MIAMI TO MIAMI: GAMBERO ROSSO BRINGS ITALIAN WINE ON CRUISE

Wine and Sea has just ended, the innovative “wine-themed navigation” formula developed by Gambero Rosso for MSC, which stopped off in some of the most beautiful islands in the Caribbean. On board were masterclasses, tastings, insights on neuro-marketing, with final vote. Ending in Florida with a walk around tasting

The ingredients were all present for a success story: Gambero Rosso and its tried and tested international team; some of the best Italian wineries with their top wines; the MSC flagship, the ultra-modern and eco-friendly Seashore fresh from its maiden voyage; and a fantastic itinerary starting from Miami and touching some of the most beautiful islands in the Caribbean.

Itinerary And Format

The fourth edition of the Wine and Sea cruise left Miami on November 13th and on the 14th it touched the Ocean Cay marine reserve in the Bahamas, where the first wine event was held dedicated to cruise passengers, who has the opportunity to familiarise with the great Italian white and sparkling wines, served chilled in the shade of palm trees on one of the most beautiful islands of the archipelago, a natural oasis with white beaches immersed in the crystalline waters of the ocean, owned and managed by MSC Lines. In the following days, San Juan de Puerto Rico, Charlotte Amalie in the American Virgin Islands, Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic were also on the itinerary, before returning to Miami.

The program saw a series of very popular wine tastings on the cruise ship, set in the vessel’s most beautiful locations, such as the Pool Party by the swimming pool, or in the large com-

Custoza Hits Miami

The tasting counter dedicated to Custoza aroused great interest during the Italian Wines event in Miami on November 21st, a beautiful “Preview” of the Vini d’Italia 2023 Guide. For the enthusiasts present, who already knew it from previous events, this Venetian wine was truly appreciated…

Custoza is a territory of rolling morainic hills that unite Verona to Lake Garda, and includes the municipalities of Sommacampagna, Sona, Valeggio sul Mincio, Villafranca di Verona, Lazise, Peschiera del Garda, Castelnuovo del Garda, Bussolengo and Pastrengo. All dotted with beautiful vineyards of over 1,400 hectares. Custoza Doc comes from a blend of Trebbiano Toscano (from 10% to 45%), Garganega (from 20% to 40%) and Trebbianello (also known as Friulano or Sauvignonnasse, from 5% to 30%) grapes. But Cortese (also called Bianca Fernanda, up to 30%), Malvasia, Incrocio Manzoni Bianco, Riesling Italico (or Welschriesling), Pinot Bianco and Chardonnay (up to a maximum of 30%, alone or blended) are also used. Today the production exceeds 13 million bottles, successfully sold all over the world. Custoza is a fragrant white, which goes wonderfully well with the seafood-based cuisine of the Mediterranean as well as the rest of the world.

“The thing that fascinates me about Custoza,” Rob Shakespeare, a Miami wine lover told us, “is that it can be an excellent sparkling wine, a fresh white with a youthful edge, but I have tasted important interpretations of it, just like a great white wine that evolves over time. Excellent!” mon areas, which culminated in the great free tasting on one of the main decks with all the wineries’ labels participants, at the end of which over 400 cruise passengers voted for their favourite wines.

Specifically, Gambero Rosso studied a unique formula that included guided tastings and master classes for the most curious and attentive enthusiasts - led by Marco Sabellico, the historic signature of Gambero Rosso - with more playful moments for Seashore passengers, plus more.

The great novelty of this edition was the opportunity for winery owners and representatives to participate in a very interesting study of Neuro-marketing of

Wine in two Master classes held by Professor Vincenzo Russo, docent at IULM and for the communication masters at Gambero Rosso, as well as columnist of the weekly Tre Bicchieri, dwelling on topics surrounding wine packaging and sales techniques.

On Board A Representative Microcosm Of The Market

For us producers it is a unique opportunity to get in touch with an international public that’s sensitive to wine” said Federica Morricone, owner of Villa Medoro in Abruzzo, who has spent these days focussing on oenological appointments and relaxation with her family

“A cruise ship like this one, with 5,000 people on board plus crew, is a perfect sample of the international market.”

“A perfectly fitting formula,” commented Fabio Cascione of Varvaglione 1921 “we were able to do team building, promotion and have moments of important professional insight... all whilst visiting some of the most beautiful places in the world.”

People like Italian wine, as demonstrated by the hundreds of passengers who crowded the master classes in the on-board theatre, where wines from all the participating wineries were served. The wine service in each event was managed by a very close team of AIS sommeliers from the Puglia region, who guaranteed the perfect success of each event with extraordinary timing and professional approach, whether they were in shorts and an informal t-shirt on the beaches, or in their institutional uniform on board the ship.

The Final Ranking Voted By Cruise Passengers

At the end of voting on the last day, cruise passengers made it possible to draw up a ranking which saw Apollonio’s Copertino Divoto Riserva ‘12

Oltrep Pavese Conquers Florida

In Miami, the Oltrepò Pavese, in addition to a corner, was also the protagonist of a very popular master class held by Carlo Veronese, Director of the Consortium, and Marco Sabellico, during which terroirs, wines, styles and trends of this great Lombard denomination were explored.

“The quality of the Oltrepò Pinot Noirs is surprising, both in the classic method version and in the great red wine version,” said sommelier Allen Wilkins “but the surprise was that Oltrepò has much more to offer, from the great Rieslings to full-bodied reds perfect for roasted meats such as Buttafuoco… A wonderful discovery! It will be my next wine stop in Italy.”

SEPTEMBER prevail among the reds, Roxanne Bianco from Tenuta il Palagio 1530 (the owner is Sting) among the whites, for the Rosés, Contessa Filomarino Rosato ‘21 from Tenute Girolamo, and finally Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore Brut from Sorelle Bronca, closely followed by Valdobbiadene Brut Brunei from La Tordera. Lastly, Sorelle Bronca was the most voted winery in this edition of Wine & Sea, and in addition to this recognition, it was awarded a supply contract for the entire MSC fleet for six months.

“It was a wonderful, useful, fun and engaging week” confessed Elisa Piazza, of the owner family of the winery, as well as an oenologist of the same. “It was very interesting and stimulating to taste the wines of colleagues, talk with consumers, and learn new things in the master classes. Not only that: I’m going home with an important result in terms of prestige and great commercial relevance! An experience that begs to be repeated, for sure…” The formula that combines promotion, relaxation and professional development was very popular, and there is already talk in the wine world of the next edition in 2023, again in collaboration with MSC and the Puglia-based Ruffo Viaggi, historic partner in the initiative...

And as always, as part of the events organised by Gambero Rosso the must award ceremony for the new entries in the Top Italian Restaurants in the World Guide, confirming a brilliant Italian food scene in Florida. Four winners: Portosole and Salumeria 104 were awarded Una Forchetta, while Osteria snatched the Due Forchette; finally, Due Bottiglie for Fiola Miami, thanks to a prized collection of wines. The complete list of Italian restaurants in Miami will be announced on April 18th, during the Top Italian Wines Roadshow event.

LAST LEG: MIAMI

Finally, on November 21st, the “official closing” of the event with the great tasting organised at the Glassbox Ironside, a vast multifunctional space surrounded by greenery, in the Wynwood district of Miami.

Here the usual crowded walk around tasting took place, with over 120 wines, many of which from the Tre Bicchieri 2023 - for a total of 33 wineries, many of which came to Miami especially for the occasion - which attracted the usual crowd of enthusiasts and trade operators. Exceptional guests were the Custoza wine consortium, with a very popular dedicated corner, and the Oltrepò Pavese wine consortium (see sidebar).