“LA PRIMAVERA DEL CASTELLINALDO” IN ITS SECOND EDITION, TASTINGS AND MASTERCLASSES DEDICATED TO CASTELLINALDO BARBERA D’ALBA DOC

The Castellinaldo Winemakers Association inaugurates the summer season by presenting the 2nd edition of “ La Primavera del Castellinaldo” , an event dedicated to Castellinaldo Barbera d’Alba DOC, the flagship of Barbera d’Alba DOC, with more than 40 wines on tap and 21 producers involved.

The two-day event will be held on Sunday 30 and Monday 31 March at Palazzo Re Rebaudengo in Piazza Roma 1 in Guarene (Cuneo), including tastings, meetings with producers, visits to the castle and food and wine discoveries.

The initiative, divided into two days, one for enthusiasts and the other reserved for professionals, celebrates the wine identity of a territory that stands out for the quality and typicality of its wines: visitors will have the opportunity to taste different interpretations of this very particular sub-zone, told directly by the producers.

These are the producers involved:

Allerino Giovanni, Baudevin Farm by Marco Volantino, Cerrato Fabio Farm, Cravanzola SSA Farm, Ferrero Michele Farm, Fratelli Masucco Farm, Margherita SS Farm, Teo Costa Selection Farm, Vecchio Farm, Vielmin Farm, Bric Cenciurio, Cantina del Nebbiolo SCA, Cascina Chicco SSA, Cascina del Pozzo, Cascina Goregn, Cascina Torniero, La Granera, Marchisio Family Organic Estate, Marchisio Tonino, Marsaglia, Morra Stefanino.

PROGRAM – THE SPRING OF CASTELLINALDO 2025

The program opens on Sunday 30 March, a day dedicated to the public of enthusiasts, at 10:00, with a   walk around tasting with associated producers: over 40 wines in free pouring of Castellinaldo Barbera d’Alba. Food guest: Nocciola Piemonte.

At 2:30 pm, guests are scheduled to visit the Sandretto Re Rebaudengo Art Park: an immersive experience on the San Licerio hill with the Foundation’s cultural art mediators (duration: 1 hour; maximum 25 participants, accreditation on site).

At 4pm , in the Ex Granaio Hall , a tasting dedicated to Castellinaldo Barbera d’Alba will take place, led by Giancarlo Montaldo : the tasting of some wines will be an opportunity to discover their history, details on the sub-zone, the production reality, the vintages and the organoleptic characteristics.

Monday 31 March , starting at 11:00 ,   the tasting table for professional operators and journalists reopens. At 3:00 pm , in the Ex Granaio Hall , a masterclass will be held dedicated to the preview of the 2023 vintage and to Castellinaldo produced outside Castellinaldo: Giancarlo Montaldo will lead the tasting by telling the story, details on the Sub-zone, production reality, and organoleptic characteristics of Castellinaldo Barbera d’Alba ; the in-depth study will also examine Castellinaldo Barbera d’Alba produced outside the municipality of Castellinaldo d’Alba, namely in the towns of Guarene, Castagnito, Vezza d’Alba, Magliano Alfieri, Canele and Priocca.

At 5.30 pm , in the Salone Ex Granaio, the vertical masterclass of Castellinaldo Barbera d’Alba will take place, through the tasting of wines between the 2016 and 2023 vintages.

Giancarlo Montaldo , technical-scientific consultant of the event and expert journalist who has followed the birth of the sub-zone since the beginning, comments: “ Within the context of the Primavera del Castellinaldo, the Masterclasses have a dual purpose: on the one hand, to inform enthusiasts, journalists and operators about the reality of Castellinaldo Barbera d’Alba; on the other, to create consumer loyalty for a wine that can represent an element of qualitative and economic growth of a territory, the Eastern Roero, long underestimated by the winemaking reality of Langa and Roero ”.

Tastings, masterclasses and all visits are free; masterclasses can welcome the public until all seats are taken, with online accreditation: https://eventi.vinaiolidelcastellinaldo.com/

abstract of the academic research “Resilience and preparation for the next global wine consumption cycle. Masi: An original case study” presented today in Milan, with the participation of the authors of the study, Prof. Jean-Marie Cardebat (Prof. of the University of Bordeaux) and Prof. Davide Gaeta (University of Verona), and Federico Girotto, CEO of Masi Agricola, a case history identified in the research.

“RESILIENCE AND PREPARATION FOR THE NEXT GLOBAL WINE CONSUMPTION CYCLE. MASI – A CASE STUDY”.

The presentation of the academic research “Resilience and preparation for the next global wine consumption cycle. Masi: An original case study ”, edited by Jean-Marie Cardebat , Professor of Economics at the University of Bordeaux, Director of the ECOr Research Department, Affiliated Professor at the INSEEC Grande École and Director of the Wines & Spirits Chair in Paris, and Davide Gaeta , Professor and lecturer in economics of the wine business and agri-food markets and competitiveness – Department of Management – University of Verona, was held today in Milan.

Two universities in comparison with the business world presented the results of the study born from an international vision of wine and completed with the Masi case history through the intervention of Federico Girotto , CEO of Masi Agricola SpA and President and CEO of Canevel Spumanti SpA.

Preceded by a careful analysis of the national and international context of the wine markets and of the possible evolutions of demand trends , the academic study examined the strategic tools necessary to adapt to the next economic cycles of the wine sector, finding, as far as Italy is concerned, in Masi Agricola an interesting example of resilience and ability to compete within situations that can prove critical in the absence of organization, structure and diversification.

The research carried out by the two Universities analyzed, in the first part , the possible causes of the decline in demand and the threat factors that the markets of the different types of wine can experience in this economic cycle; in a second part , the key factors of resilience in the adaptation models of the wine market are reported. Finally, in the third part of the study, the case of a market leading brand was analyzed: Masi. A brand that was identified for: the ease of access to information – Masi is the only Italian wine company listed on the stock exchange -; for its structured organization; and for the presence of factors that allowed the company to strengthen itself in a challenging market context through the model of economic resilience and Porter’s competitive advantages.

STATEMENTS ON THE SIDELINES OF THE PRESENTATION:

Jean-Marie Cardebat, Professor of Economics at the University of Bordeaux, Director of the ECOr Research Department, Affiliated Professor at the INSEEC Grande École and Director of the Wines & Spirits Chair in Paris stated : “The cyclical nature of the economy has always influenced global wine consumption and the current picture is no exception. While the current economic and geopolitical context has led to a contraction, the very nature of economic cycles suggests that, by keeping inflation under control, 2026 could mark the turning point with the start of a recovery phase in 2027 for new sustained growth in the wine sector . This recovery will not be a simple repetition of the past: the sociology of consumption has changed, and the next cycle will see new trends and consumers. Premiumisation remains a key trend, with a growing shift in demand towards the search for quality and high-value segments. In this scenario, it is essential to invest in advance in what could form the basis of the new growth cycle, strengthening brands and enhancing consumer experiences such as wine tourism, a sector that has seen significant growth in the last fifteen years, with estimates of over 50 billion dollars for 2025. Emerging markets could also redefine global balances, with increasing interest in red wines. It is important for the wine sector to be able to identify signals and anticipate trends in order to adopt far-sighted strategies”.

Davide Gaeta, Professor and Lecturer in Economics of the Wine Business and Agri-food Markets and Competitiveness – Department of Management, University of Verona continued: “ The evolution of economic cycles has determined the need to remodel the organization of corporate business. Our research has identified some key resilience factors that can allow wine companies to consolidate their growth and support the evolution of international markets such as: a structured organizational model and solid governance, which allows growth and continued innovation; transparent management of information; and targeted strategies for the acquisition and diversification of the product portfolio. Another crucial element is the ability to adapt to changes in demand through a flexible approach, both in the supply of grapes and in the breadth of the product range. The segmentation of distribution, a thoughtful and diversified presence on international markets also allow risks to be mitigated and development opportunities to be seized. There are also other elements that contribute to strengthening the competitiveness of companies, such as attention to corporate identity, strategic marketing and innovation oriented towards sustainability. We therefore researched all these factors by analyzing a case of a market leading brand such as Masi, and noted how the company has been able to move in a challenging context. The company has been able to combine tradition and innovation, enhance its territorial roots, adopt an advanced monitoring system to guarantee efficient management of production and distribution, and implement a far-sighted growth strategy. It therefore emerged that Masi represents a model of resilience capable of transforming challenges into sustainable growth opportunities”.

Federico Girotto, CEO of Masi Agricola and President and CEO of Canevel Spumanti, stated: “We greatly appreciated the research and are proud to have been part of it: on the one hand, it can represent a contribution to operators in the wine sector to understand and gain awareness of the real problems of the sector and its reference markets, closing the space for omissions, pessimism and above all the illusion that everything can go back to how it was before. On the other hand, the study clearly outlines the characteristics needed to effectively address the inevitable evolutionary path of the company ecosystem, the necessity of which runs in parallel with changes in the sector. At Masi we try to increase resilience in various ways, but above all by strengthening the strategic processes of identification, analysis and mitigation of risks, never diverting attention from our North Star: the brand. Over the years, the Masi group has activated various strategic levers that have allowed us to respond in advance to the evolution of economic cycles, transforming challenges into opportunities. In an overall view, in these ten years since listing, we have worked on sustainability – with the Masi Green Governance project – on omnichannel communication and distribution, and on strengthening the Masi Wine Experience, which this year will launch Monteleone21, our visitor center in Valpolicella that responds to the new demand of the wine tourism sector. Finally, we have invested in product innovation, such as with Fresco di Masi, the line of organic wines that expresses our vision of authenticity, relevance and attention to the consumer, and in expanding the portfolio. An example of this is the recent landing in Oltrepò Pavese with the acquisition of the Casa Re estate and the launch of the Moxxé del Re Metodo Classico sparkling wine, where we hope to replicate what was achieved in Valdobbiadene with Canevel Spumanti, a brand that has continued to grow, also in terms of exports.

The two new references from the Pergolese distillery (Trento) will be presented as a preview at Vinitaly 2025.

Two new products enrich the range of spirits and grappas of Pisoni 1852, a historic distillery and sparkling wine house in Pergolese (Trento): the Grappa Clessidra® Stravecchia 20 Anni and the Vermouth Valle dei Laghi will make their debut as a preview at Vinitaly 2025.

Two new references that together represent the union between knowledge of the art of distillation , the ability to know how to wait and to know how to tell about nature .

Clessidra ® Stravecchia 20 Anni , after the 10 and 15 Anni, completes the range of super aged grappas: produced in just 400 bottles through the distillation of fine Trentino pomace in copper stills using the Tullio Zadra method, it rests for more than 20 years in French oak barriques. On the nose it offers a rich and multifaceted bouquet with notes of dried fruit, walnuts and figs, and hints of sweet spices such as cinnamon and vanilla. The taste is profoundly evolved, with a balance between hints of ripe fruit and a delicate note of toasting, with a long and persistent finish that leaves a warm and enveloping aftertaste. The long aging gives it an extraordinary elegance.

“With Clessidra ® Stravecchia 20 Anni – explains Giuliano Pisoni , master distiller of Pisoni 1852 who, together with Andrea, Elio and Francesco, runs the family business – an ambitious project continues, one in which we strongly believe. In fact, grappas rarely rest for such a long time, but the passing of the years gives the product unique sensations . The high alcohol content is also the result of a specific company choice: in this way we manage to keep the structure and composition intact. In twenty years of refinement, the part des anges that evaporates is considerable, but what remains in the barriques is rich in intense and complex aromas”.

Vermouth Valle dei Laghi , on the other hand, is another piece that fits harmoniously and coherently among the proposals of Pisoni 1852, fully expressing the spirit of Trentino : here the Müller Thurgau of Valle dei Laghi joins with artemisia and the ten botanicals that have always characterized Grappamara , Amaro DonZio ® and Gin 7 Laghi ® . The first product to use them was Grappamara , created more than 70 years ago. The original recipe, never modified, has been the same ever since.

“In this case – continues Giuliano Pisoni – vermouth captures the essence of the territory. It is the product that completes our range dedicated to the Valle dei Laghi, created by infusing the botanicals that can be found in this enchanted place among the Trentino peaks, which is home for us and where our roots are sunk”.

In Pisoni vermouth, the fresh and aromatic Müller Thurgau enhances an infusion of carefully selected botanicals (wormwood, rhubarb, peppermint, centaury, woodruff, juniper, gentian, calamus, cinchona, licorice and bitter orange). The aromatic profile is complex and harmonious: balsamic and floral notes of the mountains intertwine with herbaceous and bitter hints, giving the palate a subtle balance between freshness, sweetness and a persistent bitter finish. A product that tells the story of the territory, ideal to be enjoyed neat, with ice or as the protagonist of cocktails with an authentic and Alpine character.

Grappa Clessidra ® Stravecchia 20 and Vermouth Valle dei Laghi will be available starting from April in the best wine shops and in the Pisoni online shop starting from 104 euros for the grappa and 24 euros for the vermouth.

Stand Vinitaly Pisoni 1852 : Pavilion 3 Stand E3

Sunday 23rd and Monday 24th March 2025 Hotel Una Esperienze Versilia Lido | Lido Di Camaiore (LU).

Countdown to the 17th edition of Terre di Toscana , the eagerly awaited event that brings together the region’s winemaking excellence every year in Lido di Camaiore (LU).

On Sunday 23 and Monday 24 March there will be 140 wineries present , including historic names and emerging companies, ready to showcase their work and offer tastings of their best labels, thus giving participants a fascinating journey through the different souls of Tuscan wine.

Visitors will be able to explore all the wine-growing areas of the region, from the classic areas of Chianti Classico, Montalcino and Bolgheri, to the less traveled lands such as Lunigiana Massa, Val di Cornia and Orcia, and take a route that crosses Tuscany from north to south, from the coast to the slopes of the Apennines.

The protagonists of this unmissable two-day event will be the producers themselves, present at the tasting stands to welcome the public in the bright spaces of the Hotel Una Esperienze Versilia Lido , a few steps from the sea.

As per tradition, Monday will offer a special opportunity to delve deeper into the evolutionary potential of wines: a large selection of old vintages will allow you to discover how time can enhance the identity of some iconic labels.

There will also be the Food Area, dedicated to artisans of taste, with a selection of cured meats, cheeses, desserts and traditional dishes that can be tasted on site or purchased. Trattoria Peposo, Tortapistocchi, La Marocca di Casola, Naturalmente Lunigiana, Corzano e Paterno and Antica Norcineria Lanè will be present.

The cost of the ticket for each single day , which allows tasting of all the wines, is 40 euros per person.

Tickets can only be purchased in advance through the website www.terreditoscana.info.

On both days, free shuttles will run between the Viareggio train station and the UNA Hotel.

The minibuses, easily identifiable by the event logo displayed outside, will be parked outside the train station and will be available, traffic permitting, every 15/20 minutes.

List of Participating Wineries

Castell’in Villa, Rampolla Castle, Terriccio Castle, Albola Castle, Ama Castle, Bolgheri Castle, Monsanto Castle, Radda Castle, Volpaia Castle, Monterinaldi Castle, Tricerchi Castle, Cesani, Chiappini, Col di Bacche, Colle Massari, Colle Santa Mustiola, Cològnole, Counts Capponi Villa Calcinaia, Contucci, Cupano, Dei, Pienza Factory, Fabio Motta, Fabrizio Dionisio, Fattoi, Corzano and Paterno Farm, Cerro Farm-La Poderina-Monterufoli Estate, Pino Farm, Magliano Farm, Ripa d’Orcia Farm, Le Pupille Farm, Montellori Farm, Sardi Farm, Selvapiana Farm, Varramista Farm, Fontodi, Fortulla, Giacomo Baraldo, Gianni Brunelli-Le Chiuse di Sotto, Gianni Moscardini, Giodo, Grattamacco, I Balzini, The Places, The Dovecote of Santa Chiara, The Marroneto, The Rio, Islands and Olena, Istine, The Erta of Radda, The Fralluca, The Gerla, The Tanna, Lamole of Lamole, The Chiuse, The Cinciole, The Ragnaie, The Vineyards of Silvia, Lisini, Mastrojanni, Mazzei, Monastery of the White Friars, Montepeloso, Montepepe, Monterotondo, Monteverro, Montevertine, Orma, Panizzi, Patrizia Cencioni, Petra, Petrolo, Piaggia, Pietroso, Pieve Santo Stefano, Podere The Carnasciale Estate, The Castellaccio Estate, The Palazzino Estate, The Ripi Estate, The Marcampo Estate, The San Giacomo Estate, The Sant’Agnese Estate, The Terreno Estate at Via della Volpaia, PoggioArgentierA, Poggio al Lupo, Pomona, Ricasoli, Ridolfi, Riecine, Rocca delle Macie-Zingarelli Family, Rocca di Castagnoli-Capraia, Rocca di Montegrossi, Roccapesta, Salcheto, Salvioni – La Cerbaiola, San Giusto a Rentennano, Sancaba, Sanlorenzo, Michele Satta, Sesti, Solatione, Talenti, Buonamico Estate, Col d’Orcia Estate, Carleone Estate, Ghizzano Estate, Trinoro Estate, La Massa Estate, Le Potazzine Estate, Lenzini Estate, Mariani Estate, Montauto Estate, Monteti Estate, San Giorgio Estate, San Guido Estate, Sette Ponti Estate, Terenzuola ,Terrain, Teruzzi, Tiezzi, Toscani, Your Rita, Valley of the Sun.