LAZIO WINE EXPERIENCE was created from the awareness of the great quality that the food and wine production of our region can offer today and from the equally important need to communicate it.
The paradox: today, in the collective imagination and in the overall judgment of industry professionals and consumers, Lazio’s production is still unfortunately considered to be of low quality and little prestige.
A prejudice born from previous decades of real productive “devastation”, a past situation that fortunately no longer corresponds to reality.
THE HISTORY OF WINE IN LAZIO
The territory of Rome and the entire region actually tells a wine story with a glorious and ancient past, from Ancient Rome to the end of the 19th century and into the post–World War II period, when the valuable native grape varieties of the territory, thanks to a terroir of exceptional vocation, produced wines of great quality, long-lived and structured, served on the most noble tables and widely renowned.
From the early 1950s onwards, however, there was a sharp decline in quality production, created by a sort of vicious circle: Rome gradually became the capital of trattorias and taverns that dramatically increased the demand for bulk wine, especially white, sold at very low prices. Lazio’s winegrowers were pushed to dramatically increase production to meet the growing demand, while at the same time facing constant pressure to lower the price per liter. They were increasingly driven to maximize production at the expense of grape quality, placing on the market simple wines of poor quality and easy drinkability — the wines of taverns and roadside frasche. This fate affected both the whites of the Castelli Romani and the reds of the Tuscia Viterbese and the southern part of the region (from Olevano to the Frosinone area).
A negative “label” that Lazio wine still carries today.
Starting from the 1990s, however, we can finally speak of a true “Renaissance” of Lazio viticulture.
Starting from the simple assumption that Lazio — characterized by heterogeneous soils and landscapes, nestled between sea, hills, plains and extinct volcanoes — is potentially one of the Italian regions most suited to producing quality wine, winegrowers gradually freed themselves from the logic of mass production. The initial work of enlightened producers, capable of rediscovering and enhancing the quality of the region’s native grapes, sparked a positive movement among other wineries in the territory, gradually spreading and being embraced by the new generations.
THE PURPOSE
LAZIO WINE EXPERIENCE was created to promote and share this rebirth with an audience of enthusiasts and industry professionals, including press and Horeca operators. The choice of a winery in the region as the event location is also intended to highlight the hospitality potential of local wineries for wine tourism and events.
Another important aim of this event is to create an elegant and refined experience that presents the image of our region and its quality offerings in a different way, far from the typical village fair atmosphere that food and wine events in the region often convey.
EVENT LOCATION
VILLA CAVALLETTI
Historic Residence of Lazio.
The estate of Villa Cavalletti rises on a large hill overlooking a panoramic valley with a 360° view of the Castelli Romani and Rome, enjoying a dominant and evocative position.
The site is rich in history: the historic villa was built starting from the late 1500s and excavation work carried out in 1902 for the planting of a vineyard revealed a necropolis dating back to the Iron Age.
The historic villa has recently been restored. The estate also includes a welcoming four-star hotel that has undergone sustainable renovation.
It is surrounded by a magnificent centuries-old park where the event will be set up.
Completing the estate is the agricultural activity of Villa Cavalletti, which includes a historic olive grove and vineyard, with a recently built winery located among the vines.
DATE
The event will take place outdoors on September 18, 2022, in the beautiful monumental park of the estate, under the shade of majestic centuries-old trees.
The date coincides with the grape harvest season, which has always been a demanding and frenetic period filled with passion, great expectations and sometimes bitter disappointments. The emotions experienced during these days express the work of producers over an entire year.
PROGRAM
Tasting of more than 50 producers of food and wine excellence. The tasting tables will be arranged to ideally represent the shape of the region and organized according to wine areas and subzones.
Opening hours: tasting tables open at 12:00 and close at 22:00, with entry allowed until 20:00 (ticket office closing time).
MASTERCLASSES
Two in-depth masterclasses will be organized to explore Lazio’s wine production more specifically.
16:00 – “ONE, NONE, ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND”: THE NATIVE GRAPES OF LAZIO
A journey through the many Lazio grape varieties that nearly disappeared due to epidemics, urbanization or low productivity, their recovery and the excellent wines now produced with them.
The tasting will present the grape varieties that best express the vocation of our territory.
Hosted by Marco Cum, owner of Riserva Grande Academy and director of the Rome branch of the European Sommelier School, together with agronomist Paolo Savo Sardaro.
Cost: €35 per person
18:00 – “THE SYMPOSIUM”
A food and wine tasting designed to create an excellent pairing between gourmet dishes, territory and fine wines. A delicious sensory journey in which refined gastronomic portions will be served paired with wines that best express the great quality of Lazio wine.
Hosted by Saula Giusto, co-organizer of the event, founder of Romawinexperience and the Romawinexperience Blog, AIS sommelier since 2003, with support from the chef responsible for the dishes.
Cost: €40 per person
ACCREDITATION
Free accreditation is available for industry professionals (Horeca and press), which must be requested and authorized via email at
info@laziowinexperience.it
DISCOUNTS
Discounted tickets and masterclass access are available for members of FISAR, FIS, AIS, ONAV and the European Sommelier School upon presentation of membership cards at the ticket desk.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, COSTS AND LIST OF WINERIES
https://www.laziowinexperience.it/
info@laziowinexperience.it
ONLINE REGISTRATION
https://www.eventbrite.it/e/biglietti-lazio-wine-experience-2022-380204952247
SOCIAL PROFILES
@laziowinexperience
A SUSTAINABLE EVENT
The event installations will be created by Eventi di Cartone, a young Lazio-based company focused on innovative solutions with low environmental impact: plastic-free and 100% Italian.
All materials used for the event (tableware, tablecloths, water bottles, gadgets, etc.) will be recyclable, compostable and biodegradable.
TEMPORARY RESTAURANTS
The event will also offer the possibility to enjoy lunch and dinner outdoors under the centuries-old trees, with dishes from Lazio’s most beloved culinary traditions reinterpreted in a contemporary and seasonal way in two temporary restaurants created for the occasion.
ORGANIZATION
Veronica Laurenza
Saula Giusto
LAZIO WINE EXPERIENCE
Tel. +39 393 2854426
info@laziowinexperience.it
www.laziowinexperience.it
