121 award-winning wines, international guests, and Councillor Bongioanni—speaker on the competitiveness of Piedmontese wines in times of tariffs—was inducted among the Knights with the title of Honor.
Amidst vineyards painted in the colors of the harvest, on Saturday, September 20, the 326th Chapter of the Selection of the Great Wines of the Albese was held in the Conference Hall of the Castle of Grinzane Cavour. The event was dedicated to the wineries chosen by the Tasting Commission, which met last May under the chairmanship of AIS Piemonte President Mauro Carosso, who commented on the 50th Selection as follows:
“The Selection of the Great Wines of the Albese is a unique opportunity for the wineries of this territory to present their wines to an international audience, which also includes collectors who recognize the value of the great Piedmontese wines. They contribute to strengthening their prestige on the global stage and to placing them on the pedestal they deserve.”
This year, 74 wineries were awarded, with as many as 121 winning wines, a testament to the ever-higher level achieved by the productions of Langhe, Monferrato, and Roero.
“An important milestone for our Selection,” stated Grand Master Tomaso Zanoletti, “which was established in 1975 when the decision was made to select among the wines of the wineries belonging to the Wine Roads. That year, only one producer passed the 90/100 threshold: Francesco Rinaldi, awarded with a 1970 Barbaresco. Today, around 100 wineries take part each year among those belonging to the Regional Enoteca Piemontese Cavour, and this makes us proud of the path we have taken in promoting our wines, which now reach tables all over the world. We are also pleased to host the Knights of the Hungarian Delegation, who visited several wineries in the area and chose to conclude their annual journey here.”
The cultural section of the Chapter was entrusted to the Regional Councillor for Agriculture, Trade, Tourism and Sport, Paolo Bongioanni, speaker of the conference “Piedmontese Wines Facing the Challenge of Tariffs.”
“Promotion, innovation, research, and genetics must be the key words to face today’s challenges,” stressed Bongioanni. “The 15% customs duties imposed by the United States, combined with the weakening of the dollar, result in an entry cost of 30%, creating difficulties especially for smaller companies. It is essential to diversify markets and invest in effective communication to support our agri-food supply chain and open new commercial opportunities worldwide.”
During the ceremony, Grand Master Zanoletti presented the Knight’s Collar to 9 Postulants and conferred upon Councillor Bongioanni the title of Honorary Knight.
The evening continued with an aperitif in the Castle park, followed by dinner by Chef Alessandro Mecca, served between the evocative Cavour Hall and the historic Hall of Masks.
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