“All the nerds – the wine bloggers – in Italy are here.” That’s what a wine producer said to me after four hours in the humid halls of the very grand Palazzo Ducale in Genoa. This latest edition of Filippo Ronco’s TigullioVino show seems to be well attended, and it certainly has a visibility and importance beyond its appeal to a dozen or two bloggers. Some big-name producers are here, such as Planeta, Zenato and Lageder. Plenty of medium-sized ones that have a presence at many shows in Italy and abroad, including Tenuta Manincor from Alto-Adige, Poggio Argentiera from Tuscany and Gulfi from Sicily.
I’ve seen many familiar faces, of course among the many bloggers and their amici – Aristide, Luca and Filippo himself. And a lot of others who look maddeningly familiar, including one guy (a journalist, I believe) who looks disturbingly like James Lipton. Yes, that is disturbing, let’s not deny it.
The best thing about such a manifestazione is finding very small wineries whose products are of good to great quality, and almost always at very attractive price points. A previous find was the very good and well-priced whites of Pianbello (Piemonte) and this time the delicious Grillo of Caruso e Minini. Another standout: the dessert wines of Marco ----, who is a neighbor of Mario Zanusso of I Clivi. (Sorry, Marco, someone may grab you for the US market.)
It’s 4 pm and the crowds are getting thicker. Fewer journalists (including bloggers) and more members of the public.
I take that back. A decrepit-looking couple with a cameraman just toddled in. Fil’s going to get pretty good coverage, and not just in the local media, where anyone who brings a little life to a dying downtown is newsworthy on his own. Wait -- a decrepit RAI reporter and cameraman just came in. Real good coverage. It will of course be the endless, droning voiceover with scenes of the crowd, no focus or anything that might make it interesting. Maybe a few seconds of Fil speaking, though as likely without sound as with, while the reporter drones on and on. That seem to like it that way. Che so io?
This is supposed to be live blogging but, as luck would have it, “We’ve been having a problem with Mac.” Shit. After years of scorning Macs as effete, I buy one and there’s still a problem with it.
This thing goes on till 10 pm, after which many of the exhibitors and their friends have dinner at the Ducal Palace. I’ll be there, hoping for some incident that will give me a chance to write a sensational headline and dish a little dirt. It’s more realistic to assume that everyone will be too pooped for any shenanigans. Fil, what's with this marathon schedule? Last year the exhibitors were done about 6 pm.
Weeeellllll shooooot, it’s a long day on the ole wine trail, ain’t it, Paw?
it certainly has been a long day on the wine trail... Looking forward to dirt from the Ducal Palace...
sincerely, Zelig (aka wine blogger nerd)
Posted by: Jeremy Parzen | June 16, 2008 at 12:31 PM
You guys have been having all the fun, while those of us in "flyover" country have been bailing and flailing.
Give us something bright and sparkly, eh?
Posted by: Alfonso | June 16, 2008 at 05:04 PM
We try to be attentive to the needs of the working classes, Alfonso. We really do.
Zelig, I heard no new dirt. Recycled dirt only. A tragic disappointment.
Tomorrow to Verona. Thursday we fly home. BTW, from Italy to New York, FRANCE is flyover country. Not so bad, wot?
Posted by: th | June 16, 2008 at 07:00 PM
bet I know who the nerd was. Pot calling kettle, I'd say. Strappo, we are bereft...come back soon...
Posted by: justine | June 17, 2008 at 01:44 AM
T,
nice meeting you and s'il te plait, change your photo..you do not look that old to me..who took your photos anyway?
Did you meet Neville? i sat beside an old man with a cane and talks with a heavy british accent while taking a break from the tastings..is he, the famous Sir Neville of bacchusandcomus.com? he came with a lady that speaks English in a different accent (maybe his italian translator?)
Posted by: Ronald | June 17, 2008 at 04:44 AM
Caro Terry, sono d'accordo con Ronald, change the photo!
Posted by: tirebouchon | June 17, 2008 at 05:13 AM
piffle. you look terribly distinguished...like David Niven in shades.
Posted by: justine | June 17, 2008 at 09:40 AM
I suppose that means I'm chopped liver...
:-)
Posted by: Mike Tommasi | June 17, 2008 at 10:34 AM
Justine, Strappo miss you all. (sob!)
Ronald, I'm sorry I missed Neville. Damn it! But we were very busy so...(Italian shoulder action with palms extended).
Mike, you're not angry, you're my brother.
Next post from Amerika, I believe. Breaking news: the Bush administration wants to permanentize its trampling of the Bill of Rights! This should end carping about all the absurd freedoms we've been enjoying for 232 years...because it will soon be treasonous to do so. Bravo, Dick!
Posted by: th | June 18, 2008 at 01:44 PM