Regional Institute of Wine and Oil

Sicily An Odyssey of Wine

Stop in Hong Kong in March for IRVOS. In fact, the “Sicily An Odyssey of Wine 2013” took place here: an event organized by the organization in collaboration with Michele Shah srl and aimed at sector operators. The Jockey Club of Hong Kong hosted the event, 14 and 15 March, which consisted of Walk thru-tasting, two Masterclasses (led by Debra Meilburg) and a Seminar on extra virgin olive oil.

Eighteen Sicilian companies took part led by Daniele Messina of the Regional Department of Agricultural and Food Resources. The Chinese market is proving increasingly interested in Sicilian wine and oil. There is thus optimism regarding the commercial prospects in South-East Asia, an emerging market. “We have had new confirmation of the great growth of the Sicily system – states Lucio Monte, head of the technical-scientific area of IRVOS – also thanks to the work of the Institute which in recent months has been committed to supporting actions abroad. The producers have well understood that events like these are important to make people perceive the new pace with which Sicilian wine faces market competition, affirming a new image of Sicily's wine industry in the world".

Among the many participants we highlight Alice Ho of the Hong Kong Economic Times, Caroline Kwok of the importer Teleford Wine&Spirits and Luca Cini, Sales&Business Development Manager of the distributor Amorosso Fine Wines. “The Hong Kong mission – comments Michèle Shah, consultant of the Institute's internationalization program – allowed Chinese traders to have a complete overview of the Sicilian wine and olive oil offer, to deepen their knowledge and to verify that the organoleptic characteristics of the different wines and oils respond to the needs and demand of the Hong Kong market and China more generally. The operators of some of the major import channels have strengthened their belief in the potential of Sicilian products for their market which, on the other hand, motivated the choice to include the Hong Kong stage within the internationalization program of the IRVOS. In fact, the meeting created all the conditions for subsequent and future commercial agreements."

Ravidà, Frantoio Cutrera and Biologica La Russa for the oil participated in the event while the following wineries were present: Abraxas, Benanti, Duca di Salaparuta, Gregorio de Gregorio, Gulfi, Luna Sicana, Palari, Passopisciaro, Rudinì, Cantine Russo, Spadafora , Tasca D'Almerita.