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Italian Flavor Forum X
Loris Scagliarini – November 20, 2008
Photos by Alessandro DeSogos

Introduction • The Event • Buyers' Feedback • Blind Tasting • The Drawing • Centellino Team

Apart from the Centellino Areadivino, the Monferrato DOC Infinito, a blend of 60% Barbera d'Asti and 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, dominated the Italian Flavor Forum X. In addition to scoring 97.5 points along with the excellent Olivolo – Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil IGP Toscana by Azienda Agricola Buccelletti - Casali in Val di Chio, it came in at the top of the blind tasting in which three quality Italian wines faced off against three American wines of similar type and price.

On November 12, 2008, at San Francisco's Golden Gate Yacht Club, the tenth Italian Flavor Forum, dedicated in particular to presenting the Centellino Areadivino, the amazing top-of-the-bottle aerator which oxygenates the wine naturally and in real time, officially to the local press. The Centellino, designed and produced in Italy by Table Top and imported to the US by WineCountry.IT L.L.C., opens the aroma and flavor of a wine while it pours into the glass, obtaining results comparable to letting the wine breathe for a couple of hours in a regular decanter.

A few months back, California-based WineCountry.IT L.L.C. agreed to import the Centellino Areadivino exclusively to the US, distributing it directly in California while contracting with Missouri-based Fiorino Italian Imports L.L.C. to distribute it in the other 49 US states.

From Left: Claudio Faggi, general manager of Table Top, Joe Fiorino, managing partner of Fiorino Italian Imports, L.L.C., Loris Scagliarini, president of WineCountry.IT, Fabrizio Marcelli, Consul General of Italy in San Francisco.

For the first time, since we started organizing the invitation only Italian Flavor Forums for trade professionals and specialized press, we opened the show an half hour in advance for the press only, before opening the door to professional buyers, wholesale distributors and importers.

Jenny Snodgrass pours wine for a journalist

For the occasion, Massimo Menetti and Claudio Faggi, owner and general manager of Table Top, traveled from Tuscany to San Francisco, as Joe Fiorino, managing partner of Fiorino Italian Imports, L.L.C. came in from St. Louis, Missouri, to assist in the presentation and promotion of this appreciated wine accessory.

IFF X

WineCountry.IT had the honor of welcoming the Italian Consul General, Fabrizio Marcelli, who kindly worked around his busy schedule to participate in the show, as did Amelia Carpenito Antonucci, director of the San Francisco Italian Cultural Institute.

From Left: Fabrizio Marcelli, Consul General of Italy in San Francisco, WineCountry.IT president Loris Scagliarini, Amelia Carpenito Antonucci, director of the San Francisco Italian Cultural Institute, and Margherita Pagni.

For the tenth Italian Flavor Forum we decided to repeat the successful wine layout we presented in May, at the previous Italian Flavor Forum IX, separating the wines into four main groups, sparkling, dry white, dry red, and dessert wines, then setting them in order by region and by variety, closing with 18 Sangiovese-based wines, including 100% varietals as well as Super Tuscan blends. This way the buyers had the opportunity to better evaluate how the characteristics of wines made with the same grapes are affected by terroir, environment, and winemaking techniques.

Click on the labels above to see the label blow up and description.
Click on the rest of the bottle to read the wine characteristics.

First the guests were invited to taste the sparkling wines, which included two versions of Prosecco di Valdobbiadene DOC, the Brut, Ruio, and the Extra Dry, Gorio by Azienda Agricola Malibràn, plus the Rosato Italiano IGT, a rosé made with Lambrusco grapes and the red Lambrusco Emilia IGT from Azienda Agricola Mauro Zini.

The white wine table

Next, journalist and buyers were advised to taste the 17 white wines and 39 red wines from six different Italian regions, then to close the itinerary with three dessert wines from as many regions.

Master Sommelier Dan Gulbronson, Grande Echanson and Echanson Provincial of the Committee for the Société Mondiale du Vin (French for World Wine Society) consults the show catalogue to decide what to taste next.

The totally new item at our Italian Flavor Forum event this time was quality wine in a box. Because of the state of the economy, which forces most of us to mind our expenses, our Italian marketing manager, Cristo Lepori, scouted boxed wine whose quality/price ratio is inviting. Since we do not have experience with this type of product, we asked for the help of our guests in figuring out if we should start importing it.

Wine in a box from Apulia

Altogether we presented 63 limited production Italian quality boutique wines, four boxed wines, and three organic extra virgin olive oils. The breakdown by region of the wines and olive oil producers presented, was the following:

• Tuscany: 28 wines and 1 extra virgin olive oil,
• Piedmont: 11 wines,
• Apulia: 7 wines and 2 organic extra virgin olive oil,
• Veneto: 5 wines,
• Friuli Venezia Giulia: 5 wines,
• Sardinia: 5 wines,
• Campania: 4 wines,
• Emilia Romagna: 2 wines.

The Italian dessert wine table

In addition to the Centellino, which comes in three sizes for wine, dessert wine, and liquors, and improves the tasting experience of the guests greatly, we present other products from the Table Top catalogue. Gift boxes with one Centellino for wine holding 125 milliliters, or the correct pour for a wine glass order, with the space for one bottle of wine, to fill with one's favorite varietal; others with one Centellino and two 500-milliliter, or 300-milliliter wine glasses. Still others had four 200-milliter glasses and one 60-milliliter Centellino for dessert wine, and six 60-milliliter liquor glasses with one 35-milliliter Centellino.

Table Top products, imported to the US by WineCountry.IT

Unfortunately, a cargo with 300-milliliter and 500-milliliter glasses shipped from Italy and due before the tasting, was delayed and did not arrived. The few lucky guests who got to use the few Table Top glasses available expressed their appreciation for the wide, generous glasses which allowed them to appreciate the scent of the wine while drinking.

Terry Sullivan serving wine with the top-of-the-bottle decanter, Centellino

In addition to the participation in the Los Angeles County Fair International Wine Competition of our two Prosecco wines produced by rising star Maurizio Favrel, which has been presented for a few years now, and the review of a couple of La Togata wines by Wine Spectator magazine, this year we presented a selection of wines from our portfolio to important US competitions, such as the National Women's Wine Competition and Pro Wine Buyer's Competition, obtaining the following gratifying results.

Guests from the Cello restaurant group. Sam Fard in sunglasses, the owner, is the second from the right.

Cristo Lepori, WineCountry.IT Italian marketing manager.

WineCountry.IT Cinzia Mandati entertains guests.

A rare quiet moment at the Sangiovese tables. Elke Reinhardt and Jenny Snodgrass
share a laugh with the photographer retained for the event, Alessandro DeSogos.

Networking

The Buyers' Feedback

David Meyer (right), Wine Club Host at Niebaum-Coppola's Rubicon Estate in Rutheford, CA,
chats with two other guests

The Best of the Show

• Best Overall Product:
  Tie between the two following products with 97.5 points each:
  • Monferrato DOC Infinito, produced by Poderi Rosso Giovanni, from Piedmont, and
  • Olivolo Extra Virgin Olive Oil IGP Toscana, produced by Azienda Agricola Buccelletti - Casali in Val di Chio, from Tuscany


• Best Sparkling Wine:
  Ruio – Valdobbiadene Prosecco DOC Spumante Brut, produced by Azienda Agricola Malibrán, from Veneto (93.5 points)
• Best Dry White Wine:
  Pinot DOC Colli Orientli del Friuli 2005, produced by Azienda Agricola Mosolo Gleni, from Friuli Venezia Giulia (88.84 points)
• Best Dry Red Wine:
  Monferrato DOC Infinito, produced by Poderi Rosso Giovanni, from Piedmont (97.50 pointso)
• Best Dessert Wine:
  Tre Colli Recioto di Soave DOC, produced by Azienda Agricola T•E•S•S•A•R•I, from Veneto (92 points)
• Best Extra Virgin Olive Oil:
  Olivolo Extra Virgin Olive Oil IGP Toscana, produced by Azienda Agricola Buccelletti - Casali in Val di Chio, from Tuscany (97.50 points)
  

One guest scoring the wines tasted

More scores

Elke Reinhardt pours the Super Tuscan Azzurreta aerating it with the Centellino

Elke Reinhardt describes the characteristics of the wines at her table

WineCountry.IT's Michelle Keene (left) pours the single vineyard
Barbera D'Alba Superiore DOC Vigna del Carlinet for a guest.

Myriam Johnson, our trustworthy catering lady, (right) describes the five varieties of cheese offered.
At the forefront are featured the organic extra virgin olive oil from Tuscany and Apulia.
Click on the bottles above to read the characteristics of the olive oil.

From Left: Cristo Lepori, WineCountry.IT marketing manager for Italian operations, Loris Scagliarini, WineCountry.IT president, Angelene Janusonis of Gea Wineworks Canada, who flew in from British Columbia to participate in the Italian Flavor Forum X.

The Blind Tasting

The all-American jury who participated in the blind tasting face-off between three Italian and three California wines, similar by grapes, characteristics and price, included:

• Lisa Feltis German, CS, CSW – Wine Educator
• N. Jorgensen – Sommelier, Fine Wine Collector
• David Mayer – Wine Professional, Wine Club Host at Niebaum-Coppola's Rubicon Estate
• Mike Hokker – Importer
• Tony Mack – Event Planner, Caterer
• David Robert – Psychologist, Investor in Lark Creek Group and Richmond Country Club
• John Hannin – Attorney, Wine Lover.

The Blind Tasting

The Italian wines:

1. 2004 Monferrato DOC Infinito, produced by Poderi Rosso Giovanni, Piedmont
2. Azzurreta Toscana IGT 2006 Super Tuscan, produced by Tenuta La Carlina, Tuscany
3. Perbacco Maremma Toscana IGT 2006, produced by Azienda Agricola La Carletta, Tuscany

The Italian wines

The California wines:

1. Super Tuscan 2006, produced by Picchetti Winery, Cupertino, CA
2. James Vineyard Sangiovese 2005, produced by J. Keverson Winery, Mendocino County, CA
3. 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon, produced by PB Hein Vineyards, Napa Valley, CA
   

The California wines

The 2004 Monferrato DOC Infinito by Poderi Rosso Giovanni, from the Italian region of Piedmont, made with 60% Barbera D'Asti and 40% Cab, won the face-off with a total score of 65, or an average score of point 9.286 on a ten scale point.

The Drawing

Among all the feedback forms returned to us with the product evaluations by our esteemed guests, we draw one form and awarded the lucky guest one bottle of the rare Brunello di Montalcino DOCG Riserva La Togata 2001 worth $150, which received 96 points from the Wine Spectator magazine, with the comment:

"Black as night, with aromas of blackberry, violet, flowers and Indian spices. Full-bodied, with loads of tannins, but ultra-refined. Very long and beautiful, with great texture. This is 1997 again. Best after 2010. 500 cases made."

The lucky winner turned out to be Ms. DeAnna Alba, manager of the National Women's Wine Competition.

WineCountry.IT Team, Friends & Associates

Cara Cacciatore, Event Planner & Marketing

Andy Giardina, Marketing

John Dawdy, Vice President of Wine Country.IT

Michael De Alessi, Sales

Michelle Keene, Sales

Elke Reinhardt, Friend (left) and Jenny Snodgrass, Sales

Brigit Solé-March, English Editor in Chief

Terry Sullivan, Friend

Tor, Friend

Shirley Johnson, Friend

Myriam Johnson, Caterer

Joe Fiorino, Head of Fiorino Italian Imports, L.L.C.


Cristo Lepori, Marketing Manager Italy

Cinzia Mandati, Sales; Loris Scagliarini, WineCountry.IT President.

Massimo Menetti, Owner of Table Top (left); Claudio Faggi, Marketing Manger of Table Top (sitting);
Massimo Margelli, WineCountry.IT's General Manager of Sales and Distribution.

Claudio Faggi of Table Top

The Centellino Team Usa 2008: Loris Scagliarini, Claudio Faggi, Joe Fiorino, Massimo Menetti