WHAT TO SEE & DO Umbria (in english) by Umbria OnLine

WHAT TO SEE & DO - Quality produce - sustainable success stories

The third edition of the study seminar open to quality wine and food producers from Umbria and Emilia Romagna took place at the Caprai winery of Montefalco on Sunday January 11th, 2009. The seminar was intended once more to function as an experience-sharing forum for those working in this field, where a well organised supply network is essential to ensuring that produce reaches the customer in perfect condition.
The world of norcinerie cured meats and ancient cattle breeds was illustrated by Massimo Spigaroli, president of the Culatello di Zibello consortium, and Salvatore Denaro, a restauranteur in Foligno and member of the Montefalco branch of Slow Food. They regaled all those present with their tales of past splendours at the court of the Pallavicino and the new tradition of Nero Umbro.

Examples of quality production, both on a large and a more reduced scale, were provided by Sandro Cavicchioli, president of the Cavicchioli family winery, and Leonardo Valenti, a vine-growing and wine lecturer at the agriculture faculty of Milan University. They offered two case studies: Lambrusco and Sagrantino.

The Veneto region was hosted on January 12th, with Alberto Marcomini presenting its broad assortment of cheeses, from Asiago to Taleggio and Grana. Roberto Anselmi of the Azienda Agricola Anselmi (at Monteforte d’Alpone in the province of Verona) spoke of Arte Soave, a 70-hectare estate located in a raised position between Monteforte and Soave where there is a predominance of Garganega vine cultivations.

Friuli was hosted on January 19th, with Frabrizio Nonis (the last in a dynasty of butchers) who combines his family traditions with a hectic life as a meat journalist, touring the world and writing about quality meats. He was followed by talks from a number of leading Friuli white wine producers, from Edi Keber to Dario Raccaro, Colle Duga, Mauro Drius and Franco Toros.

Sicily was hosted on Monday January 26th, with established Foligno restauranteur Salvatore Denaro (Il Bacco Felice) talking of life torn between two great loves: his Sicilian heritage and his adoptive Umbria. Alessio Planeta represented the island’s newly vibrant wine industry.