If you live in Chicago and love sipping fine Italian wine, you have the chance to win 2 tickets to an exclusive event!
(And even if you're not the winner, tickets can still be purchased...)
The 15th international tour of Vinitaly, the largest wine fair in the world, will be making its annual stops in the United States next week, starting with Chicago on Monday, April 30th and New York City on Wednesday, May 2nd. This is the first time the tour—which travels to many of the most important cities in China, Japan, South Korea, India, Singapore, Russia and the United States of America—is being held in the spring. The switch from fall to spring was made to better accommodate the US wine trade, as well as Italian producers.
The "Vinitaly in the World" tour will have events dedicated specifically to the trade with innovative seminars on brand building and restaurant trends. Seminars will be led by a blend of seasoned professionals, as well as young innovators in the wine industry. Vinitaly will also hold tasting seminars dedicated to particular wine regions.
“Vinitaly has always been about tasting great wines but we also want to bring the business side of the equation to the table and help promote sales through education to the trade and to consumers,” said Stevie Kim, General Coordinator of Vinitaly In The World and Senior Advisor to CEO Giovanni Mantovani.
“Italy's history is so rich and each of our wines tells a unique story. We want to give the trade the tools to discuss the wines in a more informed way,” Kim noted.
The events are geared to aid in this task with a number of business panels including one on building brands in America and another on restaurant trends. Chicago will be the scene of a seminar on restaurants with the participation of Daniel Freedman from the Fairmont, Rachel Lowe from Trump International Hotel & Tower, Jason Carlen from Spiaggia and Brian Duncan from Bin 36. Dwight Casimere, the Wine Doctor, will be the moderator. The panels promise to be lively discussions.
The New York panels on May 2nd include distinguished members of the press and the trade including Paolo Domeneghetti of Domaine Select, Filippo di Belardino from Banfi Vintners, Lisa Carley, the New York Wine Examiner, Tony May of SD26, Olivier Flosse’ from A Voce, Alessandro Lunardi of Frescobaldi, Bill Hayde from Martin Scott and Mary Gorman, MW, educator and journalist for the Kitchn in New York.
Chicago will be hosting two events at the River East Art Center (435 East Illinois Street) on April 30th: The Grand Walk-Around Tasting for the media and trade will run from 1:00pm-5:00 pm, while the seminar What Are The Recent Wine Trends in Restaurants? is scheduled for 1:00pm - 2:15pm. Then it's the consumers turn—the tasting will take place from 6:00pm-8:30pm and tickets can be purchased for $30 online at: http://vinitaly2012.eventbrite.com/.
And if you're feeling lucky...Vinitaly is offering 2 free tickets to consumers in Chicago exclusively through EatItalian.com!
The New York City event on Wednesday, May 2 will be held at Three Sixty, Tribeca Rooftop (10 Desbrosses Street) starting at 11:15am. The trade and media-only Grand Walk-Around Tasting will begin at 2:00pm.
As for those members of the Chicago and New York City wine trade and press...for more information or to RSVP, please contact Amy Capetta at acapetta@colangelopr.com .
