RECENTLY, Manila was included, for the very first time, as one of the destinations of the prestigious Top Italian Wines road show organized by Gambero Rosso, the recognized Italian authority in rating wines and restaurants in Italy.
This year marks the 30th anniversary of Gambero Rosso, which, from an eight-page supplement of Il Manifesto, a newspaper publication in Rome, has grown to become a multimedia giant, with a 24-hour channel, aside from the popular restaurant and wine lists published yearly and its visionary magazine that greatly contributed to further the views of “ARCI Gola,” the forerunner of the Slow Food movement.
In 2002 Gambero Rosso embarked on an ambitious venture, opening its first Città del Gusto (City of Taste) in Rome, with TV studios and a school offering courses ranging from wine-and-food journalism and communication to classes on cooking and wine for professionals and enthusiasts alike. Now there are seven Città del Gusto dotting the Italian landscape, specifically located in Rome, Turin, Naples, Salerno, Lecce, Palermo and Catania.
The Manila leg was held at the Peninsula, after the opening ceremony at 12 noon the exhibit was open for tasting, introducing traders and wine lovers alike to vast array of wines covering all Italian regions from north to south; at the same time, master classes were held by Marco Sabellico and Lorenzo Ruggeri, in turn, for a deeper appreciation of the featured wines.
Sabellico, senior editor, explained to participants the Gambero Rosso’s revolutionary rating that simplified the 50-100 scale into a visually appealing system using one, two and three glasses indicating good, very good and extraordinary wines.
He then went on to expound on the paradigm shift that took place among Italian wine producers that changed the thrust of the local industry from producing commercial and affordable wines to finding their niche elevating their wines to a whole new level. He then took note of the differences in the Filipino taste as opposed to the Italian one, promoting, thus, a healthy exchange with the participants, many of them restaurateurs.
Sixty-five wineries—Gaja, Masi, Tenuta San Guido and Allegrini, to name a few—joined the prestigious road show that has proven time and aging to be an effective means in penetrating new markets and affording new business opportunities. Some of the featured wines were presented by the producers themselves, others by their local distributors when possible.
The Philippines has been eyed favorably as an emerging market due to its strong GDP in recent times, hence its inclusion together in this year’s edition of Gambero Rosso’s Top Italian Wines road show. Interestingly enough, it kicked off in Seoul, moved on to Seattle and São Paulo and ended with three Asian cities, namely, Singapore, Bangkok and Manila.
On a literary note, Gambero Rosso, translated as Red Prawn, owes its name to the inn featured in the “Adventures of Pinocchio” by Claudio Collodi, where the Fox and the Cat lead Pinocchio for a meal, a name that’s gives a nod to the most recognized Italian classic famous the world over.