Regional Institute of Wine and Oil

Passitaly, the preview in Paris

Paris, world capital and point of reference for quality wine, hosted the press conference to present Passitaly, the first edition of the event entirely dedicated to the celebration of Mediterranean passito wines promoted by the Regional Department of Agriculture, Rural Development and of Mediterranean Fishing, the Municipality of Pantelleria, the Regional Institute of Wines and Oils of Sicily and the GAL of the Minor Islands, scheduled from 31 August to 4 September on the island of Pantelleria.

At the French headquarters of the Italian Cultural Institute, in the heart of Saint Germain, almost 200 people attended the press conference conducted and moderated by the journalist Andrea Gabbrielli, a profound expert on island viticulture and author of "Wine and the sea - Guide to difficult lives of small islands", a tribute to the heroic winemakers who every day challenge the force of nature, as fascinating as it is indomitable, to give wine lovers from all over the world unique and precious wines. During the debate, the Director of the Italian Cultural Institute in Paris, Marina Valensise, the Mayor of Pantelleria, Salvatore Gino Gabriele, the oenologist Gianni Giardina representing the IRVO and the coordinator of Pantelleria catering for Passitaly, Anna, spoke. Trogler.

“Passitaly – states Salvatore Gino Gabriele, Mayor of Pantelleria – was born from the idea of giving voice to the island's producers to encourage wine tourism and expand the communication potential that local productions can express in terms of quality, cultural identity and nature . The event will be dedicated to a selected audience of the general and sector press but also to buyers, operators and wine tourists always looking for wines with personality and character, never homologated and coming from extreme production contexts. For these reasons - concludes the Mayor - we have decided to present the program of these five days here in Paris: the French wine lover, with his natural predisposition for bien vivre and the search for oenological excellence, is the perfect example of an interlocutor to whom Passitaly addresses.

The event, in addition to offering the opportunity to taste the best production of dessert wines in the Mediterranean, will allow you to discover the island through the "Pantelleria Experience", three different routes corresponding to as many aspects that have made it an absolute unique, admired and known all over the world: food and wine, naturalistic - landscape and historical - cultural. A true journey of discovery and in-depth study of the environmental, cultural and productive aspects of a territory where human civilization has been able to best interpret a unique but at the same time difficult and, at times, hostile context. Terraces, dry stone walls and Dammusi are concrete and tangible proof of a thousand-year-old agricultural tradition that has always been founded on the balance between man and nature. Pantelleria is one of the most beloved and evocative territories of the Mediterranean, as confirmed by the large turnout, recorded during the Parisian presentation, of French and international journalists and tour operators, the main interlocutors called to convey elite tourist flows to the island.

At the end of the press conference, Don Pasta's images and musical notes reproduced a natural cross-section of Pantelleria life. The artist, enraptured by the evocative force of Pantelleria after a trip to the island, was able to excite the audience present in the room with a faithful reproduction of the warm and sunny atmosphere of a territory which, due to its extraordinary beauty, is has been defined as “the Garden of the Mediterranean”.

Naturally, the long-awaited moment of tasting the fine Passito wines could not be missed: the fruity aromas and velvety taste of these niche products were enhanced by the pairing with the renowned French cheeses offered for tasting. A perfect combination for a product that has been entrusted with the delicate task of promoting the entire excellent production of Pantelleria and the Sicilia brand.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here are the wineries that brought their wines for tasting:

MINARDI WINES

 

VINISOLA

 

DONNAFUGATA

 

ABRAXAS

 

ANCONA AGRICULTURE

 

BEHIND THE ISLAND

 

SOLIDEA

 

CAROLE BOUQUET

 

MURANA SALVATORE

 

FENECH

 

FIRED

 

SPREADER VINEYARDS

 

CASALE DEL GIGLIO

 

ALDENO SOCIAL CELLAR

 

IRVO