Italian Wine News

Wine Oscars 2007
Staff Writer – June 17, 2007

The award Premio Internazionale del Vino (International Wine Prize), organized by the Associazione Italiana Sommelier Roma (Rome's Chapter of the Italian Association of Sommeliers, or AIS) in the evocative Parco dei Principi (Park of the Princes) of Villa Borghese, brought several Italian VIPs on the stage to deliver the awards to the winner in each category.

VIPs Antonella Clerici and Franco Maria Ricci presented the event in a show which was televised by national Italian TV channel RAI UNO and broadcast Saturday, June 16 2007 at 11PM. The event closed with a fabulous tasting of all the winning wines, assisted by the AIS sommeliers, who provided their experience and professionalism.

The various prizes were delivered by Pamela Prati, Antonella Elia, Gianfranco Vissani, Ela Weber, Albano Carrisi, the comedians of Colorado Cafè, Andy Luotto, Sergio Vastano and Riccardo Rossi, among others.

The winner of the 11 Wine Oscars are voted upon by the readers of DUEMILAVINI (AIS published Italian wine guide), BIBENDA magazine, and users of the web site with the same name. The readers voted three finalists for each category, and the winners were then selected among them.

In addition, Andrea Muccioli, founder of the Comunità di San Patrignano (community founded in the 80's to helps troubled youth, teaching them how to grow vines and make wine, among other activities), was awarded a Special Jury Prize. The award was delivered by Terenzio Medri, president of AIS and the Worldwide Sommelier Association.

Categories, Award Deliverers and Winners

Best White Wine
Collio Pinot Bianco 2005 - Picech / Cormòns (Gorizia),
Oscar delivered by Gioacchino Bonsignore.
This is one of the great white wines from Friuli, of which 3,000 bottles only are produced. It has great structure and is brilliant as the sun, with perfume of flowers and honey. In the mouth is round and soft, perfect to pair with porcini mushroom-based recipes. The producer is Roberto Picech, current manager of the family owned and run estate founded almost a century ago.
Best Red Wine
Brunello di Montalcino 2001 - Fattoria Poggio di Sotto / Montalcino (Siena),
Oscar delivered by Federico Quaranta and Tinto, hosts of the radio show Decanter.
The first vintage of Brunello produced by Piero Palmucci dates back to 1991. Since then, the Poggio di Sotto estate turned out perfect interpretation of the Sangiovese Grosso variety matured in the Montalcino terroir, producing Brunello in the traditional way, ageing exclusively in large barrels. The nose is engaged by the scent of ripe red fruits, ginger and licorice, and the wine feels like a silky caress to the palate. Excellent paired with partridge with truffles.
Best Sparkling Wine
Giulio Ferrari Riserva del Fondatore (Founder Reserve) 1997 - Ferrari / Trento,
Oscar delivered by Antonella Elia
The estate, founded over a century ago, produces around 5 million bottles each year, a large part of which is exported. The wine is made with Chardonnay grapes cultivated in the Trentino region, following the lead of Giulio Ferrari, who first planted the variety there at the beginning of the 20th century, after experimenting with the variety in in France. To the nose it reveals perfume of lavender and orange blooms, melon and bergamot. In the mouth it is fresh and long lasting. A precious wine for special occasions.

Best Dessert Wine
Malvasia di Lipari Passito 2005 - Florio / Marsala (Trapani),
Oscar delivered by Ela Weber
Florio wrote the book on Marsala, a typical dessert wine from the wine region with the same name which has become a landmark for the estate. In addition, the winery dedicated the same care to the production of other dessert wines made with local Zibibbo and Malvasia grapes. The Malvasia in particular hits the nose with an explosion of candied fruit and aromatic herb aromas, while to the palate it is sweet and balanced. Made with withered grapes, this wine matures in barriques and is perfect paired to great herb flavored cheeses.



	Franco M. Ricci with Count Gian Annibale Rossi di Medelana

Best Producer and Estates
Gian Annibale Rossi from Medelana di Castello del Terriccio, located in Castellina Marittima, in the province of Pisa,
Oscar delivered by Albano Carrisi.
The estate farm is huge, including 1,800 hectares (around 4,448 acres), in the Maremma Toscana area, not far from the Bolgheri hills. Gian Annibale Rossi di Medelana has owned the estate since 1975, and dedicated all his time to it since 1985, when he exchanged his pure blood racing horse interest for the wine. The property is comprised of 53 hectares (slightly over 130 acres) of vineyards, 60 (around 148 acres) of olive groves, surrounded by 800 hectares (over 1,976 acres) of wood, plus one horse breeding facility with around 100 horses. The jewels of the estate are represented by the Lupicaia wine, a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot with rich notes of citrus and spices, elegant and full-flavored.
Best Foreign Wine
Château Haut Brion 2003 - Château Haut Brion / Pessac Cedex (Francia),
Oscar delivered by Riccardo Rossi.
The name itself gives a shiver to knowledgeable wine buffs. The castle, surrounded by white protective walls inside which many historic figures found hospitality, was built by the De Pontac family in 1525. The wine is deep and potent, reminiscent of plums, wild berries, with mineral quality derived by the terroir where the grapes are grown. In the mouth it is extremely elegant, fresh, with lively tannins which do not interfere with the overall harmony which increase over time. It pairs perfectly with bird and game based recipes.
Wine with the Best Quality/Price Ratio
Contessa Entellina Tancredi 2004 - Donnafugata / Marsala (Trapani),
Oscar delivered by Pamela Prati
The Rallo family is used to the praises of his Ben Ryé Passito di Pantelleria dessert wine. In this case the wine is red and is a perfect expression of a rich, sunny terroir. The accessible price and the yearly production of 90,000 bottles makes it available to the average wine consumer. The maturation in small barrels produces fragrant notes of blackberries, blueberries and sweet spices, supported by the long finish of the Nero d'Avola and Cabernet blend. Is at its best when served with wild game.



	Luigi Cremona with Franco M. Ricci

Best Writer/Journalist
Luigi Cremona (Spirito di Vino and Touring Club magazines),
Oscar delivered by Sergio Vastano.
Well known and appreciated wine and food journalist, Cremona found his perfect environment at the direction of Spirito di Vino magazine, which takes advantage of the writer experience in all the sector's fields.

Best Restaurant Owner/Sommelier
Mariantonietta Caraccio - Le Cirque, New York,
Oscar delivered by Andy Luotto.
Mariantonietta comes from a family of restauranteurs. A sommelier who graduated from the Rome chapter of the Associazione Italiana Sommelier, she started her career at the famed family restaurant called Agata e Romeo, located in historic downtown Rome, near the landmark church of Santa Maria Maggiore. She started by managing a wine list of over 1,500 bottles, pairing it with the excellent cuisine of chef Agata and assimilating the customer care provided by Romeo. A year ago she went on her own with the opening of Le Cirque, in New York City. We wish her good luck.
Best Restaurant and Wine List
Ristorante Combal.Zero / Rivoli (Turin)
Oscar delivered by Gianfranco Vissani
The restaurant faces the Rivoli castle, home of the Museo d'Arte Contemporanea (Museum of Contemporary Art), at the doors of Turin. Owner Davide Scabin seduces and fascinates with his avant-garde cuisine, fruit of his wizardy, technical expertise, and experimentation, which surprises diners even in the preparation of typical traditional Piedmontese recipes.

Source: Lorenza Vitali
Tel.: +39 06 83396748 – Cell: +39 347 30 23 607

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Italian Wine News

Wine Oscars 2007 Staff Writer – June 17, 2007

Categories, Award Deliverers and Winners

Wine Oscars 2007
Staff Writer – June 17, 2007