Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/12827
SPECIAL REPORT: ITALY La Donna È Upwardly Mobile WOMEN TAKE LEADING ROLES IN ITALY’S WINE AND SPIRITS WORLD photos by Allison Levine THE TASTING PANEL attended Vinitaly again this year, cutting a wide swath through the mayhem and mad- ness in Verona, and venturing further afield to discover the special magic that is Italy—with a special emphasis on our year-long theme, Women in Wine and Spirits. Today, more and more women are working in prominent roles in Italy’s wine and spirits industry. During this year’s visit to VinItaly, THE TASTING PANEL focused on meeting many of these leaders in what used to be strictly a man’s world. Here’s an extended report from our Marketing & Events Director, Allison Levine, and Editor in Chief, Anthony Dias Blue. Anthony Dias Blue with Marilisa Allegrini. Marilisa Allegrini Azienda Agricola Allegrini, Valpolicella Marilisa Allegrini is the face of one of Italy’s greatest wineries. Located in the Veneto, the Allegrini family has been a major landowner since the sixteenth cen- tury. The family has made wine for several centuries in the Valpolicella region and, in 1950, they made their first Amarone. Allegrini has been one of the top producers of this great wine ever since. Marilisa is in charge of marketing for Allegrini and travels the world promoting her wine. The Allegrinis have reclaimed and completely refurbished the Villa della Torre, a fifteenth-century palazzo in the hills of Valpolicella. During Vinitaly this year, Marilisa, radiant and beaming in fiery red, hosted a lavish celebration at this exquisite property including a huge buffet of salumi, an amazing spread of regional dishes and a display of forty cheeses. The wonderful Allegrini wines flowed freely—Soave, rosé, Valpolicella, Amarone and several exciting proprietary reds. After dinner, guests were invited outside for a spectacular fireworks display—fol- lowed by dancing into the early morning hours. —ADB WINEBOW 50 / the tasting panel / july 2010