VINITALY IN CHINA HAS A PERMANENT OFFICE IN SHANGHAI. AND IN VERONA IN 2014, THE FIRST FOREIGN WINES PAVILION, WAITING FOR THE "WINE & OIL" ONE AT "EXPO 2015." FOCUS - IN THE US WITH THE "FAMILIES OF AMARONE"

The Italian Government led by Premier Letta seems to be saved, for the moment. So, we can start thinking about the Expo in Milan. And the wine world is not sitting on the by lines. While they are waiting to see if the “Wine & Oil" pavilion will be assigned to Vinitaly, top player in promoting Italian wine in the world, the festival of Verona, together with ICE, has opened a permanent branch in Shanghai, China. This is yet another step in a strategy of alliances that Verona Fiere, together with Vinitaly International (www.vinitalyinternational.com), is making around the world. Like with "Wine Caucus", the powerful Californian wine lobby, which will have its own space at Vinitaly’s new Foreign Wines pavilion in 2014 (www.vinitaly.com), and that would have brought the Amarone Families (www.amaronefamilies.it), the association of the most important families of the great Venetian red wine (Allegrini, Begali, Brigaldara, Masi, Musella, Nicolis, Hope, Tedeschi, Tenuta Sant’Antonio, Tommasi, Venturini, Zenato) led by Marilisa Allegrini, to an event at the US Congress.
However, due to the Federal Government "shut down", it was celebrated (even though in a highly prestigious location) at the Italian Embassy in Washington. This is yet another sign of the strategic importance of Italian wine abroad, particularly in the U.S. where it is leader, for the economy and the image of Italy around the world.