Edition special, number 20, for Granaccia & Reds of Liguria, the annual event dedicated to red and rosé wines from across the region, which this year, to celebrate this important milestone, expands its boundaries and timeframe. The event, as usual, will take place at Quiliano (Sv), at its welcoming sports hall, in weekend of the 22 and 23 November, with important insights, the presence of numerous and qualified experts and the involvement of 68 wineries from all over Liguria, record for the event.
NewsThe official opening of the event is scheduled for the afternoon of Saturday 22 with the round table conference "The large family of the Grenache, through its genetics and its territorial translations in Italy“, which will be coordinated by the well-known wine popularizer and trainer Francis Xavier Russo, which will stimulate debate among qualified speakers and guide the tasting of wines from the various Italian regions where the Granaccia grape is grown, with ample space for Liguria. Speakers will include experts such as Attilio Scienza, Vincenzo Gerbi, Vincenzo Scivetti, Alessandro Carassale, Pietro Stara, and Jacopo Fanciulli, in his role as ambassador of Vite in Riviera, and of the representatives (presidents or directors) of the Consorzio Vini Maremma (Tuscany, for Alicante), the Consorzio Tutela Vini DOC Colli Berici e Vicenza (Veneto, for Tai Rosso), the Consorzio Tutela Vini Trasimeno (Umbria, for Gamay del Trasimeno) and the newly formed Consorzio DOC Mandrolisai (Bovale Sardo and Cannonau, Sardinia).
NailDouble appointment on the day of Sunday 23In the morning the now traditional Masterclass is scheduled, focusing on the "Identity, contemporaneity and versatility of Ligurian reds”, with a tasting itinerary that will touch on all the various DOCs and territorial expressions. It will be guided by Saverio Russo and Jacopo FanciulliThe meeting, with limited attendance, is reserved for industry professionals. Interested parties can apply, as for the round table discussion, by emailing eventi@viteinriviera.it.
For the many enthusiasts and wine lovers the invitation is for the afternoon (from 14.30pm to 19pm), always at the Quiliano sports hall, with the tasting tables for red and rosé wines from around 70 wineries, from the far west to the entire east. The designated areas will also host a small market selling typical products and moments reserved for presentations, including those of food and cosmetic products made with Granaccia di Quiliano, awards (a celebratory plate created for the occasion by an artist from Savona, which will be presented to some guests and the historic producers of Quiliano) and guided tastings (a highlight will be that of samples from the competition Grenaches of the world). THE'input will be Free, with voucher for the free tasting at 25 euros (reduction upon registration, for sommeliers and HORECA operators), including a personalized glass and glass holder.
VisitDoors open, in the afternoon on both days, for the visits to the historic Villa MariaA jewel of Quiliano, just a few meters from the sports hall, at Via Morosso 18, with an entrance also from Piazza Costituzione. Inside, there's a toy display and the exhibition "Moon among the Muses," featuring works by Yilli Plaka, a sculptor and ceramist of Albanian origin who has long lived in the Savona area.
Not just weekendsThe list of the rich collateral initiatives approach to the event: from the windows dedicated to the event at the businesses in Valleggia and Quiliano, to the themed dishes in the restaurants and the guided tastings, with the format "Discover the Granaccia”. Also planned for Friday evening is the Michelin-starred restaurant Bishopric of Noli (1 Michelin Star), a special banquet, entitled “Among the vineyards and scents of Liguria”. On this occasion, Chef's dishes Giuse Ricchebuono will be combined with the great wines red and rosé wines from the companies Vite in Riviera, an organization that includes twenty wine and olive oil companies in the provinces of Savona and Imperia, committed to promoting the excellence of western Liguria.
Guests. In addition to the representatives of the other territories, some journalists and bloggers have also been invited, who, on Saturday morning, will be the protagonists of a small tour to discover the Quiliano area, so as not to forget the relevance, nowadays, of the linked to food and wine. The visit of the delegation from the Municipality of Ajdovščina (Slovenia) has been postponed until next year. Representatives from the Municipality of Costigliole Saluzzo (Cuneo), also twinned with Quiliano, will be present on Sunday the 23rd. Speaking of excellence, there will be a special event dedicated to the prized apricots of the two areas. The event will feature the initiative "Adopt an Apricot Tree: Buy, Plant, and Care for Your Tree," promoted by the Valleggia Apricot Custodians network, a Slow Food Savona presidium.
TeamworkThe event is organized by City of Quiliano e business network Vite in Riviera, with the participation of Liguria region e Chamber of Commerce, with the support of De Mari Foundation, under the patronage of the Ministry of Agriculture, the Province of Savona, and the Regional Wine Shop of Liguria, and with the collaboration of the Liguria Agency and Polisportiva Quiliano. Granaccia & Rossi di Liguria 2025 also boasts a qualified group of 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, Centro Forniture Alberghiere, Sea Art Hotel, and Acqua Minerale Calizzano.
“I fondly remember the first editions at the beginning of the 2000s and the various venues that hosted the event: from Villa Maria to the San Pietro in Carpignano Park, up to the current Palasport, made welcoming thanks to the set-up curated by Polisportiva Quiliano – Mayor Nicola Isetta comments The event was created to promote the red wines of a land traditionally producing white wines. Today, we can say we've achieved and surpassed that goal: our reds are now a significant part of Liguria's wine production. The City of Quiliano is proud to once again be an ambassador for regional excellence, thanks also to the now-established joint venture with Vite in Riviera and the support of the Liguria Region, the Chamber of Commerce, and the De Mari Foundation, whom I sincerely thank. This twentieth edition is a significant milestone, which we are celebrating with a prestigious event open to national debate, involving leading experts, producers, operators, and local merchants. See you in Quiliano to taste unique wines like Granaccia and other varietals surprisingly rich in history and quality.
“We are ready for a truly special edition, a stage that I would dare to call national – he echoes Massimo Enrico, president of Vite in Riviera "The exchange with other regions and the presence of qualified guests can only benefit our producers. This is certainly a great opportunity for our network to gain visibility. Such a high number of participating wineries from all over Liguria is a source of pride, a sign that the work we're doing has been appreciated and is headed in the right direction."
Further details on the demonstration will be presented on the morning of Monday the 17th (11 am) during the press conference to be held in the council chamber in Piazza Costituzione, Quiliano.
