Luca Zaia, Italy's Minister of Agriculture Makes Announcement with Walter Brunello, Chairman, Buonitalia SpA, Aniello Musella, Italian Trade Commissioner, Executive Director for the USA and Giovanni Mantovani, CEO of Veronafiere at Italian Wine and Food Press Briefing and Tasting at New York's Famed Del Posto Ristorante

NEW YORK, Oct. 22 /PRNewswire/ -- Minister Luca Zaia, the Italian Minister of Agriculture, presided over a tasting today to mark the close of the Vinitaly World Tour USA, and took the occasion to announce plans for VINO 2010 Italian Wine Week in New York. The VINO 2010 program, created and implemented under the auspices of the Italian Ministry of Agriculture and the Italian Ministry of Economic Development, is sponsored by Buonitalia SpA (an organization dedicated to promoting authentic top quality wines and foods of Italy), the Italian Trade Commission and Veronafiere (the host of Vinitaly).

"I'm proud to announce this exciting world tour to showcase a representation of Italy's best wines," said Minister Zaia. "I'm also very proud of VINO 2010 the groundbreaking collaborative effort by three of the leading organizations in Italy dedicated to introducing and educating the world about one of Italy's greatest patrimonies: our wines and our cuisine."

Lidia Bastianich, the renowned and beloved television show host, restaurateur and co-owner of Del Posto Ristorante, prepared the menu for today's tasting. "Italy is my heritage and Italian cuisine is my passion," said Lidia. "I'm honored to participate in this noteworthy event and lend my voice to the effort to educate Americans and the world about our wonderful foods and wines."

Walter Brunello, Chairman of Buonitalia SpA, added, "Our mission is to educate food lovers around the world about the quality of our traditional foods, and the rigorous standards under which they are produced. We are proud not only of the delicious taste for which Italian cuisine is world-renowned, but also the health characteristics of our DOP and IGP foods."

VINO, the Italian Wine Week, is scheduled for the first week of February 2010 in New York City. "We look forward to working with our partners at Veronafiere and Buonitalia SpA to make VINO 2010 the best expression ever of Italian wines in the U.S.," said Aniello Musella, Italian Trade Commissioner, Executive Director for the USA.

"What would great food be without an accompanying glass of wine?" stated Giovanni Mantovani, CEO of Veronafiere. "In Italy food goes with wine and vice versa, and that is something we are dedicated to teaching the world."

In order to help Americans better understand the world of Italian wines, Vinitaly published Hugh Johnson's 'Mini-Guide to Italian Wines.' "Wine lovers often complain that Italian wines are difficult to understand. There are in excess of 100 grape varieties in regular use and hundreds more in limited use," says Mr. Johnson. Walter Brunello, Aniello Musella and Giovanni Mantovani embraced the opportunity to decipher the vast offer of Italian Wines in an accessible language in a concise format to help wine enthusiasts all over the world understand Italian wine. The mini-guide will be distributed throughout various cities where Vinitaly Tour will be present including New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Miami, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Beijing, Tokyo, Seoul, Moscow, Sao Paolo (to request a copy of the guide, email mtak@colangelopr.com).

About:

Buonitalia SpA (http://www.buonitaliaspa.it)

Italian Trade Commission (http://www.italtrade.com)

Veronafiere (http://www.veronafiere.it)

SOURCE VINO 2010

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RELATED LINKS
http://www.italtrade.com
http://www.buonitaliaspa.it
http://www.veronafiere.it