Vinitaly and the City, the off-show dedicated to the public and wine lovers is ready to colour the historic centre of Verona, from 31 March to 3 April, with a mosaic of almost 50 events including art, culture, tastings and wine talks. There will be no shortage of events to fascinate and attract all wine lovers willing to experience Verona’s historical centre, even in the days leading up to the start of the event at the Exhibition Centre.
The headquarters of wine fuori-salone will be the triangle between Piazza dei Signori (Loggia di Fra Giocondo, Loggia Antica, Torre dei Lamberti), Cortile Mercato Vecchio and Cortile del Tribunale, where most of the events and tasting rooms will be concentrated.
Vinitaly and the City programme opens on Friday 31 March with “Lives – The incredible life of Maurizio Cattelan told in words and music”: an immersive narrative to discover the hyperbolic life of one of the most famous and quoted artist in the world, translated into words by the contemporary art expert Nicolas Ballario and set to music by Rodrigo D’Erasmo (Loggia di Fra Giocondo, Loggia di Fra Giocondo, Torre Lamberti – 9 p.m.).
In the shadow of Dante (the statue in the middle of the square), who is also the main character of the exhibition “Disposti a salire alle stelle – Il Purgatorio cantica del perdono”, curated by Franco Nembrini, which will be presented on 1 April (from 3 to 4 p.m.).
The Loggia di Fra Giocondo will host the heart of Vinitaly and the city, the great Enoteca by Vivite – Alleanza delle Cooperative, where it will be possible to taste wines from all over Italy before moving on to mixology in the Loggia Antica, with proposals by Bartenders Group Italia, Nespresso, Molinari, Italian Wine Brands, The Organics by Red Bull, Consorzio dell’Asti Spumante and Moscato d’Asti Docg, Campari and Acqua delle Stelle by Pernigo.
The lounge of Banca Passadore, official partner of the event, will light up the architecture of the Corte della Signoria degli Scaligeri, while the Consorzio Tutela Lugana Doc will raise a toast 84 metres high on the panoramic terrace of the Torre dei Lamberti.
One of the most evocative novelties of the programme is the presentation of the Vinitaly and the City Wine Guitar, made of chestnut wood by Fabrizio Paoletti, the luthier who has signed the guitars of stars such as Bruce Springsteen, Keith Richards and Joe Walsh (1 April from 7 to 8.30 p.m. in the Loggia di Fra Giocondo). After the event, the Wine Guitar will move to the Hard Rock Cafe – Verona in Piazza Bra, where it will turn wine lovers into rock stars for a wine-fuelled jam session.
Literature events will also be held. On Sunday 2 April, chef Roberto Valbuzzi will talk about his book ‘Cuoco, ristoratore, contadino’ (15.00), while Joe Bastianich will present his book ‘Il grande racconto del vino italiano’, written with Tiziano Gaia (19.00). Edoardo Franco, winner of the 2023 edition of MasterChef Italia, will present his book ‘Daje! My cuisine without borders’.
Vinitaly and the City will also focus on innovation with the official presentation of the “Caporale Method: a new way to evaluate sparkling wines”: a unique and original patent that allows to characterise sparkling wines through the sound of bubbles in the glass, without having to resort to tasting (2 April, Loggia di Fra Giocondo at 21.00).
Vinitaly and the City will be open as follows:
Friday 31 March from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. (inauguration at 6.30 p.m. with Akènta Sub, the underwater sparkling wine from the Santa Maria La Palma winery in Alghero, the official wine of the Fuori Salone)
Saturday 1 April from 3 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Sunday 2 April from 3 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Monday 3 April from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m
Until 30 March, tickets (1 glass, 4 tasting tokens, 1 experience token and access to the event lounges) can be purchased online in advance at a cost of €16.50; during the event (from 31 March to 3 April) tickets can be purchased both at the desk in Piazza dei Signori and online at a cost of €20.
Vinitaly and the City is organised by Veronafiere in collaboration with the Municipality of Verona, the Province of Verona and Fondazione Cariverona.
Full programme, information and shop (also in English) at www.vinitalyandthecity.com
