Conferenze e Fiere

🍷 Celebrating 20 years of excellence, the Istituto del Vino Italiano di Qualità - Grandi Marchi (IGM), which comprises 18 major Italian wine families, hosted an event at Palazzo Ripetta in Rome in 2024. The group reflected on its global influence and ongoing initiatives, with contributions from IGM President Piero Mastroberardino and Honorary President Piero Antinori. A docufilm was presented, capturing two decades of IGM's journey, including their pioneering ventures in emerging markets like Russia, China, and Southeast Asia, and their presence in established markets such as the USA, Canada, and England. The evening concluded with a tasting of IGM's finest labels.

🥂 Chiara Braione, Luigi Giordano, and Luca Grifi won the top three spots in the Blending Competition by Planteray Rum finale on October 28 in Milan at Tripstillery. The event was the culmination of contests held in Marina di Ravenna and Torre a Mare on July 15 and 22, judged by a notable jury including Alexandre Gabriel. The winners received exclusive bottles and a trip to Cognac to explore Maison Ferrand. Planteray Rum, formerly Plantation, will rebrand in January 2024 and is distributed in Italy by Compagnia dei Caraibi.

🍷 Comte de Montaigne, a prestigious Maison de Champagne from Aube, launched the "Célébration" collection alongside Grace La Margna St. Moritz and Grand Hotel Des Bains Kempinski in the Swiss Alps. CEO Stéphane Revol highlighted the collection's embodiment of Authenticity, Heart, and Bon Vivre. The collection features two new cuvées: Blanc de Blancs Grande Réserve Extra Brut (100% Chardonnay) and Brut Nature Grande Réserve (100% Pinot Noir). Creative directed by renowned artist Giò Martorana, the bottles are adorned with colorful stamps, symbolizing universal joy and encapsulating memories for sharing on celebratory occasions.

🎂 Chef Antonino Cannavacciuolo's Pasticceria Artigianale, led by Pastry Chef Kabir Godi, introduces inclusive Christmas offerings for 2024, catering to diverse palates with traditional and dietary-specific options. The lineup includes Panettone Albicocca e Cioccolato, a Vesuvio variant with Apricots and Ginger, and the classic Panettone with a 36-hour fermentation featuring citrus-flavored dough. Also available are a Panettone without candied fruits and raisins, a vegan Christmas Star with Pears and Chocolate, and upscale classics like Panettone al Gianduia, Panettone alla Melannurca with Melannurca Campana IGP, and Panettone al Limoncello. Traditional Torrone and the 750-gram Mandorlato are part of the festive selection sold online at shop.antoninocannavacciuolo.it/natale-2024/.

🎂 The World Cup of Panettone, a celebration of the iconic Italian confection, will be held from November 8-10, 2024, at Palazzo Castiglioni in Milan, Italy. The event, free to the public, will feature tastings, workshops, and presentations by master pastry chefs such as Iginio Massari and Ernst Knamm. Attendees can experience a chocolate Panettone presentation and participate in a children's decorating workshop. The event will also acknowledge finalists from previous Summer Edition contests and present awards on November 9 at 17:00. Giuseppe Piffaretti, creator of CMP, highlights the festival's role in promoting traditional Milanese Panettone globally.

🇮🇹 "Chefs for Children – Il Buono per il Bene" charity event scheduled for December 3 at Saint Georges Premier in Monza's park. In celebration of Fondazione Centro Mamma Rita's 60th anniversary, Monza's top chefs, including Roberto Conti, will prepare a special 16-handed gala dinner. The charity initiative presented on October 21, 2024, aims to support disadvantaged children and mothers. From October 22 to December 2, €2 from each designated dish sold at seven participating restaurants will be donated to the foundation. Reservations for the gala dinner can be made at Saint Georges Premier, Viale di Vedano 7, Monza.

🍾 Mionetto launches "Mionetto Orange Soul" contest for its Valdobbiadene Superiore Prosecco DOCG from the Prestige line, featuring a new orange look, available until December 31, 2024. Participants can win daily prizes, including a Poldina Micro lamp, and enter a final draw for one of five luxury weekends for two at Villa Morona De Gastaldis in the UNESCO World Heritage Prosecco hills of Valdobbiadene. To enter, purchase a bottle with the contest tag and follow instructions on www.mionettocontest.it.

🎃 95% of Italians consume candies, with 31% indulging 3-4 times a week. Citrus is the most loved flavor at 44%, followed by strong mint/balsamic (39%), and licorice (36%). Half of Italians (52%) prefer fruit-flavored candies. Campania's lemon is the top regional flavor at 54.5%. Halloween sees 25% of Italians consuming candies, the most popular treat at 65% over chocolates (56%) and snacks (38%). The surveys cited are "Gli Italiani e i gusti delle caramelle" by AstraRicerche (2024) and BVA Doxa (2022).

🏖 71% of Italians plan to travel for Christmas holidays, with 38% staying away for up to 3 days, 25% for 3-5 days, 21% for a week, and 14% for 8-15 days. Family vacations are preferred by 46%, while 29% travel as couples, 18% with friends, and 7% alone. Top domestic destinations are Milan, Naples, and Rome, followed by Catania, and Torino. Paris leads in European destinations, followed by Vienna and London. For extra-European travels, New York, Sharm El Sheikh, and Istanbul top the list.

🏠 Faro Capel Rosso on Isola del Giglio, Tuscany, offers a luxury experience on November 23 and 24 which includes helicopter flight, landing at the lighthouse, followed by an encounter with Michelin-starred chef-patron Roberto Rossi from restaurant Silene. The visit features an exclusive dinner prepared by Rossi, an overnight stay, a bioenergetic lesson, and breakfast. New events with different chefs are also planned.