THE INSTITUTE OF MASTERS OF WINE AND THE INSTITUTE OF “GRANDI MARCHI” HAVE TEAMED UP ... TO TAKE “THE DIVERSITY OF ITALY” EVENTS AROUND THE WORLD IN 2010 TO NEW YORK, HONG KONG AND TOKYO

“Our organizations share a commitment to excellence and recognize the importance of education and training. Today, in London (there are also other dates of the road show that will visit New York, Hong Kong and Tokyo ... ed) this is an important opportunity to explore an exceptional range of wines from various regions in Italy, produced by a group of leading Italian companies on international markets”. Lynne Sherrif, recently elected president of the Institute of Masters of Wine, thus celebrated in the historic Vintner’s Hall in London, the “Grandi Marchi” (Premium Brands) of Italian wine, which organized an event dedicated to Italian wine during the Masters of Wine annual meeting. All the most important and influential international personalities of the wine world were seated in the front row: Michael Broadbent, David Peppercorn, Jancis Robinson, Serena Sutcliffe and of course Lynne Sherrif, newly elected President of the Institute of Masters of Wine, in addition to another 80 personalities including Masters of Wine critics and journalists, trade professionals, buyers and London merchants.

Piero Antinori, president of the Institute of Premium Brands, has no doubts: “The global challenge in the future of Italian wines,” Antinori said among other things, “is not only to be considered ethnic, related mainly to Italian cuisine and restaurants, but to get international consumers to understand the vast potential for matches with the various local cuisines, particularly those in the new consumer countries, thanks to a wide range of choice”.

After the seminar on “The Diversity of Italy” there is a wine tasting with 49 wines from recent and historic vintages of the 17 member producers of the Institute of Grandi Marchi (to name a few: Biondi Santi, Chiarlo, San Guido Estate, Ca’ del Bosco, Umani Ronchi, Lungarotti, Masi, Mastroberardino, Donnafugata, Antinori, Tasca d’Almerita).

The Institute of Grandi Marchi was the first Italian organization to become a major supporter of the Institute of Masters of Wine and the seminar “ The Diversity of Italy “ is the first event organized in collaboration between the two organizations.

The Institute of Masters of Wine and the Institute of Grandi Marchi will continue their collaboration on the theme “ The Diversity of Italy” in major events scheduled for 2010 in New York in late October, and Hong Kong and Tokyo in late November.