Vinitaly 2015-Italy's Diverse and Affordable Wines Take World Stage

Italian Wines provide a flavor profile for every taste

Story and photo gallery by Dwight Casimere

VERONA, Italy--More than 150,000 visitors can't be wrong. The 49th edition of Vinitaly held in the massive Veronafiere complex, presented one of the most diverse presentations of the Italian and international wine community ever. There was a wine for every personal taste. From bone dry white wines, such as Verdichio, to sparkling sweet wines from Asti, there was a wine for every occasion and palate.

Among the tastings, Conegliano Valdobbiadene had one of the most impressive pavilions with a daily list of informative seminars and guided tastings. The Marche region also presented a comprehensive tasting of the full range of wines from this up and coming region. Sicily also made a strong showing with wines from Donnafugata, Planeta and others, which showed the highly distinctive array of wines made from indigenous grape varietals. Donnafugata's Ben Rye is golden honey in a bottle with a rich, complex flavor that makes it perfect as a dessert companion, or for contemplative sipping on its own. The wine is made from 100% Zibbibo (also known as Moscato d´Alessandria), 14.5 % alc, the grapes for this Passito from Pantelleria come from 11 different parcels around the island.

The wine also holds its own with certain sea food dishes, particularly fresh Branzini, the firm whitefish which is often served whole in an aromatic sauce of olive oil, garlic, oregano and a splash of the local wine made from the Zibbibo grape. Also great with the wine is the Gambero Rosso, the sweet pink-colored shrimp that are served raw that are among the delights of the summer season. Scallops and swordfish (pesce spada) in a sauce made with fresh locally grown capers and complemented with a reduction of the wine, also makes for a marvelous pairing.

Casimiro Maule is the owner and winemaker of Nino Negri wines, the most decorated wines of Lombardy. His opulent Amarones and elegantly complex barolos make his the premiere wine producing estate in the Valtelina DOCG region. “We have not simply produced a wine, but we are working hard to protect and enhance the territory, environment, culture and history," Maule said, during a tasting of his marvelous new Amarone releases.

One of the pavilions at Veronafiere, site of Vinitaly

With Lorenzo Frescobaldi at the showing of his 1864 Marchesi Di Frescobaldi Nippozano, the first time it has been shown outside the Castello

A presentation of Parma ham

Innovative Italian fashion

Below:Sommelier and wine writer Jenny Viant Gomez of vinoway.com of Verona with Franco D'Eusanio and his Chiusa Grande organic wines

                                       

(Above and below) A tour of Prosecco sparkling wine in the Conegliano Valdobbiadene

                                      

                                      

Below: The magnificent Barolo wines of Damilano

Below: Former Formula One racing driver Jarno Truili is now a winemaker in Abruzzo with his Castorani wines

                                      
                                                 

Below: Lucio Cavuto-Managing Director-Castorani Wines

Below: Casimiro Maule of Nino Negri in the Valtelina DOCG of Lombardy in northern Italy

                                       

Below: Jose Rallo of Donnafugata with her Sur Sur white wine of Sicily from 100% Grillo grapes

                                               

Jose Rallo, CEO Donnafugata with her father and winery co-founder Giacomo Rallo

More than 150,000 visitors came from all over the world to Vinitaly 2015m