30 YEARS IN THE WINE WORLD AND THE FIRST "WINE CRITIC" IN HISTORY, PARKER HAS A WEAKNESS FOR BORDEAUX AND RHONE WINES. BUT ITALIAN WINES, WITH THEIR INCREDIBLE VARIETY, "HAVE GIVEN ME GREAT EMOTIONS OVER THE YEARS", HE TOLD THE MAGAZINE "THE ENOLOGIST"

30 years in the world of wine criticism, the "father" of scores and the forerunner of the "wine critic" profession that when he began in 1984, simply did not exist. He has always been able to reinvent himself and stay on the crest of the wave. Robert Parker, still the most listened to critic in the wine world, thanks to his authority and independence that even with the passage of his creation "The Wine Advocate", now controlled by an Asian consortium, have not been minimally affected. He is famous for and has never hidden his passion for the wines of Bordeaux and the Rhone Valley, but he is also a fine connoisseur of Italy’s wines, has learned to know and narrate them and the many changes they have gone through over the last three decades, profoundly altering their profile. what does Robert Parker think of Italy's wines today? He answered this question in an interview by Richard Cotarella for the Assoenologi magazine "The Winemaker".
“When I started writing”, said Parker, “the image of Italian wine was that of the straw-covered flasks of Chianti on a red and white checkered tablecloth in Italian restaurants in the United States, but this image disappeared over thirty years ago. Today, Italy is a source of great excitement, experimentation and discovery for wine consumers. The southern part of the country is a treasure trove of values and also white wines, dry, light-bodied and mineral flavored in the North East create enormous enthusiasm”.
The variety Italy offers seems to be one of the main levers, a strength thanks to which, it is impossible for Parker to indicate only five wines: “Many more than five Italian wines have given me great emotions over the years. Certainly the great vintages of the Tuscan coast wines, such as Bolgheri, were a revelation when I discovered them for the first time. Then the wonderful Barolo and Barbaresco wines in northern Italy have also always been a source of inspiration. However, the most exciting event was the discovery of so many great wines in relatively unknown areas of southern Italy. I'm talking about Campania, Calabria, Umbria, Abruzzo and, of course, Sicily. I think my interest in these wines is common to that of other critics as well as that of consumers. it is fascinating to see the number of trendy and high-end restaurants in the United States that now offer more wines from southern Italy, rather than the more famous wines of Tuscany and Piedmont”.
On a promotional level we can definitely do more, but “I think Italy is doing a great job in promoting their products. The idea of combining the knowledge of Italian wine”, Parker continued, “with its magnificent scenery and all the artistic and cultural attractions should be central, as all these aspects are part of the same heritage, which must be promoted as a single brand. On the other hand, it is impossible to sit at table to enjoy an Italian meal without drinking a magnificent Italian wine. Communication with consumers”, concluded the wine critic, “should be on all channels available today. Of course, the written word in wine magazines, but also using all facets of social medias such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram”.