VIGNERONS D’EUROPE 2009: THE EUROPEAN MEETING OF WINEMAKERS AND VITICULTURALISTS, UNDER THE DIRECTION OF SLOW FOOD, WILL ARRIVE IN TUSCANY FROM 5 TO 7 DECEMBER

The Vignerons d’Europe will reunite, under the auspices of Slow Food, in Tuscany from 5 to 7 December following its debut in Montepellier in 2007.

The central argument of the event will be that of bringing what Slow Food holds most at heart - environmental, social, and economic sustainability – to Europe’s wine sector.
One thousand winemakers from 20 countries will exchange ideas and experiences along with important figures in research, culture, and agriculture.

Vignerons d’Europe has created a European network of winemakers and will propose a “European Manifesto for Sustainable Viticulture”.

The central theme for 2009 will be the sustainability of viticultural production. An accomplice to the global problems caused by environmental change and pollution, the wine world still has a confused idea on what to do to resolve this. During Vignerons d’Europe, producers will strive to create a common path to take in the years to come.

The encounter will take place from 5 to 7 December in Tuscany, between Montecatini Terme and Florence and will include various seminars and debates in which participants will be invited to contribute to the creation of the Manifesto whose final draft will be presented at Palazzo Vecchio in Florence on December 7. On the same day, the producers who participated in Vignerons d’Europe will be offering tastings and the possibility to acquire their wines in nearby Piazza Santissima Annunziata.

Vignerons d’Europe is part of the Vignaioli & Vignerons program to animate the culture of wine, organized by the Tuscany Region, Fondazione Sistema Toscana, Arsia, and Slow Food.