TOP ITALIAN RED WINES MAKE THEIR PREMIER: AMARONE DELLA VALPOLICELLA (25-27 JANUARY), CHIANTI CLASSICO (19-20 FEBRUARY), NOBILE DI MONTEPULCIANO (21 FEBRUARY), BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO (22-23 FEBRUARY), SICILIA EN PRIMEUR (5-9 MARCH)

The premier of Italy’s top red wines begins on January 25th in the Veneto region with the presentation of the much anticipated 2004 vintage of Amarone della Valpolicella (in Verona at the Palazzo della Gran Guardia).
Things then move to Tuscany where the historic reds of this region will be given their premier on February 19th with the 15th edition of “Chianti Classico Collection” (in Florence at the Stazione Leopolda), during which the 2006 vintage (considered a “five-star” year) will be presented; the 2005 vintage of Nobile di Montepulciano will follow with its premier at the Palazzo del Capitano in Montepulciano; and, to close out the triptych of the Tuscan DOCG wines, will be the presentation on February 22nd of Brunello di Montalcino 2003 and Rosso di Montalcino 2006, and the official star rating for the region’s 2007 harvest.
Finally, the last Italian premier will be held in Sicily with the fifth edition of “Sicilia en Primeur” (from 5-7 March in Trapani and Marsala) that will include first-time tastings and the official rating for this area’s 2007 harvest.