Angelo Gaja, receives the Winemakers’ Winemaker Award from the Masters of Wine

Angelo Gaja, one of the most successful Italian producers, an icon not only of Piedmont but of Italy (with wineries and vineyards also in Montalcino, Bolgheri and on Mount Etna), was awarded the 2019 Winemakers’ Winemaker Award, which is presented every year by the Institute of Masters of Wine and The Drinks Business to oenologists and producers who have achieved exceptional results, selected by a panel of Masters of Wine winemakers and previous winners ( Àlvaro Palacios, Egon Müller, Anne-Claude Leflaive from Domaine Leflaive, Paul Draper from Ridge, Peter Gago from Penfold’s, Peter Sisseck from Dominio de Pingus and Jean-Claude Berrouet from Château Petrus).
“I cannot think of anyone who could deserve this recognition more - said the Master of Wine Adrian Garforth, president of the Institute of Masters of Wine, at the award ceremony in Prowein - because Angelo has never been afraid of breaking conventions and rules, always maintaining a passion for the highest standards of quality wine. Through his family, but also through the Istituto Grandi Marchi, he continues to promote the high standards of excellence, culture, and tradition of Italian wine”.
58 vintages behind him, for Angelo Gaja, but a clear memory of the history that Italian wine has gone through, passing from being universally known as poor, cheap and easy wine, to the gradual re-establishment of its credibility thanks to important decisions such as the introduction of the quality pyramid of the denominations in 1966. “Even in 1982 in the United States, the only way to sell Italian wine was to come out at lower prices than the lowest price of French wine - recalled Gaja - but Italy is “Enotria tellus”, the land of wine: 350 native varieties, over 530 different names including DOCG, DOC and IGT and the commitment have gradually given us the opportunity to be recognized as producers of quality wine”.
It took time and passion and seriousness on the part of the producers.“The human factor was essential. As well as Italian cuisine, and wine tourism, both key factors that help bring young people closer to the world of wine. But that’s not enough. We must work together - concluded Gaja, launching an appeal to the room - to protect and spread the immense culture and tradition that only wine has: Masters of Wine, sommeliers, restaurateurs, distributors, producers, we must all strive to make it clear that wine is a different product, unique and special.