Wine between land and sea

The sector of wine tourism is doing well, with 14 million visitors and a turnover exceeding €2.5 billion; and yet, it struggles to really take off and develop its potential in terms of economy and employment, due to a lack of strong public and private strategies to network the resources of a country where wine and good food are closely linked with art and landscape beauties. These are the outcomes of the 14th Report on Wine Tourism in Italy, recently presented at Milan’s Bit Fair by Floriano Zambon - President of the association “Città del Vino” - and Giuseppe Festa - scientific director of the specialisation course on Wine Business at the University of Salerno.

Wine tourism is an important theme for the “Vinibuoni d’Italia" guide, edited by Touring Club Italiano, because local vines are part of a land’s cultural and historical identity, and as such they are fundamental for tourism promotion. This is the backgroundof the event that will take place Saturday, 24 March, in collaboration with - and under the aegis of - Cinque Terre National Park Authority and the Municipality of Portovenere, on occasion of the regional launch of the “Vinibuoni d'Italia 2018” guide. Promoting local oenology and wines made from indigenous vines also contributes to an economic development that does not ignore the principles of environmental sustainability and the related good practices; that is why Repower. a leading company in the field of electric mobility, is among the partners of the event.

The guide will be launched Saturday, 24 March, at 3.30 pm at Grand Hotel Portovenere. Guide curator Mario Busso will introduce the event and meet Ligurian wine-makers, to award the region’s best wines with the Golden Star and “Corone”: the recipients of these acknowledgements are selected by the public according to the ratings that result from the finale which the guide carries out yearly. 

As stressed by Mario Busso, “This year, too, Vinibuoni d’Italia has strengthened its connection with Liguria, a region that is making substantial progresses in terms of quality and of definition of its own identity, represented by unique wines that could not be produced elsewhere, that have their roots in history and thus perfectly illustrate the land they come from. The Vinibuoni d’Italia Guide is proud of its regional launching events, not only for the promotion of wines from Italian local vines and of producers that distinguished themselves for the excellence of their wines, but also for the opportunity to take a closer look at local productions and to share growth projects with producers."

The meeting will also be a good opportunity to taste the Ligurian wines featuring in the guide, and to appreciate them together with a rich selection of local sausages made by Salumi Levoni. Alessandro Scorsone will also present the audience with a tasting of oysters and mussels from Cooperativa Mitilicoltori Spezzini, accompanied by some sparkling wines that he has selected for the Guide’s 2018 edition.