Calabria protagonist at Vinitaly & Sol 2024: new spaces, quality wines and oils

Calabria is preparing for Vinitaly, the international wine and spirits fair which will be held in Verona from 14 to 17 April, in parallel with Sol&Agrifood, the exhibition dedicated to oil. At Vinitaly, in particular, they will be over 80 Calabrian wineries, for the first time together in a single, constantly expanding exhibition space, equal to approximately 1.400 m² in pavilion 12, with new installations and many new features, not least the glass from which Rai will tell the whole world about the days in Verona. Equally significant is the data relating to the sister event of Sol, within which - inside pavilion C/2 A - they will find hospitality 16 Calabrian companies, also protagonists of a packed lineup of tastings, meetings and lessons, in the wake of a history that has its roots in Enotria and Magna Graecia, the spirit of a rebirth supported by a fermenting passion.

“A nice business card for our Region – comments the President of the Council, Roberto Occhiuto – to best present the resources and talents of an extraordinary land. Calabrian food and wine excellences are configured both as a marker of cultural and productive identity and as an element of economic development. We must exploit every possible opportunity to make our qualities known to the country and the world, to attract interest, investments and tourism. Vinitaly represents a great opportunity for Calabria and its entrepreneurs."

Adds the regional councilor for agriculture, Gianluca Gallo: “wine and oil are two pillars of the history and economy of Calabria. In the last three years, both sectors, despite the economic difficulties of the world economy, have recorded significant growth in terms of production and turnover, but also in terms of innovation and competitiveness, also thanks to the commitment of the younger generations. It is an effort that must be supported, also on the promotion side, as has been done continuously for some years now."

The calendar of events is rich and varied, curated by the Calabria Region and Arsac, in collaboration with the Consortia for the Protection of Wines and the Calabria PGI Oil Consortium.

Of note, among many: on the Vinitaly side, Sunday 14 April at 10.30, appointment with Cirò according to Luke, with Luca Gardini, editor of the Espresso wine guide. At 12, room for Verticals of Vertical, with Matteo Gallello and Jacopo Cossater, engaged in a special multi-year tasting of two Calabrian wines.

Again: at 14pm multi-voiced discussion on wine and future collaborations between Vinitaly and Calabria, present were President Occhiuto, Councilor Gallo and the top management of Veronafiere, in the persons of President Federico Bricolo, CEO Maurizio Danese, and Commercial Director Raul Barbieri. With them, the director of the Museums of Calabria and the National Archaeological Park of Sibari and Crotone, Filippo Demma, and the journalist Andrea Radic.

The journey through the flavors and smells of Calabrian wines will also unfold in the days to follow masterclasses, dialogues in music and words (the one with the singer-songwriter Dario Brunori and the Rai journalists Tommaso Labate and Massimo Cervelli, on April 15th at 14.45 pm, is certainly interesting), round tables, cultural insights. Among these, the meeting for which the master goldsmith Gerardo Sacco is expected (15 April, at 14 pm), and, again, the meeting (Wednesday 17 April, at 10.30 am) promoted by Fivi Calabria, between winemakers and regional institutions, to discuss of the bill which provides for the recognition of the figure of the farmer as guardian of the environment and the territory.

Spotlight on also on the Sol for a Calabria holder of record numbers: 193.000 hectares of olive groves, an organic surface area (among the highest in Italy) equal to 36% of that used, 42 cultivars, 1.660 oil mills, 3 PDO, 1 PGI and one of the main oil productions in the country. In this regard, not to be missed are the debates on the role of extra virgin olive oil in the fight against tumors (on 14 April at 15pm, with the journalist Claudio Brachino and Massimino Magliocchi, president of the Consorzio Tutela Olio di Calabria Igp; Francesco Schittulli, president of Lilt; Fulvia Caligiuri, Arsac Commissioner, Gianluca Gallo, Regional Councilor for Agriculture) and the presentation (Tuesday 16 April, at 11am) of the Calabria olive growing plan, organized by Crea.