Conferenze e Fiere

🍷 Vecchia Romagna, Italy's top-selling global brandy, launches the "Progetto Ristoranti" in Milan on September 18, involving over 30 restaurants across Italy. Master Blender Antonio Zattoni will lead exclusive dinners featuring Vecchia Romagna Riserva Tre Botti and Riserva 18. In 2023, despite economic challenges, Italy's dining sector flourished, with out-of-home consumption hitting €92 billion, upscale restaurants up 12%. Vecchia Romagna, established in 1820, is known for its exceptional Riserva Tre Botti, aged up to 15 years, and Riserva 18, aged in oak barrels for 18 years.

🍷 "Ficus in Tabula – I gusti del Fico Dottato" is a gastronomic event to be held in Ottati, Italy, a 600-inhabitant village within the Cilento, Vallo di Diano e degli Alburni National Park. On Sunday, September 22, the event at the Convento dei Domenicani will feature workshops on traditional fig cultivation and culinary practices, including pastry laboratory by Marco Aliberti and pasta workshop by Bianca Mucciolo. The event will also offer immersive experiences, tastings, and cooking shows starting from 9:00 am at the former town hall piazza.

🎂 "Mastro Panettone", the annual competition celebrating artisanal Italian Christmas leavened treats, is set for 2024 with categories including "Traditional Artisan Panettone", "Artisan Chocolate Panettone", and "Artisan Pandoro". Organized by Goloasi.it, the event limits participation to 330 products from 232 artisans—160 traditional panettones, 120 chocolate, and 50 pandori. Initial judging from October 8-10 will narrow down to 16 traditional, 12 chocolate panettones, and 5 pandori, with the finals on November 5. The 2024 jury consists of industry experts Stefano Laghi, Marco De Vivo, Giuseppe Mascolo, Maurizio Bonanomi, Francesco Borioli, Antonio Daloiso, and Eustachio Sapone. The competition also includes a "Best Packaging" award, with the event taking place at the Hotel Parco dei Principi di Bari.

🍷 Wine Next, a "Business to Business" wine and spirits event, will take place on September 23-24, 2024, at Padova's pavilion 11, organized by Padova Hall and the Veneto team of Wine and Spirits Agents. The fair will feature around 150 exhibitors, including prestigious Italian wine producers and about 20 distilleries and champagne distributors. The 2024 edition will introduce Ho.re.tec, a space for food exhibitors and services, and a comprehensive Masterclass program with experts like Joe Bastianich and Nicola Frasson. The first edition in 2021 had 69 exhibitors and nearly 1000 visitors, growing to 142 exhibitors and nearly 3000 visitors in 2022, with 51% from Padova province, 30% from the rest of Veneto, 15% from Friuli and Trentino-Alto Adige, and 4% from other regions.

🍲 The Consorzio Zampone e Cotechino Modena IGP, sponsored by the Italian Ministry of Agriculture, Emilia-Romagna Region, and the Municipality of Modena, announces the 9th "Lo Zampone e il Cotechino Modena IGP degli Chef di Domani" national cooking competition for students. Held on December 14 during the 13th Festa dello Zampone e del Cotechino Modena IGP in Piazza Roma, Modena, the event features three main categories inspired by chef Massimo Bottura, healthy and balanced diet incorporation, and the EU co-funded DELI.M.E.A.T. project. Schools can register by November 12, 2024, at www.modenaigp.it, and ten finalists will compete for the top three spots judged by a panel including Paolo Ferrari and Massimo Bottura.

🍪 Tonitto 1939 won four awards at the Great Taste Awards 2024 in London, known as the “Oscar of the world food,” for their Simply Better Italian sorbets made for Dunnes Stores. The Italian-based company, leading in sugar-free sorbets and ice creams, secured 1 star for Berry Sorbet, 2 stars for Lemon Sorbet, and 3 stars each for Mango & Passion Fruit and Raspberry Sorbets. Over 120,000 products have been judged over three decades by a panel of over 500 experts during a 60-day period. The award-winning sorbets, crafted by the Dovo family-led company from Campi (Genova), reflect dedication to quality using a blend of fresh fruit, water, and sugar without milk, preservatives, or GMOs.

🍺 Gardaland celebrated the opening weekend of Oktoberfest, running until September 29. The event features a Welcome Show, over 40 attractions, traditional Teutonic dishes, and beer selections including Birra Messina Vivace, Ichnusa Ambra Limpida, Schmucker Export, plus a special Gardaland beer. A 'Beer Experience' and 'Beer&Food Experience' in Piazza Jumanji are part of the festivities, along with themed entertainment such as the Oktoberfest Folk Trio and "Alle Zusammen... prosit" street show.

✈ From May 21, 2025, Sas will launch 5 weekly flights between Copenhagen and Seattle, reconnecting the cities after 57 years. The new route expands Sas's non-stop services to 11 North American gateways from Copenhagen, enhancing connectivity to 39 European cities including Berlin, Helsinki, Milan, and Zurich.

🏃 The SNCF has opened sales for winter train tickets to France. Customers can purchase tickets starting from today for TGV Inoui travel from Turin, Milan, and Oulx to Paris for the cold season. Reservations can be made on the SNCF website, via the SNCF Connect app, or through authorized travel agencies. Current promotions remain valid for Carta Avantage cardholders.

🏓 Celestyal announces 'Iconic Arabia' shore excursions for 2025 with Celestyal Journey based in Doha from November and Celestyal Discovery in Abu Dhabi the following year. Offering 3 and 4-night cruises from Mina Zayed, Abu Dhabi, between December 2025-February 2026 and December 2026-February 2027. The 3-night option includes Doha, Qatar, Sir Bani Yas Island, UAE with 25 bookable excursions, while the 4-night adds Fujairah, UAE, Muscat and Khasab, Oman with 34 tours. Features half-day, full-day options, and seven premium 'Authentic Encounters'.