Italy 2006 Vintage Anteprima Tasting,Wed 17.2.10 17.30-20.00

For the first time ever and, appropriately, in the august setting of London's Vintners' Hall, Berry Bros. & Rudd welcomes twenty of its Italian producers to the capital. It'll be the perfect opportunity to meet Berrys' new crop of winegrowers and to taste the much anticipated 2006 vintage (before it's shipped later in 2010/2011) along with some older vintages. Corralled by Berrys' Italian Buyer David Berry Green, now resident in Barolo, many of the producers present herald from Piedmont's Langhe Hills, along with other sources of excellence from Tuscany, the Veneto, Umbria & Sicily.

More precisely, the event will feature 60 wines, of which a third will be from the very promising 2006 vintage. So a great opportunity to compare the vintage from across Italy's leading wine styles: Barolo, Barbaresco, Brunello di Montalcino, Chianti Classico, Valpolicella as well as from less well-known Sagrantino di Montefalco (Umbria) & Etna Rosso (Sicily); the remaining wines to taste hailing mostly from the 2005 & 2004 vintage.

And of the 20 producers flying in especially for the event - many brand new to the Berrys' list - 12 will be Piemontese: the Rivellas, Claudia Cigliuti, Giovanna Rizzolio (Cascina delle Rose) & Luca Roagna from Barbaresco; while Barolo's might will be shown off by Luciano Sandrone, Davide Rosso, Manuel Marchetti (Marcarini), Mauro & Giuseppe Mascarello, Vittore Alessandria, Chiara Boschis (E.Pira), Mario Fontana, & Maria - Teresa Mascarello (Cantina Mascarello Bartolo).

Montalcino will be represented by Stella di Campalto (San Giuseppe), Francesca Padovani (Fonterenza), newboy Andrea Mantengoli (Rasa) & the wines of Cerbaiona. Lorenza Sebasti Pallanti brings her fine Castello di Ama Chianti Classico range. From Lucca come the biodynamic jewels of Tenuta di Valgiano. Corte Sant'Alda's Marinella Camerani will be flying the flag for Valpolicella (Amarone); while showing only his second ever vintage will be Duccio Pompili (Fontecolle) from Umbria's Montefalco region. One of Sicily's best kept secrets, the lacy Rosso wines of Monte Etna, are to be showcased by Alberto Graci.

Such a fleet of exciting Italian producers & their wines have surely never graced the Vintners' splendid Hall; the turnout testament to their desire to pass on the news that Italian fine wine has never tasted so good. Come & join us, it'll be 'fantastico'!