Regional Institute of Wine and Oil

PRODUCTION AREAS BECOME A TOURIST DESTINATION, THE SICILIAN SPARKLING WINE NETWORK IS BORN

IRVO, in synergy with AIS Sicilia, at "Sicilia in Bolle" launches the integrated and shared development process for the production of excellent sparkling wines.

 

Sicily, the home of sparkling wine, is a destination to be explored, with its wine and landscape treasures, its centuries-old production of iconic locations that food and wine tourists increasingly favor as destinations of excellence. Sparkling wines and the island at the center of the Mediterranean Sea are a combination of discoveries made of recognizable aromas and identities. The region boasts a diversified production of sparkling wines, each with its own historical, architectural, and natural heritage. From each of the island's specificities and potential, a unique blend of XII edition of Sicily in Bubbles - The Conference "Sicilian Bubbles: From Enological Excellence to the Experience of a Territory", which will take place on Monday 13 July at 6.30 pm at the Madison in Via Panoramica 100 in Realmonte (AG).

The aim of the works organized by theRegional Institute of Oil and Wine (IRVO) in synergy with the Sicilian section of the Italian Sommelier Association is to open the dialogue between institutions and productive realities to start a new path in the footsteps of the "Manifesto of the Sicilian Sparkling Wine Network”.

The Manifesto, which will be signed during the event, could contribute to the development of wine tourism itineraries in Sicily that integrate wine, sea, archaeological sites, cities of art, historic villages, natural parks, and gastronomy into a single experience.

The idea of IRVO and theRegional Department for Agriculture, Rural Development and Mediterranean Fisheries It arises from an international vision which highlights how competitiveness in the wine markets is measured by the capacity to develop wine tourism in the production areas, therefore signing the network mission statement It means planning a new model that aims to unite Sicily's winemaking communities. The goal is to give voice to a shared and recognizable identity: Sicilian sparkling wine will become the gateway to itineraries that lead, stop by stop, to discover the identity of the places and the biodiversity of the grape varieties.

The Manifesto is based on listening and engaging with producers, on progressive collaboration with consortia, organizations, and institutions, on the shared definition of values, strategies, and objectives, and on a concrete commitment to the shared and lasting development of a unique territory with native grape varieties, historic vocations, and vibrant innovation. The conference Sicilian bubbles. From winemaking excellence to local expertise. – moderated by the journalist Antonio Iacona – will open with greetings from Francesco Baldacchino, president of AIS Sicily. The works will be started Giusi Mistretta, IRVO Special Commissioner, will present a presentation on the Manifesto, research activities, studies, and experiments evolving in Sicily. Speakers will include: Gioele Micali on the history and identity of places, Francesca Salvia with updated data on regional production from the IRVO Observatory and Luigi Salvo on new forms of communication and consumer trends. The focus will then shift from Sicilian sparkling wine production to other Italian regions: a comparison will be opened with Luca Manfredi on the Lambrusco case, Luca Giordana on the experiences of Asti and Alta Langa, Angela Di Lello on Abruzzo sparkling wines and Igor Gladich on the Lessini Durello Doc.

The work will continue with Pietro Pollara which will illustrate the production of the Assovini Sicilia companies, while Joseph Figlioli will explore the role of sparkling wines in regional winemaking and the possibility of building shared strategies.

The second part of the conference will be dedicated to the relationship between wine and territory. Marika Mannino will talk about slow tourism and the promotion of excellence, Mariagrazia Barbagallo of the wine tourism potential of Etna and Roberta Sallemi of South East Sicily as a development area for local and quality tourism.

The interventions will be closed by Marco Maccarrone, with a focus on Sicilian sparkling wine in the wine lists. The conclusions – entrusted to IRVO Sicily and AIS Sicily – will culminate with the signing of the declaration of intent of the Sicilian sparkling wine network.