Rotaliani Meetings 2023 – Teroldego and Etna wines 5-6 November

Incontri Rotaliani 2023 was a great success with the public and critics. An event now in its third edition which also stands out at a national level because it is based on the principle of constructive comparison between wine-growing areas at a national and international level. Getting to know other territories dedicated to viticulture and being able to weave new constructive relationships is the main objective of this project: it is not just an event but a way to create contacts and collaborations between producers but also with the institutions of the host countries. After Burgundy and Rioja, this year the comparison was with Etna, an area which is enjoying great success and which in about 20 years has been able to grow to become one of the most appreciated Italian wine territories in this moment.

The initiative saw the participation of more than 700 people overall and was enhanced by the participation of 8 top-level Etna producers (Barone di Villagrande, Benanti, Franchetti-Passopisciaro, Graci, Girolamo Russo, Masseria Setteporte, Terre Nere and Distilleria F .lli Russo) who supported 17 Rotalian companies (Breccia, De Vescovi Ulzbach, De Vigili, Donati Marco, Dorigati, Endrizzi, Endrizzi Elio e F.lli, Fedrizzi Cipriano, Foradori, Martinelli, Mezzacorona, Redondel, Rotaliana, Zeni Roberto and the Bertagnolli, Villa de Varda and Distillerie Trentine distilleries) during the two days of dialogue and meeting in the name of wine talks, conferences, tasting tables and guided masterclasses.

Also great were the names of Italian sector journalism and sommeliers who acted as speakers during the guided tastings (Stefania Vinciguerra, Cristina Mercuri, Fiorenzo Detti, Adua Villa, Alessandro Torcoli and Aldo Fiordelli). There were also several experts (Giampaolo Gravina, Massimo Zanichelli and Nereo Pederzolli) and guests (Maurizio Lunetta, Catherine Girard, Bertrand Gauvrit and Giulio di Vescovi) who took part in the Sunday morning wine talk moderated by Filippo Bartolotta at the San Pietro theater of Mezzolombardo. A "chat" full of stimuli which put the value of the territory, its protection and valorisation at the centre, and from which the involvement of communities and the sharing of values such as respect for people, environment and cultural heritage.

The territories of Etna and Rotaliana - with their geomorphological and oenological aspects - were also at the center of the Monday morning debate at the Mach Foundation, moderated by the journalist Pietro Bertanza of Co.Di.Pr.A., which saw the participation of Marco Stefanini (FEM), Giovanni Marletta (agronomist from Benanti), Fulvio Mattivi (FEM), Calogero Statella (enologist from Terre Nere) and Luciano Groff (FEM). The morning ended with reflections on the risks that climate change forces us to face and on the tools that winemakers and farmers in general can have at their disposal to protect themselves (illustrated by Marica Sartori, Giuseppe Raimondi and Andrea Berti).

During the event there was also a representation from Burgundy, the first host territory of Incontri Rotaliani in 2019. Relations with them have continued for four years and have resulted in a "friendship pact" between the municipality of Sampigny-Lès-Maranges and Mezzolombardo and in numerous collaborations involving cultural and educational aspects.

“An exciting two days” according to the President of the Piana Rotaliana Königsberg Tourist Consortium Daniela Finardi “where there was a very positive atmosphere. The meeting between different people, professionals and cultures united by "making wine" and love for their territory, has also allowed us to have a critical and optimistic vision with respect to the path we have undertaken as a Tourist Consortium for the valorisation of the wine tourism and everything that it can drive, such as history, traditions, economy, skills, storytelling... Now we are waiting to find out which will be the host country for the 2025 edition. Local producers already have some ideas, in the wake of the enthusiasm of this edition. We will definitely talk about it soon!”.