Sept. 16 – Sixty years ago, the glorious history of the Institute of Masters of Wine (IMW) began in London; and now, from today until September 19, the Institute is hosting a big party, with four days of events, including seminars and tastings, for its anniversary. The academy trains the world’s most influential and prepared wine experts. For the occasion, the grand finale will include a selection of Italian wines. 19 Italian wineries, part of the Grandi Marchi Institute (Alois Lageder, Argiolas, Biondi Santi Greppo, Ca’ del Bosco, Michele Chiarlo, Carpenè Malvolti, Donnafugata, Ambrogio e Giovanni Folonari Tenute, Gaja, Jermann, Lungarotti, Masi, Marchesi Antinori, Mastroberardino, Pio Cesare, Rivera, Tasca D’Almerita, Tenuta San Guido, Umani Ronchi), became the symbol of the variety and quality of Italian wine, with 12 represented regions. Together, they will be part of a seminar-tasting focused on the grapes of their respective territories. It is a strategic tasting exclusively reserved for wine masters; and its objective is to demonstrate the rich variety of Italian vineyards. The Grandi Marchi Institute participates in the 60th anniversary celebrations of the Masters of Wine, which currently has 312 global members (having started from only 6), to further strengthen the partnership agreement signed in 2009. At the time, for the first time, an Italian team was admitted as a major supporter of the prestigious London institution. “Our presence in London acknowledged the quality of all the Italian wine – says Piero Antinori, president of Grandi Marchi – Since 2009, we have promoted and supported a collaboration and training program for the accreditation of Italy wine at the IMW. This is an important achievement for the entire industry – concluded Antinori – demonstrating that by avoiding individualism, it is possible to increase the prestige of the Italian brand in the world, from wine to other sectors of excellence.” Among the main results of the cooperation between the two institutions, there is the organization of the first Italian courses for aspiring MW, and the Italian proposal, advanced by Grandi Marchi, to host the 8th MW World Symposium, to be held in Florence May 15-18, 2014. The IgM-IMW events’ organization was entrusted to the IEM, International Exhibition Management.
