Wanna Go To Verona? A Wine Competition For All Wine Professionals in the USA by Philip S. Kampe

                                 A Wine Competition For All Professionals

**Winner Will Receive a Trip to Verona and Tuition to Attend the Second Annual Valpolicella Program in late January**

”It is our pleasure to welcome sommeliers, wine professionals and members of the media to the inaugural Valpolicella Education Program (VEP) competition in the United States this year,” says Director Olga Bussinello. “ It is our hope that whomever graduates from the VEP will be involved in the professional events of the Corsortium and will be an advocate for Valpolicellla wines within the market,”

The Consorzio Tutela dei Vini Valpolicella, celebrating 50 years of protecting and promoting the wine of the Valpolicella region in Italy, invites members of the wine trade and media to participate in an exclusive competition, with the winner receiving a full scholarship to attend the Valpolicella Education Program in Verona.

All who wish to participate must first take a qualifying online quiz, which tests familiarity with Valpolicella DOC wines: Valpolicella DOC, Valpolicella Rioasso DOC, Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG and Recioto della Valpolicella DOCG.

All entrants who pass the online qualifier will then be invited to the Eventi Hotel in New York City, on Tuesday, November 13^th, for a short in-person exam.

The VEP committee will select one winner from the group.

To participate, take the online questionnaire at: http://www.surveymonkey.com/r/8SYKY5L  before Friday, November 9^th. If you make it to the second round, the short in-person exam will take place at the Eventi Hotel (849 6^th Avenue, 2^nd floor, at 10am on Tuesday, November 13^th.

The competition and event are open to trade professionals and members of the media only. For more information, please contact the event organizer, Amber Gallaty, at amber@thegallavantgroup.com or visit http://www,consorziovalpolicella.it/en/

Philip S. Kampe

Philip.kampe@thewinehub.com 

                                                       Director, Olga Bussinello

The Valpolicella World As Seen by Olga Bussinello by Philip S. Kampe

Imagine the responsibilities of being the director of the Consortium for the Tutelage of Valpolicella Wines. Your responsibility is to be the voice of a region that has 19 municipalities, 114 companies, 2500 acres and produces 60 million bottles of wine.

                                                             Olga Bussinello

To be the voice of the winemakers, bottlers and producers of the region, only a dedicated person can take on the job effectively and live the life of Valpolicella as a lifestyle, day in and day out.

The person that lives and dreams the Valpolicella lifestyle is and has been for many years is Olga Bussinello, a woman whose blood is made up of the classic Valpolicella grape blend.

Her dedication to the Consorzio is unmatched.

Through the years I have seen the evolution of Olga Bussinello.

At my most recent encounter, her leadership and knowledge took center stage at the “Sustainable Winegrowing Summit 2018” in Verona, as well as her guidance with the release of the 2014 vintage at Anteprima Amarone.

Olga stressed the mantra, “RRR-Reduce, Respect, Retrench” in regard to the environmental sustainability and wealth of the land at the sustainable conference. She said that sustainability is the future communication for our wine and to communicate our DOP (Protected Designation of Origin) is another challenge for her and the 2347 grape growers, 7 cooperatives and 213 wine companies in Valpolicella,

Sales of Valpolicella wines are broken down in this order;
Valpolicella Ripasso DOC 45%
Valpolicella DOC 32%
Amarone DOC 22%

Olga elaborated on the 2017 harvest.
It was a good harvest-no hail, but, a lack of rain in both the spring and summer, which reduces the quantity of the grapes. Fortunately, analysis of the grapes is very positive. The 2017 batch has more sugar in the grape (higher alcohol) and more reservations, polyphenols and glycerin.

The wines that comprise Valpolicella generally have soft tannins, are well balanced and are very round on the palate. The majority of grapes used to produce Valpolicella are always an indigenous blend and are grown in three regions and thirteen valleys, each with a unique microclimate and soils ranging from limestone to volcanic.

Sounds like a lot going on , to you and me, in this region., but, with the leadership of Olga Bussinello there is nothing to worry about.

Look for the newest release, the 2014 Amarone DOC in your local wine shop, as well as the Valpolicella Ripasso DOC and the Valpolicella DOC.

After sampling any of these fine wines, you will understand why Olga Bussinello loves her job.

Philip S. Kampe
philipkampe@thewinehub.com

Sustainability Is The Theme Celebrating Valpolicella's 50th Anniversary by Philip S.Kampe

                                               50 Years of Valpolicella                 
                                                                            
To celebrate the 50^th Anniversary of the Valpolicella applellation,the Valpolicella Consorzio Tutela Vini prepared a special educational program that communicated the idea that terroir and sustainable farming practices attributed to both quality and value to the brand.

Hosts Andrea Sartori, President of the Consortium and Olga Bussinello, Director of the Consortium shared their views on the themed conference that focused on ‘Sustainability, Education, Internationalization and Made in Italy.’ The program highlighted the innovative, international and sustainable direction the appellation, with the help of the Consortium for the Tutelage of Valpolicella wines is taking.

”The commitment of the Consortium for the Tutelage of Valpolicella Wines is to achieve excellence in the vineyards, above all from sustainability and prosperity for the territory. The RRR-‘Reduce, Respect, Retrench’ program, which certifies environmental protection by companies, thanks to the adoption of innovative techniques in the vineyard and beyond. The Protocol began, in fact, both to respond to the increasingly determined consumer demand for wines that express the territory, as well a cleaner environment by the inhabitants of Valpolicella. The project in the first year involved 30 companies (wineries) and 1250 acres. In the second year, the number grew to 114 companies and 2300 acres. The next objective of the Consortium is to get 60% of the area planted in the next two years to follow the RRR, in Italian, ‘Reduci, Risparmia, Rispetta’ program. We hope, therefore, that as happened in recent years, more and more wineries in Valpolicella will decide to join this project that wants to make a whole green area, cutting edge with the main countries and certification bodies dedicated to sustainability throughout the world”  Olga Bussinello, Director of the Consortium

The Consortium for the Tutelage of Valpolicella Wines was founded in 1924. It is an association of grape growers, winemakers and bottlers of the Valpolicella region. The Consortium represents more then 80% of the producersand promotes activities to enhance the value of the territory. Promotion, such as the Anteprima Amarone event, help protect and promote the four PDO wines of the region, Valpolicella DOC, Valpolicella Ripasso DOC, Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG and Recioto della Valpolicella DOC.

The ‘Sustainable Winegrowing Summit (SWS) took place during my visit, as well as the Valpolicella Education Program, in collaboration with the University of Verona and the University of Milano. Candidates who passed rigorous tests will collaborate with the Consortium during the ‘Valpolicella 50^th Anniversary Tour; as well as future projects. .In a sense, they are Valpolicella Wine Specialists who can speak about Valpolicella, the territory, sustainability and the area halfway between Verona and Lake Garda. 80% of Valpolicella is exported and wine ambassadors are truly necessary to help promote the wines from the appellation.

Regarding the Sustainable Winegrowing Summit, leading figures from around the world discussed sustainable viticulture, with the goal of establishing an ethical model for wine production. Sustainable management of natural resources to the innovation of management practices and the need to adapt cultivation techniques for pedoclimatic changes are the three key issues explained Olga Bussinello. She went on to say that it has become urgent to reach a production model that takes account of these aspects, with the aim of increasing the protection and conservation of the resources and the environment. Following the RRR initiative, as mentioned earlier, is the goal. Monitoring the use of plant production products by producers is the key to environmental balance in the Valpolicella region. The host of the summit will change every year, in order to constantly encourage the dialogue between the certification bodies and the players in the wine world, in order to create an International Sustainable Winegrowing Network (ISWN)

To learn more about Valpolicella contact the Consorzio Tutela Vini Valpolicella at: info@consorziovalpolicella.it
Press: areastampa1@consorziovalpolicell.it

Via Valpolicella 57-37029 San Pietro in Cariano VR
Telephone +39 0457703194

Director: Olga Bussinello
President: Andrea Sartori

'Valpolicella receives 'Ethical Vineyard' Certification by Philip S. Kampe

                 
           

                            Olga Bussinello, Director of the Valpolicella Consortium




      

                         Christian Marchesini, Chairman of the Valpolicella consortium

We all love Valpolicella.

Since I was a kid, my parents boasted to their friends that their favorite wine was Valpolicella. They drank Valpolicella, not just for special occasions, but, for all occasions. In those days, the choice was somewhat limited versus today's crowded market.

Maybe my parents were on to something. As the years have progressed, the regard for Valpolicella has only grown. When the word, 'Amarone' is mentioned, everyone takes a pause in anticipation of sampling one of the world's most versatile wines.

Since my parents early Valpolicella days, the importance of authenticity for the consumer is important. To address that issue, the Consorzio Tutela Vini Valpolicella has adopted the 'RRR' certification process, a mark on the bottle will distinguish the authenticity of the bottles. 'RRR' stands for the 'Reduce Respect Retrench' project that certifies 'ethical vineyards'. What this means is that the vineyards receive certification after five years of work practicing sustainable vine growing and wine producing.

According to Olga Bussinello, Director of the Valpolicella Consortium, ' The Reduce Respect Retrench (RRR) certification was a necessary change to foster its spread even more and to reward the virtuous viticulturists who have followed the process in its pilot phase. This is the first certification of an area with an appellation 'startup' in Italy, shared and achieved with the support of local towns, partners in the project, which include 73% of the vineyard surface area in the Valpolicella appellation. Certifying an area entails understanding the landscape and that of the ecosystem, from resource management to safeguarding biodiversity, to the protection of a territory where professional viticulture and urbanization are side-by-side--which is just one chapter in the process.'

Christian Marchesini, Chairman of the consortium, adds to the conversation, by pointing out that, ' Consumers all over the western world demand even safer, higher quality and socially sustainable products.  A territory like Valpolicella, which has outstanding viticulture and tends to export 75% of its wines, cannot gloss over features like this, which affect the value of the bottle of wine. We are certain that the market in the United States , the main country we send Valpolicella to, will be happy will be happy to receive bottles with our new sustainable area mark on them.'

Valpolicella Facts:
61.8 Million Bottles Produced
$550 Million in sales
75% of bottles exported
2,347 grape growers
7 cooperatives
213 wine companies
275 bottlers
97% of grapes used are indigenous varieties

The grape breakdow:
70.4% Corvina grape
21.1% Rondinella grape
5.5% other varieties

Worldwide Sales:
45.3% Valpolicella Ripasso DOC
32.3% Valpolicella DOC
21.9% Amarone DOCG

The U.S, Valpolicella Market Sales:
21% Valpolicella Ripasso DOC
14% Valpolicella DOC
10% Amarone DOCG

The Valpolicella region is located north of Verona. It borders Lake Garda to the west and is protected by the Lessini Mountain range to the east and the north. The Verona foothills, known as the eastern Alps, are to the south.

Most of the wines under the Valpolicella DOC are red, using mostly indigenous grapes, as mentioned earlier.
Ripasso is the most popular style.

Developed in the late 1980's and bottles first by Masi,  the Ripasso style emerged. The technique involves using the pomace of leftover grape skins or using partially dried grapes and seeds from the Amarone fermentation and adding the remains during the Ripasso's extended maceration. This tends to boost the remaining yeast by adding better body, higher alcohol levels and smoothing the tannins, glycerine and some phenolic compounds

Much more in-depth information can be found at the Consorzio Per La Tutela website:
www.consorziovalpolicella.it 

Philip S. Kampe
philip.kampe@thewinehub.com 



             

                                                      Philip S. Kampe