Regional Institute of Wine and Oil

Vinitaly 2015, the Pantelleria sapling vine is the protagonist

One of the most important showcases for wine opens its doors today, March 22nd, the 49th edition of Vinitaly in Verona. Until March 25th the spotlight will be on wine excellence with buyers, sector technicians, simple enthusiasts and connoisseurs who will come from all over the world. Sicily will be present again this year, fresh from a great success at ProWein, the German trade fair which took place just a week ago, where five wineries on the island received the coveted Mundus Vini recognition. And above all with its "workhorse", the Pantelleria sapling vine which was recognized as an Intangible Asset of Humanity at the end of last year.

A recognition that has given value to the entire wine system of Sicily and which has seen the valid contribution of the Regional Institute of Wine and Oil. But there is another "gamble" underway, namely that of Expo2015 which the Island will exploit through the BioMediterranean Cluster platform.

Meanwhile, there are one hundred and sixty Sicilian wineries that will take part in Vinitaly with one hundred and fifteen stands located in the same Pavilion, i.e. number 2. There will be no shortage of events aimed at enhancing, promoting and rewarding the excellence of the territory. There are two rooms dedicated to you, the Salieri room and the Vivaldi room. From Monday 23 March, which will open with the press conference of the Councilor for Agriculture Nino Caleca, to Tuesday 24, there will be alternating moments dedicated to the presentation of texts, multimedia projects, awards, all linked to the world of Sicilian wine and its territories .

Even more than other years, the strong point was provided by the teamwork between the Regional Institute of Wine and Oil and the producer associations, namely Assovini, Pro.Vi.Di. and Vi.Te.Si., as well as the Consortium for the Protection of DOC Sicilian Wines and the Regional Department of Agriculture, Rural Development and Mediterranean Fisheries. “It is important to bring Sicilian companies to Vinitaly – comments the general director of Irvo, Lucio Monte – demonstrating their promotional capacity for the Sicilia brand. For Irvo it is always a source of satisfaction to bring together companies, enhancing their ability to express the different and varied territories of the island".

At the forty-ninth edition of the Verona fair, which every year records its success in the influx of professionals and simple enthusiasts, we will "move" looking at Expo2015: "We are satisfied with our island and the Sicilia Doc wines. - comments Antonio Rallo , president of the Consortium for the Protection of Doc Sicily Wines – Also in this 2015 edition our productions will be represented at their best. An important stage for the promotion of Sicilia DOC wines, which precedes the great event of the year, Expo2015 where Sicily and its productions will be the undisputed protagonists. The 2014 harvest – continues Rallo – allowed us to enhance the freshness of our white wines and the elegance and complexity of the red wines. An excellent year to present and communicate in Italy and abroad, where we are concentrating our promotional activities." We therefore look positively and in every respect, this is also supported by Leonardo Agueci, president of Pro.Vi.Di. Sicily and Vi.Te.Si.: “Sicily's participation in Vinitaly again this year presents itself as a further opportunity to raise awareness of our fascinating regional territory. “There is no great wine without a great terroir. The climate, the sun and the grape variety are the natural factors of quality, but they require human factors and human work for adequate valorisation". This is what the great winemaker Emile Paynaud conscientiously stated. Sicily – continues Agueci – in its varied offering of wines and with its powerful identity specificity will have to represent in the collective imagination the strength of its territories and the passionate work of its producers. Just as we have done in the past, when we have proposed innovative and quality products to the national and international market, these have found the appreciation of the most attentive consumers. The Expo showcase will be the next bet by Sicilian producers for greater island visibility. It will not be legislative provisions and bureaucratic frills that will decide the success of wine-growing Sicily. It is the palate that will decide everything." “We are very happy to bring our wines from the 2014 vintage, for us one of the best of the last 20 years – adds Francesco Ferreri, president of Assovini – to the spotlight of the most important buyers in the world present as every year at the Verona fair. 2015 for Italy, but especially for Sicily, will be year zero, it will be the year in which thanks to the Expo we will be able to make our most hidden products known. For the first time, the Expo will speak our language, the language with which Sicily communicates its tradition and of which wine has been and will be the undisputed ambassador on tables around the world, let's talk about biodiversity and sustainability. We continue to bet on our land by carrying forward our true qualities made of men, places and tradition".