THE TASTING COUNTER IN VERONA AND ALL THE EVENTS OF THIS HISTORIC MILESTONE.

On the occasion of the thirtieth anniversary of the recognition of the denomination , Verduno Pelaverga DOC will be present at Vinitaly 2025, at a tasting stand in Pavilion 10 E3 . The labels of the producers of the Verduno è Pelaverga association will be on tasting, to celebrate a wine with ancient roots, which today continues to tell the uniqueness of its territory of origin.

A native vine dating back to the 17th century, Pelaverga is the symbol of a long winemaking history that has preserved and enhanced an extraordinary ampelographic heritage: this wine represents the authenticity of a territory where the passion of the producers has made the difference.

The thirtieth anniversary of the DOC has given rise to a calendar of events, tastings and meetings that are livening up 2025, including participation in Vinitaly.

A year of events to celebrate Verduno Pelaverga DOC

2025 will see Verduno Pelaverga DOC as the protagonist of a series of events at national and international level. After Nebbiolo Prima and Grandi Langhe in Piedmont, last January, there was a tasting bench in Stockholm in February, on the occasion of Barolo & Friends and the appointment in March with Indigena World Tour in Houston led by Ian D’Agata; in late spring an incoming of international sommeliers is planned and, in the summer, “Verduno Pelaverga and Contemporary Cuisine” will take place in Holland. In September, an incoming of Italian journalists will be held in Verduno for the tasting of the 2024 vintage of Verduno Pelaverga DOC and the official investiture of the Ambassadors of Verduno Pelaverga DOC .

“ Verduno Pelaverga DOC – explains the president of the association, Diego Morra – is much more than a wine. It is a centuries-old story that links nature, tradition and innovation. A grape variety that, thanks to the tenacity and obstinacy of the Verduno producers, has managed to survive and stand out in the Italian wine scene. This thirtieth anniversary is for all of us an opportunity to share with the world a wine that we love, but also a piece of Italian history, a heritage of knowledge, techniques and passions that make Verduno Pelaverga DOC a unique standard-bearer of the Piedmont region and of the Langhe in particular ”.

A masterclass on the results of the experiments within the VISTA Lucido Project.

Consortium for the Protection of DOC Sicilian Wines: at VINITALY.

The agronomic, oenological and sensorial initiatives for the valorisation and relaunch of the historic Sicilian vine Lucido (synonymous with Catarratto Bianco) promoted by the Consorzio di Tutela Vini DOC Sicilia, through the VISTA project (Innovative and Sustainable Valorization of the Terroir of Native Varieties) Lucido, financed under Sub-measure 16.1 of the PSR SICILIA 2014-2022.

The adhesion to the project by leading Sicilian wineries, the Sicilian Region, the Regional Institute of Wine and Oil, under the guidance of the Consortium and the support of an Innovation Broker, has constituted a shared prototype of applied research in the winemaking sector.

The project, which will be completed in the next few months, has as its object the development of new production practices based on a sustainable supply chain, the experimentation of a new production style and the valorization of Lucido in the national and international market, with the ultimate goal of an increase in competitiveness along the vine supply chain.

Lucido plays a leading role in Sicilian viticulture, representing not only the most widespread variety, with approximately 30,000 hectares cultivated, but also a symbol of the region’s winemaking tradition; versatile and resilient, it contributes to the diversity and richness of the island’s production, offering a wide range of organoleptic nuances. Its potential is attributable to the production of mono-varietal wines, but also to the composition of blends that express the identity and complexity of the Sicilian terroir.

On Monday 7 April, at 3 pm, at stand G79 in Pavilion 2 Sicily, the Consortium will present a masterclass in which Giovanni Colugnati, Innovation Broker of the project , will illustrate the results of some of the micro and meso vinifications conducted at the experimental cellar of IRVO in Marsala, in collaboration with the Research Centre of the University of Palermo and the project partner companies.

For more information on the project, visit the VISTA Lucido webpage.

GRAPPA RISERVA 25 YEARS and the new ZERO-ALCOHOL: Distilleria Castagner’s Vinitaly, with ALCOHOL TESTER at the stand for responsible drinking.

Castagner Distillery, Hall 7 stand A6.

From 25-year-old Grappa to new zero-alcohol products: Distilleria Castagner is celebrating innovation at Vinitaly, moving in very different directions (and for different audiences) but united by the vision and technical skills of master distiller Roberto Castagner.

Three highlights: Sunday 6 April at 3:00 pm the presentation of GRAPPA RISERVA 25 YEARS , an aging choice that enhances the organoleptic potential of grappa and places it rightfully among the noblest distillates. The tasting combined with Domori chocolate told by Riccardo Illy .

On Monday 7th from 12.00 focus on the world of mixology, with bartender Samuele Ambrosi presenting his drink list based on CASTA , a very pure grappa developed specifically for mixing.

Tuesday 8th from 12.00 presentation of the new ZERO ALCOHOL Castagner products, with a preview tasting of the new ROBÌ NON-ALCOHOLIC APERITIF and LEON ZERO AMARO.

Visitors will be welcomed by a stand that speaks of spring, covered in cherry blossoms: it is the tribute to the 10 years of Grappa Barrique di Ciliegio , a leading product of the Treviso distillery, which for the entire duration of the fair will be possible to taste “barrel proof” directly from a barrique exceptionally installed at the stand, in the exclusive 10-year aging.

In closing, an invitation to responsibility wanted by Roberto Castagner, committed to promoting the use of the breathalyzer, so as not to have to give up the pleasures of conviviality but always move safely. Every day from 4:00 pm at the stand a free breathalyzer test service is available (by reservation) for those who want to check their blood alcohol level before driving.

Attached is the program of Castagner’s activities at Vinitaly. If you are interested in any particular tasting, please let me know so I can reserve a seat for you.

CARPINETO among the 1OO best Italian companies – pavilion 7 Stand E7 E8 3.

From Tuscany, where in 1967 Giovanni Carlo Sacchet and Antonio Mario Zaccheo founded CARPINETO and from there to the USA, the first market opened at the end of the 1960s by the two very young partners and friends for great denomination wines, how does CARPINETO, registered in the Register of Historical Brands and an example of MADE IN ITALY, managed by the second generation, also trained in the USA, react today to the announcement of the DUTIES.

WINE WORLD NEWS – duties and new consumption

Among the measures to respond: “ diversification of markets and support for our correspondents overseas, and not only, and who we will meet in Verona from the first day at Opera Wine”.

CARPINETO has an export rate of 90% of its turnover , of which approximately 20% (100%) is exported to the USA.

What is the immediate reaction to President Trump’s tariff announcement?

How does the company founded in Chianti Classico in 1967 and now present with 5 estates in all the most famous Tuscan denominations plan to face this tight period between duties and consumer crises, and how does it plan to face the challenges of change?

A model company of the best made in Italy agri-food that has earned it registration in the National Register of Historic Brands.

The opinion on concerns and strategies of Antonio Michael Zaccheo , together with Caterina Sacchet, second generation of the owners, and export manager of Carpineto.

“This increase in duties on such an important non-EU destination market means that prices on the shelf will rise, my estimate to be confirmed with our correspondents who have assured us of their presence at Vinitaly and who we will meet from the first day at Opera Wine , on average by around 20% on the shelf.

Italian wine will still remain competitive but I predict that it will lose 20% of its turnover in the USA, including us.

For the agri-food sector, the Italian sounding which has a more ‘entry level’ market will gain more ground but products such as Parmigiano Reggiano, Prosciutto di Parma and Bufala DOP remain irreplaceable, as do unique products with a century-old history such as Brunello, Vino Nobile and Chianti Classico .

It will be a good opportunity to test the stability of the demand for products from the Belpaese . In the end, for high-quality products, such as those mentioned above, I think this is quite stable. That is, the demand will be less affected.

The most expensive products will be the ones that will suffer the most , both wine and agri-food.

Australia, New Zealand, Chile and Argentina have duties ‘only’ 10% …. They will be the ones to benefit in the ‘entry level’ wine segment.

Fortunately, Tuscany produces on average quality products but, for us, with a strong export of premium wines to the USA, I foresee a -20% in volume, with Dogajolo among our wines that will suffer more than Brunello.

Among the most structural measures to contrast and react, however, is the one for which Carpineto has been a pioneer since its foundation almost 60 years ago, that is, the opening of new markets .

Diversification has been practiced for years with 72 countries to which the company exports.

We have recently started relationships with Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan and we are exploring these markets that have a good potential to develop. Just as we are deepening transversally in African countries some market niches.

Returning to North America, in 2024 we remain the first supplier of Tuscan wine to Canada , but the duties also weaken the Canadian economy a lot, so an economy in recession is less inclined to spend on luxury goods such as wine. At this time therefore we need to understand how the balance will tip for European wines in Canada.

Maybe for the lower range wines, like under $20 dollars, there could be a slight advantage but in the higher range it is certainly a detriment because the ability and propensity to spend will be lacking. And the higher range is where Tuscan wines and Carpineto shine.

There remain all the problems regarding premium wines which for us, as mentioned, are an important segment and with respect to which we try to support our distributors around the world.

It is a time when we need to reduce investments that do not have an immediate return, conserve resources and liquidity and equip ourselves to weather the economic storm under cover. In the commercial sector, however, at the same time we need to move a lot, facing variable and not fixed expenses, because it is precisely in these moments of great difficulty that opportunities are created for the most historic brands and with a well-articulated presence on the market such as Carpineto .”

Caterina Sacchet , producer and oenologist, on the other hand, regards the great change in consumption and the rise of low-alcohol wines .

“ I am studying not a NOLO, all highly manipulated wines and consequently with a terrible carbon footprint, but a naturally low-alcohol wine, around 6 degrees with a light residual sugar, excellent carbon footprint like all Carpineto wines, but we will talk about it at the next harvest, not before.

It will be a LOWine , IGT rosé, sparkling. A Sparklow Wine .”