They will be there Valley of the Temples and the Scala dei Turchi the locations chosen for the tenth edition of the wine event “Sicily in Bolle“, the sparkling wine festival organized by AIS (Italian Sommelier Association) Sicilyscheduled for June 29th and 30th, and July 1st.
The event “Sicily in Bolle” has now become a fixed summer event and always offers a complete overview of the styles and types of sparkling wines in Sicily. Last April it was Vinitaly in Verona, the international exhibition of wines and gods distillatesthe exceptional stage, for the presentation to the press and public of the most important and most awaited event of the Sicilian “tastevin”.
The event was born from a bet, today certainly won by a landslide according to the facts, by Francesco Baldacchino, now President of AIS Sicilywho in 2015 took up a provocation from a colleague, who unwisely claimed that it should have been prohibited, by law, to produce bubbles from Rome down. But today”Sicily in Bolle” is the manifestation regional most important, which concerns the sparkling wine sector, and the results highlight an increasingly growing sector. The idea is shaped between the late Alberto Gino Grillosommelier, and Francesco Baldacchino himself who, together with the AIS Agrigento Caltanissetta delegation and in the suggestive setting of the Scala dei Turchi Of Realmontethey manage to give life to an event that was unusual and singular for the time being Sicily.
There will be many new features for this one first edition double digit, which will be held on Saturday 29 June, Sunday 30 June and Monday 1 July, between Diodoros House in the fascinating Valley of the Temples and the Madison restaurant in Realmonte, where the natural manifesto is the splendid and very white Scala dei Turchi. For the first time it will take place wine competition “Alberto Gino Grillo Award“, which will involve three different panels: that of the technical commission of official tasters AIS Sicilythat of restaurateurs, led by the starred chef from Bologna Tony Lo Coco, and that of journalists, led by Federico Quaranta, author and RAI presenter.
“Since we have established the “Award“, – states Francesco Baldacchino, President of AIS Sicily – it has always been my and the staff’s desire to create a wine competition dedicated to Sicilian sparkling wines and give them their due tribute. Furthermore, it gives me great pride to host, in addition to the panel of tasters, also two thematic commissions with restaurateurs and journalists, who will choose their own for each category bubble favorite.”
There are four different categories of wines in the competition: sparkling, Charmat Method, Classic Method with rest on the yeasts for less than 36 months, and Classic Method with longer rest. Three le categorieson which i. will be evaluated samples: innovation, gastronomic combination and pleasantness. The wine, who among these will receive the highest judgment will receive a prize, offered by the Broggi company. Also planned is a conferencein collaboration with IRVO Sicilyentitled “Prospects of Sicilian sparkling wine between studies and experimentation”, in which Gaetano Aprile, director of IRVO Sicilia, and Riccardo Velasco, director of CREATE-VEResearch Center in Viticulture ed Oenology. Three will be tasted during the conference sparkling wines of the experimental cellar from Catarratto grapes, a vine today available in numerous facets. There will also be space for the second edition of mixology contest “Out with the Bubbles”.
“This year, in collaboration with the “Colomba Bianca” winery– explains Lillo Trupia, delegate AIS Agrigento Caltanissetta – we wanted to pay homage to the memory of Marisa Leo, barbarically murdered by her partner last September, naming the prize after her. Own Marisain fact, she was among the first to imagine the Sicilian bubbles protagonists of the summer cocktail, to the point of being the creator of the successful Lavyxology campaign”.
Then you can’t miss the “gala dinner“, immediately sold out in a few hours, which promises to be the most awaited moment of the three-day event. They will be of Tony Lo Coco of “I Pupi”, starred restaurant of Bagheriaand chef Salvatore Gambuzza of “Baron’s Tower” the four hands, which will compose the surprising menu. And masterclasses will also be held: four moments of in-depth analysis and exchange, dedicated to admirers of sparkling wines quality. They return to “Sicily in Bolle“, moreover, the Women of Wine who will open, with their appointment, the beginning of the event, followed closely by an in-depth study on sparkling wines from Catarratto grapes of nine Sicilian companieswith a buffet aperitif at the end of the first of the three days.
Special guest in this tenth edition will be the Consortium Of Franciacortaan emblematic area for 63 years national from the sparkling wine production with Classic Method; a singular one tasting of ten labels of excellence for the tenth birthday of “Sicily in Bolle“. Finally a Blind Tasting to know, understand and qualify a production philosophy, such as the No Dose. Last, but not in order of importance, the evening which over the years has increasingly become the point of reference for companies, distributors, sommeliers and for the many enthusiasts of the “sparkling” world. In fact, there will be 57 of them Sicilian wineries with their bubbles, flanked by two stalls dedicated to Women of Wine Of Puglia and to the bubbles of “heel of Italy“, and five are the prerogative of the cellars Guido BerlucchiLa Montina, Frescobaldi, Drusian e Cesarini Sforza. The gastronomic preparations will be by the Madison restaurant, while the evening will close with the now proverbial cutting of the cake, final sabrage and cocktail party, offered by “Amara”. There will also be an interesting surprise for all participants.
