The 20th edition of the wine event hosted at the Quiliano sports hall last weekend was a resounding success. The insightful discussions, curated by qualified experts, were highly engaging. Guests came from four regions. Record producer participation: nearly 70 wineries. The average age of the audience was under 40. The foundations for collaboration between the areas where the "Grenache" grape is grown have been laid. The enthusiasm of the Municipality and Vite in Riviera.
Almost a week has passed since its conclusion, but the echo of the great success of the 20th has not yet died down.a edition of Granaccia & Rossi di Liguria, the Quiliano event that confirmed that our region should not be considered a land of only white wines.
In front of a national audience, Ligurian reds and rosés confirmed their qualities of modernity, authority, and versatility, with great acclaim for Granaccia, the subject of in-depth analysis and comparison with other regional wines, which has begun to set a trend.
The event closed with record numbers, unimaginable when the Municipality of Quiliano and Slow Food Savona, with great foresight, created this event twenty years ago: nearly seventy wineries showcased their wines and two hundred attended the two in-depth events—the roundtable discussion "The Great Family of Grenache, Through Its Genetics and Its Territorial Translations in Italy" and the masterclass "Identity, Contemporaneity, and Versatility of Ligurian Reds"—curated by Saverio Russo, one of the sector's leading influencers, and Savona native Jacopo Fanciulli, with expert contributions from scholars such as Vincenzo Gerbi, Alessandro Carassale, Pietro Stara, Vincenzo Scivetti, and Marco Rezzano.
The credit for this exponential growth goes to the business network Vite in Riviera, an active participant in the project for several years and a significant boost over the last two years. The event was unanimously welcomed by the journalists and bloggers in attendance, who took part in a wine tourism tour to discover local excellence. The event concluded on Sunday afternoon in the welcoming Palasport venue, with forty tasting tables, packed with professionals and enthusiasts. The average age of the tasting was under 40 (a promising figure for the future), and the tables were managed by the wineries in collaboration with FISAR sommeliers.
The occasion proved propitious for laying the foundations for an alliance between the Italian territories where the Grenache grape is grown, albeit under different denominations. Present in Quiliano were representatives of the Voluntary Consortium for the Protection of Mandrolisai DOC Wines (Sardinia, with its Cannonau, Bovale, and Monica varieties), the Maremma Wine Protection Consortium (Tuscany, Alicante), Consortium for the Protection of Doc Colli del Trasimeno wines (Umbria, Gamay) and Consortium for the Protection of Colli Berici and Vicenza DOC Wines (Veneto, Tai Rosso). A delegation from Costigliole Saluzzo also arrived from Piedmont for a twinning event centered on apricots and a showcase for the unique Quagliano wine. The event also crossed national borders with a guided tasting of six labels from France and Spain, among the winners of the last edition of the international Grenache du Monde competition.
“A great public success with the red wines of our Liguria as protagonists, which during the three days of the event expressed all their potential and value, also in comparison with the other important Italian wine-making realities that we had the honour of hosting – commented Massimo Enrico, president of Vite in Riviera Saverio Russo and Jacopo Fanciulli superbly managed the round table and masterclass. This is a clear sign of how our network, made up of just twenty wineries, has significantly impacted the growth of the event and the promotion of Ligurian wine in its entirety over the years.
The event's liveliness was further enhanced by the involvement of several partners, local businesses, and companies, who offered themed initiatives, Granaccia-themed dishes, exhibitions, and guided tours.
The special celebratory plate, created by Savona ceramist Barbara Fresia, was presented to Bar Pigama in Valleggia, which won the window display competition ahead of Pizza Pazza (Valleggia) and Smsf Quilianese. The same recognition was given to the three Quiliano wineries (Dionisia Turco, Viarzo, and Innocenzo Turco), for their commitment to promoting the area, and to the widow of Vladimiro Galluzzo, former owner of the Cascina Terre Rosse winery, with the announcement of the establishment of the “Premio Solitario”, named after an extraordinary red wine (blend of Granaccia, Rossese and, to a lesser extent, Barbera and Merlot) produced by him.
The icing on the cake was the special event on the eve, hosted by the Bishopric of Noli, the day after the confirmation of the Michelin Star, the 24tha in a row, for chef Giuse Ricchebuono.
"I am truly enthusiastic and proud," said Quiliano Mayor Nicola Isetta in his closing remarks. "In a land of white wines, red wines have also managed to carve out an important role for themselves. This is what we hoped for when, with Slow Food, we launched this initiative. Levels of excellence have been achieved. The excellent success of this edition is there for all to see. I thank the people and organizations who believed in the project, everyone who worked to make it happen, and, of course, all the participants."
Granaccia & Rossi di Liguria #20 was organized by the City of Quiliano and a business network Vite in Riviera, with the participation of the Liguria Region and the Chamber of Commerce of the Ligurian Rivieras, and the support of the De Mari Foundation. The event was sponsored by the Ministry of Agriculture, the Province of Savona, and the Regional Wine Shop of Liguria, as well as in collaboration with the Liguria Agency and Polisportiva Quiliano. Sponsors and partners: Conad, Clayver, Belbo Sugheri, Tipolitografia Bacchetta, Vescovado; Fisar Imperia-Savona, Slow Food Savona, Civ ViviValleggia, Fai Savona, Confcommercio and Ascom Savona, Confartigianato Savona, Hotel Supplies Center, Sea Art Hotel, and Calizzano Mineral Water.
