Anthony Savvides – Montefalco, a small town located in central Umbria, hosted the 33rd Enologica Montefalco, an annual wine tasting event, last weekend, from September 14-16. Enologica33 celebrated the region’s Sagrantino wine, a staple for regional and national wine connoisseurs. Enologica33’s theme was “Sagrantino, per tradizione, per contrasto, per amore!” which translates to “Sagrantino, by tradition, by contrast, for love!”
The three-day celebration of Montefalco’s local wines included live musical performances, book presentations, wine tastings along the “banco d’assaggio dei vini di Montefalco” (tasting table of the wines of Montefalco) and promoted the traditional local cuisine. The first two days of the festival were packed with live jazz musical performances, the result of collaboration between Baroque Music, the Young Jazz Festival and the 2012 Segni Barrochi Festival. The concerts took place along Corso Mameli and at the Complesso di S. Agostino, celebrating classical composers including Bach, Vivaldi and Lasso.
On Saturday and Sunday, guests enjoyed “la passeggiata dei sapori sulla strada Sagrantino” (the walk of tastes on Sagrantino way), which allowed for visits to two wine cellars in the area. Many of the wine cellars in the area also offered visitors a chance to tour the farms and vineyards, and in addition to the “banco d’assaggio” located in the Complesso di S. Agostino, on Corso Mameli, there was also “a scuola di assaggio” (school of tasting) led by expert sommeliers. Twenty local wineries offered their best wines to the three-day celebration, to the delight of all in attendance.
Enologica33, while a fun and social event for wine lovers, also had serious underlying themes: the green economy, sustainability, and the promotion of the local, indigenous wine variety, Sagrantino. There were conferences held throughout the weekend, featuring a discussion with Attilio Scienza, the president of the department of viticulture and enology at the University of Milan, and Paolo Ricotti, founder of “Planet Life Economy Foundation.” The discussion panel was hosted by: Fernanda Cecchini, director-general for Agriculture and Rural Development of the European Commission; Mauro Rosari, the director of the Qualivita Foundation; Oscar Farinetti, creator of Eataly; and Roberto Arditti, the director of communications and external affairs for Expo 2015.
Enologica33 wrapped up its three-day long celebration with a parade through the city on Sunday, September 16. Floats filled the streets, as various neighborhoods and wineries proudly represented themselves and wine products for the many locals and tourists present.
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