Borsa Vini Italiani is the annual official trade tasting organised by the Italian Trade Agency, the trade promotion section of the Italian Embassy in the UK. It offers Italian wineries, both well-known and lesser-known, the opportunity to showcase their wines to target UK buyers, importers, wine merchants and sommeliers.
Borsa Vini Italiani is returning to London on June 4
Featuring a diverse range of wines, from renowned classics to hidden gems from all over Italy, this year’s event will see almost 200 wines and over 40 specialist producers take part giving buyers the chance to taste wines many for the first time in the UK.
As Giovanni Sacchi, director of ITA London, says: “Borsa Vini Italiani serves as a dynamic showcase of Italian wines, reflecting the evolving preferences and trends within the UK market while offering attendees the opportunity to explore the breadth and depth of Italy's wine offerings. As we know, the UK market is a prevalent destination of Italian wine and beverage exports. We are confident that this year’s Borsa Vini Italiani will be fruitful in encouraging new business partnerships to strengthen and widen the presence of Italian wines in this country.”
Borsa Vini Italiani offers an opportunity for buyers to taste a diverse range of Italian wines at one event
The event has been set up to give buyers the chance to talk directly to producers looking to distribute and list their wines in the UK who will be attending the Royal Horticultural Halls in London in person to showcase the very best of Italy’s diverse range of wines from across the country.
Diversity and choice
With over 200 wines from more than 40 specialist producers, potential buyers will be able to sniff and swirl their way through a great selection of wines from much loved classics to lesser-known gems, all conveniently situated under one roof.
Both indigenous and international varieties will be available to taste, enabling visitors to experience for themselves the richness and sheer diversity of Italy’s viticultural scene.
The tasting will include wines from 13 of the 20 key producing regions including Abruzzo, Campania, Umbria, Piedmont, Lombardy, Calabria, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Veneto, Apulia, Tuscany, Marche, Sicily and Sardinia.
Additionally, the event will highlight premium Italian wines from a select group of winemakers, underlining the country’s long history and tradition of winemaking expertise and terroir-driven expressions.
There will also be a focus on wines made by more experimental producers using innovative winemaking techniques, including orange wine, canned wines, piwi and other alternative styles, enabling distributors to offer buyers something a bit out of the ordinary.
Sustainable wines
Borsa Vini Italiani will feature 41 producers from across Italy
A number of wineries which are putting sustainability and organic practices at the forefront of their business, highlighting those producers whose work practices align with their efforts to work with the environment will also be exhibiting.
Crucially some of the producers will be seeking representation within the UK market for the first time, providing an unparalleled opportunity for distributors, trade professionals and importers in the UK keen to add quality Italian wines to their portfolios. This underscores the event’s importance as a key platform for connecting Italian winemakers with potential UK distributors.
Masterclasses
But it’s not just about tastings; Borsa Vini Italiani will also be running a series of masterclasses where attendees will be able to take a deep dive into sampling some of Italy’s most interesting wines and gain a better understanding of the country’s varied production and terroir, which even for the most seasoned wine expert will offers plenty of new discoveries.
These are integral parts of the event, offering visitors the chance to boost their knowledge and understanding of Italian wines, exploring particular aspects of the industry, and also to engage with erudite experts.
A masterclass at last year's Borsa Vini Italiani tasting
11am: International grapes in Italy: Where they shine and why
Patrick Schmitt MW and editor in chief of The Drinks Business, will lead a tasting of international grapes produced in Italy, and discuss how Italian producers have adapted the grapes and made them their own. Wines being sampled will include Chardonnay from Puglia and Sauvignon Blanc from Friuli, while on the red wine front Cabernet Franc from Umbria, Merlot from Friuli and Syrah from Tuscany are amongst the bottles being uncorked.
Whites to be tasted
Tinazzi, Cantine San Giorgio - Chardonnay Puglia IGP - TALETE
Abrigo Fratelli - Metodo Classico Alta Langa DOCG Chardonnay - SIVA'
Societa' Agricola Porto - Salice Salentino Bianco DOP Chardonnay - EVRA
Bidoli Margherita & Arrigo - Friuli Grave DOC - SAUVIGNON BLANC
Reds to be tasted
Empson&Co. - Cannonau di Sardegna DOC - JANKARA
Blasi Cantina - Umbria Rosso IGP - CABERNET FRANC
Usiglian del Vescovo - Terre di Pisa Rosso DOC Syrah - IL BARBIGLIONE
Il Roncal - Friuli Colli Orientali DOC - MERLOT
12.30pm: Family Estates: Unveiling lesser-known regions
Fellow MW John Downes will be holding a masterclass on those lesser-known regions of Italy, focusing on some distinctive family estates, including a Verdicchio, a Vermentino, and a Barbera d'Alba.
Whites to be tasted
Casa Lucciola - Verdicchio di Matelica DOCG - CASA LUCCIOLA RISERVA
Podere Marella - Umbria Vermentino IGT - FIAMMETTA
Reds to be tasted
Donvitantonio - Montepulciano D'Abruzzo DOC - LA FILOMENA
Green Valley - Nero d'Avola Sicilia DOC - SOLO NERO
Grandi vini del Salento - Negroamaro Salento IGP- NICKE'
Mario Costa - Nebbiolo d'Alba Superiore DOC - CIANIN DA STIVA
Massimo Rivetti - Barbera d'Alba DOC - FROI
Blasi Cantina - Umbria Rosso IGT - IMPRONTA
3pm: Unknown Italy: White wines from the South
Walter Speller will be hosting one of the three masterclasses on the day
In a third masterclass, trade consultant Walter Speller, and Editor Italy for JancisRobinson.com, will be leading the attendees in a tasting of white wines from the south of the country, including a Pecorino from Abruzzo, Falanghina from Campania and a Malvasia from Salento amongst those included in the line-up.
Wines to be tasted
Pesolillo - Abruzzo DOC - PECORINO SUPERIORE
Marramiero - Trebbiano d'Abruzzo DOC - ALTARE
Il Quarto Miglio - Falanghina Riserva Campi Flegrei DOP - MACCHIA BIANCO
Boccafolle Di Balbia - Terre di Cosenza Bianco DOP - DONNA ELENA
Cardone - Valle d'Itria Verdeca IGP - VERDECA
Conti Zecca - Malvasia Bianca Salento IGP - CALAVENTO ORANGE
Agricola Sant' Andre' - Vermentino di Sardegna DOC - CORONGIUALI
Ocone - Taburno Falanghina del Sannio DOC - VIGNA DEL MONACO
Borsa Vini Italiani has been organised to be particularly relevant to wine distributors and importers, who are amongst the event’s primary target audience. They will have the opportunity to build partnerships and collaborations with some of Italy’s leading wine producers, some of whom are seeking local distribution, as well as discovering new and unique Italian wines to add to their lists.
Restaurant and hospitality professionals will also find much of interest at the event, including wine buyers, sommeliers and restaurant owners who will all benefit from attending the event to track down top quality Italian wines for their lists.
Wine merchants and shop owners are another element of the trade which will find much of interest at the event, where they will be able to source Italian wines that will most appeal to their customers. They will also be able to build and develop relationships with producers and gain exclusive insights into the latest trends in Italian wine. The event should also be in the diary of professionals looking for networking opportunities, wine educators, wine journalists and bloggers.
Borsa Vini Italiani
Where: Royal Horticultural Halls, The Lindley Hall, 80 Vincent Square, London, SW1P 2PB.
When: June 4 2024, 10-30am – 6pm.
To register click here:
Visit the website and network with the participating producers: www.borsa-vini-london.co.uk.
