowded it feels. But we mostly enjoy the hunt, and our trips there have gradually become more productive as we learn how best to find some needles in a gigantic haystack. In fact we made some really exciting discoveries this year, and we are already looking forward to presenting the wines as they arrive over the coming months. It’s also great fun to see our friends there, to catch up with their news and taste the new vintage(s), and to have our previous impressions confirmed. After the photos, you can see some of the fruits of last year’s trip. Jamie Wolff & John Rankin
It gets so crowded with people gumming-up the aisles that it can really be a pain just to get from one place to another – reminiscent of walking on 5th Ave in midtown when you’re late to an appointment.
The Prime Minister of Italy came to visit. It was impossible to actually see him. Very exciting!
Why not build a castle? Some of the 2-level stands even have kitchens upstairs.
The boxes are labelled 'Europanino Food Service'. The food is better at the airport and at Italian highway rest-stops.
There’s a giant pavilion that’s just food producers. You could make a meal from a bite at a time, if you didn’t have to taste wine all day.
It gets very crowded, although it’s hard to tell in the photos. Here you see a section of very modest ‘stands’, which are less formal than the fancy ones. The exhibitors have to deal with a wide range of behavior from the public, including, not surprisingly, unwanted flirtation.
Chiaretto, a rose from Lago di Garda, takes lessons from the cosmetics industry.
Some exhibitors make up for their modest stands by creating other dramatic effects.
A high-style stand for a Sicilian producer. This picture was taken first thing in the morning before the crowds arrive.
Sconces!
A pretty fancy stand, with stone walls, video screens, and special display cases that make you say, “I really must try those wines!”.
Some translations are more successful than others.
“We make every glass a pleasing emotion”.
