430 labels, 57 producers, 22 buyers coming from 9 countries and 292
matched meetings between buyers and exhibitors
The specialist trade fair on Grappa and Distillates comes to an end in Trieste
The curtains have come down on “SpiriTs & Co. – The Salon of National and Foreign Grappa and Distillates” the first specialist event on Italian and foreign grappa and distillates organised by Fiera Trieste Spa in collaboration with the Expo Mittelschool of Trieste and with the sponsorship of the ING (Istituto Nazionale Grappa – National Grappa Institute). This first edition has seen record numbers: 430 labels, 57 different producers, 22 buyers coming from 9 countries, 292 meetings organized between exhibitors and buyers and a big inflow of both qualified and occasional consumers.
The Exhibition Salon was set up to offer a welcoming and attractive environment, elegant and clearly focused on the products, ideal for experiencing and tasting the very best grappa and distillates from Italy. A number of leading producers have expressed their appreciation for this initiative from the Fiera, which facilitate contacts with the dynamic markets of countries abroad.
PURE SPIRITS AND CIGAR LOUNGE:
SpiriTS & Co. offered a rich programme of parallel events designed to build up the culture of the distillate and of drinking with awareness, encouraging people to get to know Italian grappa. This goal has been pursued through practical seminars and guided tasting sessions which took place in the Puro Spirito (Pure Spirit) area, the tasting point set up within the exhibition.
In the Cigar Lounge area, The Associazione Sigaro Toscano (Toscano Cigar Association) organised sessions for tasting and matching cigars, grappa and chocolate, offering opportunities to experience the aromas of the Toscano, a cigar produced using a variety of tobacco known as Kentucky, produced nationally and grown in various regions of Italy. On the programme were free courses for getting to know how the Toscano is produced, its history, and how it should be smoked. In addition, the Expo Mittelschool of Trieste organised sessions for experiencing the famous Toscano del Presidente cigar as well as Cuban cigars, matched with grappa and chocolate.
SPIRITS&CO. TALK SHOWS:
A special emphasis has been put on seminars and forums, in particular two talk shows organized by the Expo MittelSchool of Trieste. The first one on Analizzando lo Spirito dei tempi (Examining the Spirit of the times), with presenters Luca Gargano, restaurateur Emanuele Scarello (one Michelin star, leader JREurope) and editor-in-chief of the specialist publication Grappa Time Marzia Morganti, with moderator journalist Rossana Bettini. The second on Lo Spirito del marketing e della comunicazione in tempi di crisi e di nuove normative (The Spirit of marketing and communication in times of crisis and new regulation); with Prof. Gabriele Qualizza (lecturer in business communication at the University of Trieste), Cesare Mazzetti (President of the National Grappa Institute), Roberto Castagner (distiller), Antonio Motteran (Director-General of Carpenè Malvolti), Lisa Tosolini (Camel distillery), Gianluca Franzoni alias Mack Domori (President of Domori), Tomaz Kavcic (restaurateur, leader JRSlovenia). Francesco Razzetti as the moderator.
PROTAGONISTS:
The SpiriTs & Co. event has also caught the immediate attention of many well-known figures from the distillates world. These include names such as Luca Gargano - Velier and Vittorio “Gianni” Capovilla. Luca Gargano came into the public eye in 2001 when he set out the definition of the Triple A wines (agricoltori, artisti, artigiani - wines based on agriculture, artistry, artisanship). These have been brought back out of the shadows, thanks to this leading figure at the head of Velier, the distribution company for wines and spirits established in 1947 by Casimiro Chaix and under Gargano’s leadership since 1983. Vittorio Capovilla has earned international recognition as one of the best distillers in the world. An emigrant mechanic who took up a technical post in a leading wine-making supply industry, he made the decision 30 years ago to dedicate himself to distillation. The outcome of such love and passion were the two aquavits from Chardonnay and Pinot Nero vinaccia (pressings), which were unveiled at the World Spirit 2006 in Klagenfurt and took the gold medal.
GRAPPA FANTASY COMPETITION:
Great success for the first Grappa Fantasy Competition, the original event dedicated to barmen, organised by Fiera Trieste in cooperation with Sommelier Adriano Bellini. 16 barmen presented their original cocktails created on a grappa basis to a selected jury, which had to choose the best one considering not only the taste but also how the cocktail was served.
LATE-NIGHT PARTYING AND MUSIC:
The partying at SpiriTs & Co. went on at the Fiera on Friday evening right through to midnight, with the Happy Hour Open Bar, and at the SpiriTs Dark Party Music event, a party “in the dark” with music, in the attractive environment of Pavilion F changed into a lounge area for the occasion.
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