Positive figures for the 2014 edition of the fair organised by VinNatur, after closing with satisfied visitors and increases in participating press and buyers. From 5 to 7 April, three days of wine tasting, experiences, and exchanges among aficionados and professionals in a “comfortable and welcoming” venue.
Saturday 5, Sunday 6 and Monday 7 April were three days totally dedicated to natural wine cultivated and produced with respect for Mother Earth and her rhythms. This is a summary of the eleventh edition of VILLA FAVORITA, the event organised by the natural wine-makers association – VinNatur, which took place in the villa La Favorita in Monticello di Fara in Vicenza.
The statistics of this edition of the natural wine show send a clear message: more than three thousand visitors, similar to past editions, with a distribution that indicated a preference for Saturday and Sunday. A steady increase in the presence of buyers and distributors, especially from abroad; the total amounts to more than 320 accesses. There were also 220 journalists and bloggers, 35 of whom were from foreign countries. Operator traffic, including caterers and wine dealers, who opt for the Vicenza event to discover interesting wines to propose to their clients, have also increased in number.
Angiolino Maule, founder and president of VinNatur, declares: “We are truly pleased about the increasing number of foreign operators who choose to come to the Villa to meet our members. There are always more Japanese, Canadians, and Dutch, as well as those coming from Eastern European nations. Our decision to install the tasting room reserved for professionals was a big success because it enabled many to concentrate on the wine tasting in a suitable setting, not crowded, and with the bottles at the right temperature, to then move on to the producers’ tables and conclude the business dealings. It was a very positive experience and initiative worth repeating, bringing the attention of importers and distributors to the production of VinNatur members’ wines, even if some of the companies are small and less well-known. The public consisted of enthusiastic visitors who were curious about and interested in the wine producers and their stories. They are always more and more capable of understanding and appreciating natural wines.”
Villa Favorita was also an opportunity to launch the “natural wine network”, a platform created on the Vinnatur.org website. Here anyone who shares in the association philosophy can sign up as a supporting member, exchange information and news about wine products from wine-producing members, on sales outlets where they can be bought or where a particular vintage being sought for long time can be found. The network will become a hotline between the producer, the salesman, and the end consumer, who will be able to obtain in real time all the information necessary to fill a chalice up with the natural wines he loves. – https://www.vinnatur.org/sostenitori/
The Esmach breadmaking workshop (www.esmach.com) was also a success, as the partner for this edition made over 800 kg of bread with natural yeast in three days, not to mention pizzas. The gourmet food producers and restaurant service by chef Stefano De Lorenzi and the team from his restaurant in Grumolo delle Abbadesse (VI) (www.ristorantezenzero.com) were kept busy serving up their fare to hungry visitors.
Angiolino Maule concludes: “Villa Favorita is a comfortable and welcoming venue. This is one of the best compliments that we have ever received during and after the event. We are happy and proud that even this edition was a success. There is always lots of work for the association, we are a small group, an extended family let’s say, given that relatives, friends, and acquaintances are all recruited to lend a hand. This is why our events are always so enjoyable. Without forgetting how important it is to meet with people from all over Europe and come to such a beautiful place, immersed in nature and in the Venetian culture, which has always enhanced our territory.”
Future VinNatur events
The association is already organising upcoming appointments. On the 18 and 19 May, it will participate in London at RAW – the Artisan Wine Fair and, in autumn, it will be going once again to Oslo, in Norway (date not yet set).
A small contribution
As it does every year, the association is contributing a part of the fair proceeds to the “Alepè” project to support a
Children’s hospital in Ivory Coast that cares for HIV-positive children. The remaining proceeds support expenses for the annual chemical analyses conducted on members’ wines and research projects being carried out in collaboration with various Italian universities and research centres.