Regional Institute of Wine and Oil

The Sicily of Wine at the Vittoriano in Rome

The Sicily of wine with its territories, its producers, its stories, will be the protagonist, together with the other Italian regions, of "Towards 2015 – Wine culture in Italy”, a cycle of initiatives linked to the photographic exhibition dedicated to Italian wine, organized by the Ministry of Agricultural Policies in collaboration with the regions, which is part of the preparatory initiatives for Expo 2015.

From 26 October to 30 November, the Vittoriano will host an exhibition itinerary within which each region will have a space to tell, through exhibitions and various events, its own wine-making identity, marking a characterizing element of its wine-growing civilisation. Sicily has chosen theEtna, one of the exceptional wine-growing territories of Born in Sicily, considered today by international critics to be the new and highest qualitative frontier of enology in Italy.

Mediterranean identity, millenary tradition, balance between man and nature, a biodiversity heritage of absolute value that the world of Sicilian quality wine intends to bring to Expo 2015. Strong elements of a productive economic system relevant for the share of market that Sicily wine expresses today and which can still grow and develop. Thanks to new and broader internationalization processes but also by investing in wine tourism and the attractive potential represented by typical agri-food products and Sicilian cuisine.

These will be the topics addressed in the Talk Show " Sicily of Wine and EXPO 2015. Instructions for use” scheduled for October 30th (7 pm) at the Terrazze del Vittoriano which involves some of the protagonists of the success of the “Born in Sicily” wine such as Diego Planeta, Antonio Rallo, Mariangela Cambria, Francesco Ferreri, Francesca Curto And Margherita Platania – six producers representing as many territories that characterize this wine continent. With them the Sicilian institutions of reference: Dario Cartabellotta councilor for agricultural resources of the Sicily Region and the extraordinary commissioner of Irvos, Giorgio Calabrese. The meeting was moderated by a signature of international journalism in Italy, the journalist Costanze Reuscher of Die Welt.

“EXPO' is one of the strategic events for Italy and for the relaunch of the country system at an international level. We are marking a path towards the EXPO' which aims to involve all sectors of our agriculture in a shared, high-profile plan with a strong attractive impact - states the councilor for Agricultural Resources Dario Cartabellotta – Sicily of wine and vines will play a leading role, bringing into play all the elements of competitiveness that characterize this supply chain. Thanks to our companies, our island is increasingly perceived as a place of excellence, tradition and modernity".

“The policies adopted in recent years by the island's institutions in agriculture and on the wine system in particular – states the extraordinary commissioner of Irvos, Giorgio Calabrese – have contributed to enhancing the different souls and different wine-growing territories of Sicily in a highly prestigious brand that has been able to represent a story made up of people, companies and entrepreneurial culture. It is one of the few sectors that, nowadays, combines tradition and innovation in the name of quality. This is the message we must send at EXPO 2015”.

At the end the word will move on to wine, with a tasting dedicated to the great champions of the island's oenology: Nero d'Avola, Nerello Mascalese, Zibibbo, Grillo and Perricone, with a selection of highly prized labels - chosen by the winemaker of the 'IRVOS Gianni Giardina – and become a flag-bearer of Sicily throughout the world. No less interesting are the food-wine pairings offered with some typical agri-food products of the region.