The regional stand doubles its size and gets revamped. This year, the tasting session will be operated by a start-up

Il rendering del nuovo stand di Enoteca Regionale della Liguria
Following the press conference on the participation of Liguria in Vinitaly 2018, held in the offices of the Region in Genoa, Ligurian wines are getting ready for the big event. Vinitaly is the world exhibition dedicated to wine and distilled beverages from all over the world, scheduled to take place at Veronafiere from Sunday April 15 to Wednesday April 18. For the first time at the exhibition all eight DOP labels (Rossese di Dolceacqua, Ormeasco di Pornassio, Rivieraligure di Ponente, Golfo del Tigullio-Portofino, Val Polcevera, Colline di Levanto, Cinque Terre and Colli di Luni) and four IGP labels (Terrazze dell’imperiese, Colline savonesi, Colline del genovesato and Liguria di Levante ) will be present.
“Publicising and taking our labels to a prestigious event such as Vinitaly – governor Giovanni Toti, who attended the press conference, said – means promoting one of our products of excellence, but also the whole of Liguria. Our wine tells the story of Liguria very well: it is produced on a difficult territory and requires commitment and hard work, but gives great satisfactions in terms of quality. It deserves to be known better, to conquer more space and to be increasingly linked to our global tourist offer, because local wines and food weigh more and more on the choice of a destination.”
Moreover, Liguria, with an annual output of over 6 million bottles and almost 1,500 ha under vineyards, keeps playing its part. “The Ligurian wine growing sector – as regional agriculture councilor Stefano Mai, who was also present at the conference, explained – has been, for a few years already, particularly dynamic and lively. Despite a slight decline in output over the period 2006 to 2016, due to less than ideal soil and climate conditions, Liguria has delivered good results in terms of quality, which has been constantly growing.”
A few figures: this year, Liguria will take to Vinitaly 73 local companies, of which 29 from the province of Imperia (52 labels), 11 from the province of Savona (17 labels), 4 from Genoa (8 labels), 25 from the province of La Spezia (46 labels), for a total of 123 labels.
This year, the stand of Liguria region, organized by Enoteca Regionale Liguria and UnionCamere Liguria, will be on two floors, for a total area of 200 sq m. Tasting sessions will be organised in cooperation with Fisar-the Italian Federation of sommeliers, hotel and restaurant owners, as explained by Daniele Montebello, president of Enoteca Regionale, who announced an important news to the press: “ This year, whoever wishes to taste wines from Liguria, will have to register in one of the three points located in the regional stand and will receive a card with a chip to be submitted to the tasting tables. Here, even tasted bottles will be tracked thanks to a specific reader.
This way, at the end of the four days of the exhibition, we will be able to send information to consumers on tasted wines and to companies on the data of those who tasted, thus putting the two parties in contact.” An innovative technology which belongs to a start-up from Bologna and will change completely the tasting approach, apart from supplying a precious service to companies and consumers.
Finally, a few events to be highlighted: on Sunday April 15, at 15.30, the prize Viticoltore Etico (Ethical Wine Grower) will be assigned; on Monday 16th, at 14.00, there will be a competition between two heroic regions, Liguria and Valle d’Aosta, which will compare typical dishes, accompanied by local wines; on Wednesday 18th, “My sweet Liguria”, with the tasting of Ligurian passito wines made with Vermentino, Moscatello di Taggia, Scimiscià and Sciacchetrà grapes.