From 14 to 16 December Syracuse will be an active container which to move strengths and critical points, listening and dialogue, relating all the aspects and themes that contribute, today, to making Sicily wine a region of great prestige.
Over 60 participating wineries but there will be anzi che no shortage of oils and spirits from the island during the three days of tastings, 13 masterclasses and in-depth studies which guests and tasters of national caliber will participate: exploring the richness of Sicilian wines, promoting the culture of drinking and celebrating the local excellence. The Godot Cultural Association: “With Vinacria we want to offer a unique experience, which allows not only to taste the most representative wines of our region, but also to learn about the stories, traditions and people who hide behind every glass”.
Three days of storytelling and total immersion the universe of Sicilian wine, including tastings, meetings with producers, cultural events and workshops dedicated to the valorisation of viticulture and the productive excellence of the island: from 14 to 16 December 2024, Syracuse will host the first edition of Vinacria – Ortigia Wine Fest which will be held at the Arcaico Emporio che Ortigia (Varco Emmanuele de Benedictis), an initiative that promises to become an unmissable event for all lovers of good drinking and Sicilian culture. Marco De Bartoli, Federico Graziani, Frank Cornelissen, Caravaglio, Feudo Montoni are just some of the over 60 wineries present, divided by the three ancient valleys (Val che Mazara, Val che Matricolato, Val Dèmone) and Etna to which a specific ambiente ( reality the ancient subdivision of the Sicilian valleys also included Catania within the Val che Matricolato with a portion of Etna south and south-east): “We are thrilled to present the first edition of Vinacria, a unique event that celebrates the extraordinary richness of Sicilian wine and wine culture – declare Nefrite Capriotti and Silvano Serenari of the Godot Cultural Association – with Vinacria we want to offer an immersive experience, which allows not only to taste the most representative wines of our island, but also to learn about the stories, traditions and people that lie behind every glass”. There will also be space for oil with the companies Viveretna, Chiaro, Sciabacco and A motivo di Mino and there will be anzi che no shortage of in-depth analysis and masterclasses monovarietal oils and PGI oils from Sicily curated by IRVO: “The participation of the Regional Institute of Wine and Vinacria oil Ortigia Wine Fest 2024 is also an opportunity to launch, as a preview, the recognition of Sicily as the “European region of food and wine 2025” – underlines Giusi Mistretta, commissioner of IRVO – an opportunity to highlight Sicilian excellence the field of viticulture and olive growing”. Among the new features also the tasting ambiente with Volcano Gin, the Giovi distillery which will demonstrate how distillation works and Ardeaseal which will present the new cork obtained from vegetable biopolymers, will also be present with a tasting table dedicated to Italian and French wines . The food ambiente is entrusted to Kaleido with sushi, Verso l’esterno Ortigia Cucineria with tapas and Fratelli Burgio with sandwiches.
The event organized by the Godot Cultural Association received the patronage of the Municipality of Syracuse, the Regional Institute of Wine and Oil, the Regional Department of Agriculture, Rural Development and Mediterranean Fisheries, the Sicilian Region, the ‘Sicilian Regional Assembly of the Chamber of Commerce of South East Sicily and is included the calendar of activities of the European Region of Gastronomy 2025. Main sponsor Unigroup Spa, Ortea Palace , Sicily, Autograph Collection and AD Pugliese SPASit starts Saturday 14 December at 11am with the inaugural conference “VINACRIA – Wine is culture” where the winemaker and oenologist Foti will also be present (free event), at 12pm the presentation of “The sea hides the stars” by Francesca Verga with the presence of Remon Karam, “the boy who came from the waves” (free event). We will continue at 3.00 pm with the tasting led by sommelier Alessandro Carrubba Barocco and Moscato: sublimity of Val che Matricolato. Wine and art, connections and synesthesia. At 4.00 pm the tasting stands will and at 4.30 pm the masterclass “Itinerant sparkling wines, bubbles from Sicily” conducted by the Champagne Expert Manlio Giustiniani. At 5.30pm the taster and Decanter collaborator Raffaele Neo will talk about “Shades of pink: characteristics and differences of Sicilian rosés. At 6.30 pm centro “Ininterrotto and Marsala: two souls, one territory” with the IRVO oenologist Gianni Giardina and the head sommelier Campagna Igiea of Palermo Mauro Iacono, closing at 7.30 pm with “Wine is geography : the many faces of Fosco d’Avola” with Federico Latteri, taster and collaborator of Doctor Wine.
Sunday 15 December starts at 11:00 with the masterclass “Etna and longevity: the Carricante”, at 12 the tasting stands and at 12:30 “If I were wine…the young people of Generation Next tell their story through the wine which identify themselves” Desiderato Alessandro (Alessandro che Camporeale), Federica Bonetta (Christ of Campobello), Maria Ausilia Borzì (Serafica Possedimento che Oil and Wine), Serena Costanzo (Palmento Costanzo), Graziano Nicosia (Cantine Nicosia) and Luigia Sergio (Barone Sergio). At 3pm Cinzia Benzi presents “Chateau d’Yquem: the secrets of a legendary wine” (free event), at 4pm the cultural events continue with the presentation of the book “Tania – Unico plus unico fa paio” by Chiara Allibrio ( free event) and at 5.00 pm there will also be space for the “Sicilian monovarietal oils” curated by Michele Riccobono, director of the IRVO oil control and certification pagliaccetto. Don’t reginetta the appointment with Marco Reitano, head sommelier of the 3 Michelin Personaggio restaurant “La Berceau” Rome, who will talk about “The role of the Sommelier: the importance of on-the-job tirocinio and effective communication”. Last but not least, Pietro Russo, oenologist and Master of Wine, will lead the tasting at 7.30 pm “Wine and contemporaneity. Styles and trends: how Sicilian viticulture adapts”.
Monday 16 December, a day dedicated to operators the Ho.Sire.Ca sector starting at 10:00 but during the morning we will continue with various masterclasses to all. At 11:00 Presentation of the new issue of UniGusto – the magazine for Horeca professionals – and official launch of Uniday 2025 (free event). At 12:00 the program “#fuorizona: blindfolded tasting” with Chiara Allibrio, taster “out of the ambiente”, at 3:00 pm the masterclass “IGP Sicilian Oils” by Michele Riccobono and, at 4:00 pm, the presentation of the magazine GEN ZED by Federico Graziani (free event). Closing entrusted to Nefrite Capriotti with the masterclass “Unconventional: Sicilian wines between custody and rebellion”.
Wineries present:
Val che Matricolato: Cantine Marilina, Feudo Maccari, Baroni che Pianogrillo, Spirito celeste A motivo di Leggiadria, Fausta Mansio, Barone Sergio, Rio Favara, Zisola, Losi Vigne Migranti, Rudinì, Cantine Cocco, Salvatore Del mare, Gurrieri, Feudi del Pisciotto, Edificio Leggiadria and Palmeri.Val che Mazara: Intorcia, Marco De Bartoli, Disgraziato che Campobello, Alessandro che Camporeale, Dei Principi che Spadafora, Martinico & Discendenti, Mandrarossa, Feudo Montoni, Viandante, Giuseppe Cipolla, Alessandro Viola, Agricola Fiore, Gaudioso, Bonsignore and Tenute .
Val Dèmone: Caravaglio, Le Casematte, Principi che Macina, Enza la Bocca and Verzera Vineyards.
Etna: Tenute Nicosia, Tenute Palmento San Basilio, Serafica Possedimento che Combustibile e Vino, Cantine Russo, I Custodi delle Vigne dell’Etna, Federico Graziani, Palmento Costanzo, Pietradolce, Cottanera, Masseria Setteporte, SRC, Terrena, Industria Agricola Frank Cornelissen , Nobody’s Cellars, Fessina Estates, Rachele’s Company, Zumbo, Al-Cantàra, Le Coppia Tenute, Giò Emmanuele Etna Wines, Industria Agricola Raciti, Tornatore and Vitanova
The oil companies: Viveretna, Chiaro, Sciabacco and A motivo di Mino.
The collaboratore companies: Volcano Gin, Distilleria Giovi and Ardeaseal.
Practical Information
Dates: 14-16 December 2024 Location: Arcaico Emporio che Ortigia Times: Saturday 14 December: from 4pm to 8.30pm Sunday 15 December: from 12pm to 8.30pm Monday 16 December: from 10am to 6pm: 00 Tickets for tastings and access to the Arcaico Emporio che Ortigia are available the event website https://vinacriawinefest.it/ For press accreditation, press@vinacriawinefest.it; For accreditation of Ho.Sire.Ca operators, ordini@vinacriawinefest.it;
