Premio Masi n. 38: Jeannie Cho Lee receives the Premio Internazionale Civiltà del Vino

Five interpreters of a strong cultural identity and of the virtues of a civilization that looks to the future: these are the winners of the Premio Masin. 38, on stage on 28 September in Verona, among which the International Civiltà del Vino Award stands out, is assigned to the Korean Jeannie Cho Lee, the first Asian to obtain the coveted title of Master of Wine, one of the most influential critics, journalists and wine consultants at the international level, who “through her work has established a cultural bridge between East and West, educating in the appreciation of wine, its moderate consumption, and its encounter with the traditions and the social fabric of Asian markets, the new frontier of our most emblematic product”. The International Grosso D’Oro Veneziano Award goes to Alain Finkielkraut, one of the greatest contemporary French philosophers and intellectuals, who “for his commitment and his works is considered a symbol of freedom of expression and civil coexistence”. The three awards of the Premio Civiltà Veneta go to the Paduan Roberto Citran, "an actor of great versatility known in Italy and abroad for his rich film career", as motivated by the jury of the Prize; to Piero Luxardo, also from Padua, "a rare entrepreneur and intellectual figure”, president of the homonymous historical Venetian company producing traditional distillates, and professor of literature at the University of Padua; and to Nando Pagnoncelli from Bergamo, “one of the most authoritative and influential pollster, a true social dowser who uses the tools of science”.
“The Masi Prize is inspired by the combination that, for four decades now, has drawn a line of continuity in the attribution of awards: strong roots in the heritage of values and culture of the “Venezie” and look towards the horizon, to identify new paths and destinations”. Isabella Bossi Fedrigotti, president of the Masi Foundation, adds: “If the winners of the Civiltà Veneta award in 2019 recall the geographical extension of the civilization of the Serenissima, from the Dalmatian coast to the Orobia brand, the Civiltà del Vino award, with the choice of the Korean Jeannie Cho Lee, aligns itself, however, with the attention that the land of Marco Polo has always cultivated towards the East. Finally, it leads us back to the historic Jewish presence in the Lagoon, the Big Gold to Alain Finkielkraut, the authoritative French thinker engaged in a civil battle against the resurgent impulses of anti-Semitism in Europe today”.
It is interesting to note that this year the awarding of the prizes came practically at the same time as two events of particular importance for the territory and entrepreneurship of the Venezie: the awarding of the 2026 Winter Olympics to the Milan-Cortina tandem and the recognition of the Colline del Prosecco Superiore as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. “Two hopes that have now become certainties - comments Sandro Boscaini, vice president of the Masi Foundation and president of Masi - that gives us an extraordinary opportunity to become aware of the value of our territory. Thanks to these well-deserved awards, we renew once again this year the commitment of the Masi Foundation, which for the last four decades with its Award has been spreading the values of the Venezie around the world, promoting comparison and dialogue between cultures”.

Focus - Motivations
Premio Civiltà Veneta
Recognition of personalities - Venetian by birth, family or adoption - who have distinguished themselves in the fields of literature, art, journalism, science, entertainment and economics, and through their work have promoted and enhanced the skills of the people of Veneto in the broader fields of human activity, becoming bearers of the fundamental values of this land.

Roberto Citran
“Paduan, an actor of great versatility, known in Italy and abroad for his rich career that led him to play a wide range of characters in films directed by well-known directors, including the Venetians Carlo Mazzacurati, Andrea Segre, Antonio Padovan. Many internationally successful films such as Il mandolino by Captain Corelli and Hotel Rwanda. An elegant and subtlely ironic interpreter, he is recognized for a career conducted with passion and professionalism”.

Piero Luxardo
“Paduan, rare figure of entrepreneur and intellectual. He is president of the Venetian Luxardo S.p.A., one of the most prestigious and appreciated historical producers of traditional distillates, and a professor of twentieth-century Italian literature at the University of Padua. He represents a family of entrepreneurs with a long and tormented history, present since the beginning of the nineteenth century in Zara, in exile in Padua in dramatic circumstances after the Second World War. He chairs the management committee of the Campiello Prize”.

Nando Pagnoncelli
“Bergamasco, therefore exponent of Veneto enlarged to the West that still bears the cultural signs of the Serenissima. One of the most authoritative and influential pollsters on television and in the printed press, he reads the statistical data offering a sensitive interpretation of the moods and opinions of Italians. A true dowser of the society that uses the tools of science”.

International Wine Civilization Award
It is dedicated to the great world of winemaking and rewards the most representative personalities who have contributed at international level to enhance the ancient culture of the vine and wine.

Jeannie Cho Lee
“Korean, with training at Harvard University, first Asian to obtain the coveted title of Master of Wine. Award-winning for her publications and television productions, she is one of the most influential international critics, journalists, and wine consultants. Through its activity, it has built a cultural bridge between East and West, educating in the appreciation of wine, its moderate consumption, and its encounter with the traditions and social fabric of Asian markets, a new frontier of our most emblematic product”.

Grosso d’Oro Veneziano International Award
It is reserved for personalities who have contributed to spreading a message of culture throughout the world, generating that understanding between peoples that develops in solidarity, civil progress, and peace.

Alain Finkielkraut
“One of the greatest contemporary French philosophers and intellectuals of “Enlightenment” vision: defender of critical reason against all forms of obscurantism and regression. His civil battle has made him the target of heavy anti-Semitic attacks. For his commitment and his works he is recognized as a symbol of freedom of expression and civil coexistence”.