Italian wine trade bodies join forces on new Vinitaly advisory board

Four of Italy’s most influential trade bodies in the wine industry are building a “productive dialogue” with the Vinitaly International Academy (VIA) by overseeing the launch of a new board which aims to raise the standard of wine education in the country.

L-R: Prof. Attilio Scienza (Chief Scientist, Vinitaly International Academy); Stevie Kim (Founder of VIA); Cristiana Tirabovi (Director, FederDOC); Ottavio Cagiano (Director, Federvini); Matilde Poggi (President, FIVI); Riccardo Ricci Curbastro (President, FederDOC); Giulio Somma (Communications Director, UIV); Tommaso Iori (FIVI). (Photo: Vinitaly)

Representatives from Federvini, Unione Italiana Vini (UIV), FederDOC, and FIVI Vignaioli Indipendenti met with VIA founder Stevie Kim and Prof. Attilio Scienza, the academy’s recently appointed chief scientist, in Verona earlier this month to lay down the groundwork for the Institutional Advisory Board — an educational offshoot of the VIA which will “help enhance the connections between the sector in Italy and international trade professionals,” according to a statement

(The National Confederation for the protection of the names of Italian wines (FederDOC) is a national association that groups together wine consortiums and looks after the certification of appellations. Federvini, meanwhile, represents the interests of importers across Italy’s drinks trade. Unione Italiana Vini (UIV) — an association of Italian industry insiders founded in 1895 — groups together independent growers, co-operatives and wineries, and lastly,The Italian Federation of Independent Winegrowers (FIVI) lobbies at national and European level to safeguard independent wine growers.

All four groups will collaborate to manage the new advisory arm of the VIA, which will be the “first organised experience of high-level education on Italian wine,” according to UIV’s communications director Giulio Somma.

FederDOC president Ricardo Curbastro added: “We always talk about Italian wine as one of the great masterpieces of the world, but it’s true that we need more and more passionate ambassadors and people that can better develop and interpret the knowledge about what we do, the passion of the producers, the different landscapes and the different territories we represent.

“For this reason, the cooperation between FederDOC and Vinitaly Academy is something that I see as one of the key points for the future of Italian wine.”

The re-styled VIA Certification Course taught by Sarah Heller MW and Henry Davar will debut in Hong Kong from 4-8 November, prior to the Hong Kong International Wine & Spirits Fair, where Vinitaly organises the Italian pavilion. Those wishing to apply for the course have until 15 August to register their interest.