Verona 12-16 November 2012

20th VINITALY INTERNATIONAL WINE COMPETITION:
NEW DATE, SAME SELECTIVENESS

21 juries at work for a total of 105 expert oenologists and journalists from all over the world; samples of wine entered from 22 countries; 18,000 glasses, more than 16,000 assessment cards and well over 230,000 intermediates assessments: these are the statistics for the most selective and popular international competition. The winners will be announced alongside the results of the International Packaging Competition, that took place on 6 November.

Verona, 13 November 2012 – Yesterday saw the onset of work for the Vinitaly International Wine Competition (www.vinitaly.it), scheduled 12-16 November in Verona.

Now at its XX edition, the most important, popular and selective wine competition in the world was carried forward from March to November. This decision was taken in order to ensure even better visibility for the competition and offer companies winning medals a boarder promotional showcase with a view to the Spring appointment with Vinitaly (scheduled 7-10 April 2013).

The International Competition Packaging was also moved to 6 November and for the first time the winners will be announced on 16 November alongside the wine competition. Wines taking awards in the two competitions will also be included in a series of promotional activities throughout 2013.

"Our goal," said Diego Valsecchi, Veronafiere Sales Director, during the inauguration, "is that this change will improve the results of companies that take advantage of this competition to emphasis, promote and enhance the excellence of their products."

The competition involves 105 jurors divided into 21 commissions comprising 2 Italian oenologists (appointed by the Association of Italian Oenologists and Wine Technicians), 1 international oenologist (selected by the Union Internationale des Oenologues) and 2 renowned international journalists (selected by Veronafiere).

Wine samples have been entered for the Competition from as far apart as Argentina, Australia, Azerbaijan, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, Macedonia, Mexico, Montenegro, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey and Hungary. The task will involve 18,000 glasses, compiling more than 16,000 evaluation boards and more than 230,000 individual tastings.

Organised by VeronaFiere–Vinitaly, the International Wine Competition is held in collaboration with Assoenologi and with the patronage of the Ministry for Agricultural, Food and Forestry Policies, the Ministry for Economic Development, OIV and the Union Internationale des Oenologues.

"OIV provides its patronage," says Director General Federico Castellucci, "not only because the competition uses our assessment system (and not all wine competitions do so) but also in view of the serious organisation demonstrated over these 20 years."

In order to ensure the utmost strictness, all wines entered in the Competition undergo a double blind anonymity and numbering process, the latter being is performed by Maria Maddalena Buoninconti, Notary in Verona and legal director of the Competition.

"It is also an extremely selective competition," says Giuseppe Martelli, Director General of Assoenologi, "since the regulations envisage assigning medals to no more than 3% of the entries."



Veronafiere Press Office
Tel.: + 39.045.829.82.42 – 82.85 – 82.10
E-mail: pressoffice@veronafiere.it - www.vinitaly.com