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GALA ITALIA
- THE
31ST EDITION IS A GREAT SUCCESS!
By: Gloria Consolacion T. Cressler, International
Correspondent
Photographs by: Bill Lee Lanndis
More than 300 of
the most famous, distinct and renowned American wine and
food editors participated at another fabulous event of
Gala Italia - the 31st Edition took
place February 18th held at
the Pierre Hotel in New York City. The success
of this challenging and prestigious event reached an
unprecedented high. The event celebrated and acclaimed
leading personalities who through their reputation,
accomplishments and
hard work dedicated their lives and careers to food and
wine. The President of the Italian Wine & Food Institute
Lucio Caputo presented well and was widely-applauded by
his welcome remarks, in which he highlighted the success
achieved by Italian wine in the U.S. with over 3.5
million hectoliters for a value of $1.5 billion exported
to the U.S. in 2015.
GALA ITALIA featured a tasting of select wines from
major reputable Italian wineries (particularly those
that appeal more successfully to the American market)
and a Gala Dinner that comprised
of nine great wines paired with their
favorite five-course meal. Over
300 guests attended the tasting event at the Pierre
Hotel in their elegant ballroom where all the guests
enjoyed the delicious food and the smart pairing of the
superb wines. This
was specially designed to give maximum tasteful emphasis
to the presenting of the wines.
Three thousand Luigi Bormioli Parma glasses were placed
on top of special “Glass Mats” on the guests’ tables and
illuminated by candlelight giving a beautiful ambience
to the ballroom and further emphasizing the wines. The
dinner was enhanced by a presentation of men’s fashion
house, Eredi Pisanò of Rome which enjoys great success
in the American market thanks to its stylish, chic,
high-quality manufacturing of Italy.
Awards were presented to some who contributed most to
the affirmation of Italian wines. The
night began with the Italian
Wine Excellence Award - given
to Adam
Strum, Publisher
and Editor of Wine Enthusiast, who, after taking a trip
to Verona with Dr. Caputo to visit Vinitaly (in the
1980s), discovered Italian wine, which he has since then
always promoted. The IWFI President Dr.
Lucio Caputo when giving awards was thanked personally
by the awardees in
their acceptance remarks.
All the award recipients stressed how Italian wines have
become part of their lives and for the sublime
opportunity to discover and appreciate them all these
past years, and particularly flattering were the
comments made by Wine Enthusiast Editor Adam Strum.
Next in line was the Wine
Leader Awards presented to John
Mariani, the well-known journalist and author
of best-selling books, including How
Italian Food Conquered the World, then Florence
Fabricant,
the famous New York Times reporter and icon of American
journalism followed by Mary
Ewing-Mulligan MW, the Director of the
International Wine Center and the first American woman
to be awarded the title of Master of Wine. Several restaurateurs were
also awarded, first was Sirio
Maccioni who
had elevated Italian gastronomy to unprecedented levels,
and Fabio
Granato, who, with Vittorio
Assaf spread
high-quality Italian wine and food across the world
through their restaurant Serafina.
The tickets sold amazingly fast, a
week in advance. GALA ITALIA was strictly reserved to
the most qualified American wine and food press one
could see the presence of the hundreds of the most key
and salient TV and print journalists, including guests
from Wine Spectator and Wine Enthusiast, as well as many
distinguished authorities, such as Consul Isabella
Periotto, and FDNY Commissioner Daniel Nigro. In
attendance was yours truly, Gloria T. Cressler
International Editor and Host of Black Tie International
Magazine with photo Journalist Bill Lanndis also with
Black Tie Magazine who took great photographs of noted
and influential wine producers, their fabulous programs,
and of their significant representatives.
Great wine tastings were made available early evening
complemented with remarkably good tasting food from
several restaurants. In
addition to the wines presented during the Wine & Food
Tasting, guests were served nine high-quality wines
briefly illustrated by the wineries’ representatives all
had traveled to New York to attend this dinner. The
wines were presented in following order: Ferrari,
Riserva Lunelli, Trento DOC, 2006; Planeta, Chardonnay,
Sicilia IGT, 2014; Tenuta Santa Caterina, Silente delle
Marne, Monferrato Bianco DOC 2013; Marchesi Antinori,
Villa Antinori Chianti Classico DOCG Riserva, 2011;
Tenute Lunelli, Carapace, Montefalco Sagrantino DOCG,
2008; Condè, Sangiovese di Romagna DOC Riserva, 2008;
Mezzacorona, NOS Teroldego Rotaliano DOC Riserva, 2007;
Bertani, Villa Arvedi, Amarone della Valpolicella
Valpantena DOCG, 2012, and Sorrentino, Fior di Ginestre,
Passito IGT Pompeiano, 2011. I
personally tasted every one of these wines and they were
all excellent.
GALA ITALIA’s prominence is due
to it being the
longest running “Made in Italy” promotional event in the
world (excluding fairs). Mayor of New York Bill de
Blasio provided a personal message offering his “many
thanks” to and congratulating the Italian Wine & Food
Institute and the
participating companies, the journalists and the
prestigious award-winning personalities. A polished
colorful program detailing all the information of the
event was specially prepared for GALA ITALIA and was
organized by the Italian Wine & Food Institute under the
patronage of the Italian Ambassador to Washington, and
under the sponsorship of the Italian Ministry of
Economic Development and the ICE - Italian Trade Agency.
We want to commend them all for a job well done,
especially to hardworking Dr. Lucio Caputo (President of
the International Wine and Food Institute) and his staff
for another successful annual event, and the Italian
Ambassador of Washington DC and the Italian Ministry of
Economic Development and the Italian Trade Agency. We
also thank all the wine producers and there
representatives who participated in this event and all
the support of our guests. We can hardly wait for the
next year’s Gala. Join us at this event next year by
emailing Dr. Caputo at iwfi@aol.com or
check out their website: www.iwfinews.com
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