Assovini Sicilia announces new president

Mariangela Cambria, co-owner of Etna producer Cottanera Winery, has been named as the new president of Assovini Sicilia.

Cambria, who is originally from Messina, co-owns Cottanera with her brothers Francesco and Emanuele, and her uncle Enzo. She is in charge of the winery’s marketing, communications and hospitality.

She takes the reins of president of Assovini Sicilia, a group of 100 of the region’s leading producers, from Count Laurent Bernard de la Gatinais, of Tenuta Rapitalà in Palermo province, who has now concluded his three year term as president of the organisation. He remains on the new board of directors for Assovini Sicilia.

Speaking about her appointment to the role, Cambria said: “I want to thank all the board for the support. Assovini Sicilia is an association with many layers. My goal is to honour the legacy and strengthen the spirit of the association by working and supporting both the big and the small associates. I want also to promote Sicily abroad through the wine, since the wine world and its culture, diversity, excellence, is the best way to promote Sicily.”

Fazio’s Lilly Ferro has been appointed as vice president, and Donnafugata CEO José Rallo has been given responsibility of the organisation’s finances.

Assovini Sicilia’s primary purpose is to promote Sicilian wine. As part of this, the group organises Sicilia En Primeur, where db spoke with Gatinais about the past, present and future of the island’s wine industry, and why he sees Sicily as a “wine continent”.

To read about nine of the main wine trends to emerge from this year’s Sicilia En Primeur, click here.