Turin – Wonderful historical locations and best wines from Piedmont crowned the first edition of the Turin Wine Fair concluded with great success: over 13,000 visitors in the four symbolic locations of the city, Cavallerizza Reale, Museo del Risorgimento, Palazzo Birago & Palazzo Cisterna, and with an OFF schedule of over 100 events spread across 60 locations throughout the city, from Tuesday, February 28 to Monday, March 6.
The heart of the Turin Wine Fair event over the weekend of Saturday, March 4, and Sunday, March 5, totaled over 7,400 passages, reaching sold-out status before the doors opened. Even on Monday, March 6, the B2B day dedicated to sector professionals counted over 1,000 participants from local companies, buyers, wine shops, and restaurateurs. Social media engagement was very high, with over 5 million people reached thanks to the synergy with wine and Turin-loving influencers, bloggers, and journalists. A great event that animated the symbolic places of Turin, making the vast wine heritage of Piedmont known to the general public, in homage to the land and the wine activity between history and innovation.
Participation was very high at WOUSE, the wine-house of the Fair, which saw over 100 content creators, journalists, and illustrious figures from the world of wine alternate in a lineup of 18 events, including debates, tastings, and in-depth moments, registering sold-out in all events.
All places were sold out, often a week in advance, in the evenings that involved osterias and restaurants, such as the Barbera Red Night and the 100 Days in collaboration, respectively, with F.E.A. and EDT Editore.
Over 30 Masterclasses hosted some of the most important Italian wineries and their excellence.
The event now looks to the next edition and invites the public to join them in February 2024.
Moments of conviviality, in-depth discussions, and research took place during the conferences held at Palazzo Birago, headquarters of the Chamber of Commerce of Turin. Discussions focused on wine tourism and the presentation of a study on the effects of climate change on viticulture, reflecting on the consequences of environmental mutations and adaptation strategies through the direct involvement of industry operators. The three-year study is promoted and supported by the Chamber of Commerce of Turin and carried out in the field by Cia Agricoltori delle Alpi, in collaboration with the Chemical Laboratory of the Chamber of Commerce of Turin (project leader), the regional wine shop of Caluso, Arpa Piemonte, Aiab Piemonte, and the University of Turin.
There was a great turnout from the public, especially for the initiative organized by the Department of Management of the University of Turin, through which 500 questionnaires were completed by the public at the Cavallerizza Reale for an analysis of the trends in wine tourism in the province of Turin.
Among the significant moments was the pre-opening of the garden of Palazzo Cisterna for the public by the Metropolitan City of Turin, which will officially open its doors on Friday, March 24th, 2023. This result was possible thanks to the involvement of Palazzo Birago & Palazzo Cisterna, united in a single event and through a single common thread.
There was also success during the weekend for Wine in Cabrio, organized by Vendemmia Torino – Grapes in Town & Portici Divini aboard a bright red Cabrio Bus, reaching Villa della Regina in the company of a professional guide from Somewhere Tours&Events, exploring the fascinating world of wine and the Piedmont territory.
“We are happy to have hosted the Wine Fair and the great success it had among the public,” declares Mayor Stefano Lo Russo, “oenotourism is one of the symbols of Turin and Piedmont in the world and this is the spirit with which the City welcomes the event. We are convinced that this will be the first of a long series and we will try to strengthen this important appointment in the coming years. We intend to promote Turin in the world and with the Fair we will enhance a sector that creates jobs and at the same time is an integral part of our identity.”
“We are very satisfied with this first edition of the Fair, which saw us engaged both in promoting Turin wine, with the presence of over 60 local producers, three protection Consortia and the Regional Wine Shop of the Province of Turin, and in welcoming the public inside Palazzo Birago where, during the 12 scheduled Masterclasses, we recorded over 200 passages. Attendance at the conferences on Monday, where we talked about wine tourism and the impact of climate change on viticulture, was also excellent,” explains Dario Gallina, President of the Chamber of Commerce of Turin. “In general, the event brought together a very high number of young, interested and curious public who, also thanks to events like this, are learning to drink consciously and to discover the enormous cultural, landscape and entrepreneurial heritage that lies behind every bottle.”
Patrizio Anisio, Director of the Turin Wine Fair, adds: “We are really very happy with this first edition of the Turin Wine Fair. We are grateful to the many Piedmontese wineries, regional wine shops and Consortia from all over Piedmont who believed in the importance of a Wine Fair in Turin. The city has shown that it is ready to host a new major event dedicated to the world of wine, after a long time. We will work to make Turin the great House of Piedmontese Wine, in a story that talks about our excellence in Italy and in the international market.”