Minitaly 2012 -  24.-27.03.2012

This is exactly what we are working for…..giving you a lovely evening, with a great tasting, in a nice environment:

We love when you love our work!!
Cheers!!

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Vinitaly, the annual event that almost everybody in the Italian wine business has visited, at least once, has come to an end again.
Once again it was overwhelming at times, sometimes chaotic, always impossible to park, and reception with mobile phones is as “good” as on the peaks of Himalaya but all in all, it is worth it.
This year again the event offered the chance for trade and the common wine lover to visit all of Italy’s wine regions from north to south in four days, a lofty endeavor for even the most dedicated aficionado of this nectar of Bacco.
The event ambitiously aimed to be an opportunity for Italian and international salespeople, importers, clients and everyday consumers to convene in one location to conduct business. Just like the many previous years it turned out to be mostly a meet and greet and shaking of hands parade.
In the days during and immediately after the fair the word on the streets of Verona, at least from some producers, is that the new four day schedule made the fair more trade oriented, a positive thing in the eyes of most participants.
On the other hand rumors spread that overall numbers were down by some 20 percent this year. Sunday was crowded and Monday was even busier but Tuesday and Wednesday were easy to manage.

At Vinitaly there’s always too much to do, too many people to see, and not enough time or infrastructure within which to get it all done, yet we are all magically drawn to the event every year again and it is fun to be there after all.

Minitaly opened its doors to a selected group of clients and wine professionals for the 5^th time this year.
Ristorante Portofino, where this small “B2B fair” is traditionally held, is located only about 20 minutes from Verona. During the 4 days event importers and distributors of Italian wines came to taste over 400 wines from some 41 selected wine producers.
This year again Minitaly offered a professional work environment in a picturesque setting that is surrounded by vineyards and close to the Lake Garda. Before, during or after the tasting clients were able to enjoy lunch and dinner prepared by Chef Enzo Fogaroli, who with his team made the Minitaly experience a little culinary highlight.
For the team of Enoteca Nederland and the wine producers Minitaly 2012 was a success.
In the following Minitaly visitors have sent many positive comments and words of appreciation.
Producers were happy to find new distribution channels in a variety of international markets during Minitaly 2012.

Some little adjustments to the organization of Minitaly also helped to make the event even more convenient and pleasurable. The transportation to Minitaly from Verona and other pick-up/drop-off points this year was coordinated by a professional transportation service. In addition to that we added a simple Italian aperitif, highlighting some of the sparkling wines of our producers along with some cheeses, charcuterie and artisan breads. This time before the main dinner allowed for the participants to mingle amongst other wine professionals while taming the big appetite that built up during a long day of tasting. Minitaly had visitors from more than 17 countries this year. Far more than 500 delicious plates of food were served and the bottle count stopped at 600+.
During the last dinner several wine producers showcased large format bottles of some of the best vintages to celebrate this year’s event.

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Minitaly 2012 was a success for the clients and wine producers alike. In the days that have passed since Minitaly 2012 emails of many Minitaly-Enthusiasts have reached our offices calling this years event “very professional”, “lovely evening”, “great tasting”, “very smart initiative” and “perfect work environment”.

Our team is getting better every year with the coordination of transports, meetings, dinners and consultations. The wonderful team of Ristorante Portofino worked hard again to make every guest happy and to meet the high culinary expectations of all.

In total Minitaly had visitors from more than 17 countries, more than 500 outstanding plates were served and the bottle count stopped at 600… The last evening was celebrated with large format wines.

We are looking forward to welcoming new wine professionals and old Minitaly-Enthusiasts to our 2013 6th edition of our tailor-made tasting experience. Don’t forget to RSVP!

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Vinitaly: a highlight on the Italian wine agenda. Born in 1967, Vinitaly has grown to be a mature fair that brings more than 150.000 visitors to Verona every year, some 4000 exhibitors showcase their products and the hospitality industry in Verona replenishes the accounts that dried up over the meager winter months. Vinitaly also brings a hard-to-match chaos to the quaint little city of Verona. The well dressed police and traffic officers are overwhelmed with the amount of cars trying to make their way to the fair’s main entrance. Their facial expressions scream “apocalypse”.  Verona streets and the highways leading to the fair seem like a sausage that is about to burst it’s casing. The fair organizers contribute to the chaos by changing entry times, entrance “rules” and entrance locations. Once a visitor has made his way through the traffic-sausage the search for the last semi-legal  parking spot begins. Once the vehicle is deposited in a spot that strikes the balance of being not too far from the fair, not being too exposed to damage and arguably “legal”, the pilgrimage to the nearest fair entrance begins. Walking on the sidewalks becomes a challenge as desperate visitors neatly parked their cars on every inch of free space. But not to worry, one can share the street where cars crawl with an underwhelming speed towards their destination. Upon the arrival at the entrance, or the gate where once upon a time WAS your entrance of choice, you will wait in line with all the other eno-pilgrims. Whereas opening the gates at an earlier hour, to allow for the masses to diversify their entry-strategy, the organizers of this event decided to make the access process an experience like standing in line for a backstage pass of some teenage idol. Already running behind schedule due to traffic, parking and access-challenges the day at Vinitaly is full of late appointments, shaking hands and courtesy visits. If time allows one can enjoy one of the semi-delicious fair-paninis and a glass of Paulaner beer (why German beer is served is a mystery) for lunch. Good luck also with the bathroom cue after lunch. Towards the end of the day the visitor will most likely experience an involuntary shoulder-check-experience with one of the many highly intoxicated “wine enthusiasts”. In the early evening hours fair management reminds visitors to plan their exit-strategy. The eno-pilgrims now have to go through the same experience of the morning hours but with people that have been drinking wine directly out of bottles since 3PM. Exit line, taxi line, traffic sausage….have fun!

Minitaly:  established 5 years ago Minitaly is a tailor made tasting experience for importers, distributors and wine professionals. Only about 20 minutes from Verona this little “B2B fair” hosts some 250 invited guests and wine makers. 41 SELECTED wine producers show heir products at the pitoresc Portofino Ristorante. Surrounded by vineyards clients can have lunch and dinner before, during or after the wine tasting. A calm and professional atmosphere allows guests to focus on the wine. Chef Enzo Fogaroli and his team offer outstanding service and fresh, light cuisine. In the evening guests get to talk to the the winemakers and importers from around the world.

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The fist day of Minitaly was a great success. With great joy did we welcome many of our repeat visitors and some new Minitaly-Aficionados and many producers. After long hours of tasting all the guests gathered for an aperitivo followed by another outstanding 5 course meal by Chef Enzo Fogaroli and his team.

• 14 nationalities
• 60+ guests
• 243 wine bottles opened
• 10 wine producers

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The optimist says the glass is half full.
The pessimist says the glass is half empty.
The project manager says the glass is twice as big as it needs to be.
The realist says the glass contains half the required amount of liquid for it to overflow.

The worrier frets that the remaining half will evaporate by next morning.
The fanatic thinks the glass is completely full, even though it isn’t.
The entrepreneur sees the glass as undervalued by half its potential.
And the cynic… wonders who drank the other half.

Our job is to make sure that your glasses are never completely empty. Thus we are motivated to pour you many of the delicious wines we show at the Minitaly 2012

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At Minitaly 2012 guest can not only taste more than 400 wines but they are able to enjoy some outstanding dishes created by Chef Enzo Fogaroli, known for his outstandingly fresh fish dishes.

Come and enjoy with us.

Cheers!

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All preparations for our 5th MINITALY were completed during a breathtakingly beautiful spring day near the Lake Garda.Glasses are polished, cork screws are sharpened…

We are looking forward to tasting and working with you.

Your Minitaly-Team

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