How to Experience VinItaly

Italy is already celebrated for its various wines, from Gewurztraminer in the Alto Adige to Mount Etna’s Nerello Cappuccio in Sicily and Valpolicella in the Veneto, but nothing expresses the country’s love for vino like the bi-annual VinItaly, which took place this year April 8–11 in Verona.

The wine fair celebrated its 50th anniversary this year, hosting seminars throughout the week with global topics ranging from wine law to unique wines made from rare Italian grapes to female-drive vineyards and even wine as a health food.

Start your VinItaly experience with the VinItaly and the City event, in Piazza dei Signore, where sommeliers will discuss Italian wine and food pairings with guests. In the nearby Loggia di Fra’ Giocondo, short discussions on wine in Italian culture and art will be held for the public. Continue on to Cortile del Mercato Vecchio for the VinItaly and the City Music Lounge, where wine and food tastings can be enjoyed alongside free performances from DJs and well-known Italian musicians.

Stay in Verona’s city center at the boutique Hotel Gabbia d’Oro in Piazza Erbe or opt for the Residence all’Adige, which offers a 24-hour concierge and small kitchenettes in most apartments for longer stays and is only a short walk from the main restaurants and shops.

Visit next year, and after a long day of seminars and grand tastings, be sure to save room for dinner at Antica Bottega del Vino, and ask to see the cellar, with its maze of carefully balanced bottles of wine. You never know — you might just come face-to-face with a Napoleon-era cognac or vino.