The Italian Embassy and Italian Trade Agency (ITA), with the support of their partners, will celebrate the 7th edition of the Italian Cuisine and Wine Week on November 15 under the theme ‘Gusto Italiano – Italian Taste in Accra’.
The celebration will be held at the residence of the Italian Ambassador, and aims to create awareness and enhanced appreciation of food sustainability in addition to promoting Italian agri-food products, with enhanced appreciation of the Mediterranean diet as a model of healthy and sustainable diet and lifestyle.
Last year’s edition saw guests being treated to rich and quality culinary taste of Italy while enjoying a great ambience for networking and music. This year’s event will bring together people from the diplomatic community, business executives, lovers of wine, and showbiz personalities. It has attracted wine partners and sponsors such as Imexco, Saycheers, Africa Wine, and Newco Catering and logistics.
This year’s event will feature, for the first time, five wine companies from Italy, which include 8ORO, Grand Vini D’Italia, Moncaro, San Marzano and Unexpected Italian.
Italy has become the world’s leading producer and exporter of wine. With the country’s mild climate, the unique heritage of over 500 native grape varieties, along with centuries of oenological expertise, Italy has a wine to delight every palate.
Alessandro Gerbino, the Director of the Italian Trade Agency (ITA), said the event will create opportunities for both countries to boost trade relations. According to him, Italy, as a leader in fashion, design, food and many other creative sectors, has a lot to offer Ghana.
“Italy is already in Ghana in many forms, and still we see a growing interest for made-in-Italy solutions from local businesses, particularly when it comes to manufacturing, as it brings out how much Italian options can suit Ghana’s needs for the creation of added value here. Besides, the curiosity for Italian cuisine and wine is growing as no other country in the world can put on the table such a wide palette of flavours and aromas. ” he intimated.
Currently, all twenty regions produce at least one DOC wine (Denominazione di Origine Controllata) for a total of 334. Italy also boasts 74 DOCG (Denominazione di Origine Controllata Garantita) wine and 118 IGT (Indicazione Geografica Tipica) wines produced throughout the peninsula.
Centuries of tradition coupled with rigorous standards have guaranteed Italy’s preeminence in the world of fine wine.
DOCG is the highest tier of the Italian wine classification system. It has the most stringent quality controls in place, with all wines undergoing analysis and testing by a government-approved panel. In addition, yields are generally lower and barrel-ageing is lower than for a DOC. The geographical limits are usually more restrictive and tightly defined.
DOCs provide the meat of quality Italian wine. It provides strict rules on winemaking, and is based on geographical areas but the regulations are slightly more relaxed versus DOCGs.
IGT was created to provide a tier above the basic Vino da Tavola (VdT) for quality wines that didn’t meet the regulations for DOC or DOCG. Today, the IGT classification is home to wines made in a more international style, eschewing some of the traditional winemaking methods and grape variety stipulations set down by DOCs and DOCG regulations.
