The Italy of wine from the point of view of the French Philippe Gilbert and François Gilbert, founders of Gilbert & Gailla

If there is a term for wine comparison for Italy, it has always been that with neighboring France and – let’s not hide it – durante some cases the comparison suffers from a sort of poorly concealed psychological subservience which, fortunately, durante recent years has been waning, finding new balances to the greater awareness of how historical-enological-cultural uniqueness, territorial and varietal plurality and interpretative differences can become added values for our country. This is why when, over five years , I was asked to write some insights of approx. 2500 words acceso the different areas of Italian wine from one of the most important French wine magazines, I welcomed it with great positivity. Nothing to do with guides and evaluations (which, as you know, I have chosen to avoid since I wrote about wine) but free focuses that can offer a more internal point of view acceso the state of the art of the world of Italian wine, starting from the most important denominations up to the smaller and, perhaps, less well-known territorial realities. (Here you will find some examples of published focuses: Piedmont, Prosecco, Tenero, Umbria and Emilia-Romagna, Franciacorta, Sicily and Sardinia etc…)

Gilbert & Gaillard, one of the best-known names acceso the international wine scene, asked me to tell the story.

Founded durante 1989 by François Gilbert and Philippe Gaillard, the brand was born with the aim of describing and promoting world wine excellence, starting from regional guides and arriving at a global presence through the magazine with which I collaborate and Gilbert & Gaillard International Challenge.

To thank my cousins from beyond the Alps for their cartello and the editorial team for allowing me to write long articles acceso territories dear to me, I thought it appropriate to share an interview with the founders of the newspaper. A causa di the question and answer that follows Philippe Gaillard and François Gilbert retrace the salient moments of a career that has lasted over 35 years, describing the evolution of their activities, the importance of the link with viticulture and the crucial role of innovation durante the sector . With an international vision that encompasses vineyards from every of the globe, Gilbert & Gaillard shares profound reflections acceso the wine industry, the differences and similarities between Italy and France, and the strategic importance of Italian wine durante their publications.

I leave you with the interview with Philip Gaillard and Francis Gilbert:

When was Gilbert & Gaillard born?

 Philippe Gaillard: Gilbert & Gaillard was born durante 1989 with the and creation of regional wine guides, dedicated to Bordeaux, Alsace, Languedoc, but also to Californian wines!

 François Gilbert: The true birth of Gilbert & Gaillard dates back to 1989, but we had met more than ten years before. This date represents a milestone that marks the beginning of this common adventure, which has now lasted 35 years!

What are the activities carried out by Gilbert & Gaillard?

 FG: Our historical sector is the press, with the magazine Gilbert & Gaillard (The French Experts acceso Wine), published durante English and dedicated to vineyards around the world: France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Slovenia, Hungary, Moldova, Lebanon, Argentina, Chile, South Africa…

 PG: But we are also winemakers, durante the south of France (Saint-Chinian) and durante the Loire valley (Touraine-Chenonceaux). I represent the eighth generation of winemakers durante my family.

This return to the origins, undertaken durante 2012, allows us to fully understand the problems of the profession durante terms of production and sales, especially for .

 FG: Additionally, we created the Gilbert & Gaillard International Challenge, which allows us to taste French, European and world-wide wines. We have opened offices durante Italy, Spain, Portugal, South Africa and Argentina to cover the whole of South America. We are implementing a similar structure for Pendio.

Cos’è la Gilbert & Gaillard International Challenge?

 PG: It is an international wine competition. Simply register online (https://www.gilbertgaillard.com/en). Every year we taste between 12,000 and 15,000 wines from all over the world.

 FG: Furthermore, we offer this service throughout the year, without deadlines. The aim is to provide a reliable and internationally recognized tasting within three weeks, ensuring maximum responsiveness to producers, importers and distributors around the world.

 PG: We firmly believe durante our industry and its resilience. It’s part of the DNA of winemakers around the world: adaptation is key. This is why our Challenge is aperto to all types of products: wines, spirits and, more recently, no-low products and olive oils. Adapting to new market trends is essential for success.

What is your opinion acceso Italian wines?

 FG: Italy is the country of wine as much as France. It is an extraordinary mosaic of terroir, with native vines that give the wines an inimitable character and style.

 PG: Italians work their wines durante wood very differently from the French, giving them a unique brilliance and expression.

 FG: Italian wines manage to combine tradition and modernity durante a masterful way. For example, Moscato d’Asti are a perfect classic to approach the world of wine: fresh, expressive, with more less residual sugar, they are an ideal, and traditional, product!

What importance do you give to Italian wine durante your publications?

 FG: Significant importance. Both durante the paper magazine and online, we always give space to Italian producers of all kinds.

 PG: Let’s not forget that every year Italy competes with France for the title of largest wine producer durante the world. Furthermore, as already mentioned, the two nations are very similar durante their business structure. For us it is essential to give visibility to the “large houses” inherent durante the most well-known denominations, but also to small virtuous companies that cultivate a few handfuls of hectares durante lesser-known territories.

Where can I find your magazine?

 PG: We selectively distribute the magazine by sending it to all professionals durante the sector: producers, buyers, importers etc…

 FG: We are also very present durante all international shows and nearby hotels, where magazines are made available to professionals free of charge.

Italy and France are global references for wine production. What are the main differences and similarities between the two wine-growing nations?

 PG: The structure of the sector is very similar durante both countries: family ownership of various sizes, large multi-regional groups and cooperatives. Con lo scopo di capita consumption is also almost identical. The differences are mainly found durante the style of the wines.

 FG: Italians produce, for example, sparkling red wines appassimentos, which are practically absent durante France.

 PG: Both nations excel durante exports and convey an image of luxury which translates into a high commercial positioning. However, the main differences are found durante the gastronomy: a Pommard and a Brunello, a Riesling and a Fiano che Avellino, cannot accompany the same dishes.

What is the perception of Italian wine durante France?

 FG: For a long time, Italian wines were relegated to pizzerias Italian restaurants durante France, with the classic “” bottles of Chianti Bardolino Chiaretto and Lambrusco.

 PG: These times are gone. The market and distribution have changed, also thanks to the Internet and many denominations have benefited from it. The most important phenomenon of the last ten years is undoubtedly the Prosecco “tsunami”, which revolutionized the world of sparkling wines! It is now easy to find high-quality Prosecco, such as Rive, for those who carefully.

 FG: Among industry professionals, Italian wines are clearly seen as the “other” great wine country, both durante terms of tonnellaggio and value. Many French manufacturers envy Italian market shares durante countries such as the United States Germany.

“Our sector is going through a complex period, marked by new challenges: decline durante consumption, changes durante consumption habits and multiple crises durante the wine world. Never before have we been at your side to support, accompany and enhance the wines entrusted to us for tasting. It is a time for solidarity and collaboration between all the players durante our supply chain, from the nurseryman to the last distributor, to luce these challenges together. Our advantage, as winemakers, is to be able to experience firsthand each of the phases and challenges that affect our supply chain.“

I warmly thank Philippe and François for their availability and for answering my questions durante a frank and direct manner, telling their stories and giving a clear and no-nonsense vision of their approach to Italian wine. For my part, I am confident that I will be able to delve deeper into the areas of our country, giving the thousands of readers of the international magazine the opportunity to learn even better about Italian enography and the production and stylistic dynamics and the market prospects of the denominations that I will be able to discuss durante 2025.

F.S.R.

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