Best Wine Star 2023 Milan: an announced success

The fourth edition of Best Wine Stars has ended: the Milanese tasting event is back with its fourth edition from 20 to 22 May at the “Palazzo del Ghiaccio”, offering the public many new features and numerous reconfirmations. The more than 200 selected Italian and international companies, coming from the food and wine and spirits sector, have been part of a project aimed at creating engaging opportunities for in-depth study both for experts and enthusiasts where the culture of wine and spirits is promoted by divulging the history and the uniqueness of each individual product and company.

200 international wine and spirits companies, 3 days of event, prizes and awards, masterclasses, talks and round tables that welcomed thousands of visitors, journalists, enthusiasts and buyers. There are many Italian wineries present, as well as some from abroad; the accessories for wine and the section dedicated to books and tourism are interesting.

I had the chance to get to know several wineries and tasted their wines. Of all the ones I visited, I found the Tuscan ones very interesting, in particular the Gramineta Organic Farm which from the Tuscan Maremma fascinated me with its "Litiano", a full-bodied red wine made only from large-berried Sangiovese grapes, selected grain by grain and aged for five years in French oak barrels. Rossella Cicalini, manager of the company also explained to me that these grapes were harvested by hand, as in the past, choosing individual bunches of grapes from each plant, to bring only the best of the production to the cellar: a real explosion of pleasure on the palate. In one word “Spectacular”!

Another incredible wine, also from Tuscany, that I tasted is the Gran Selezione Chianti Classici DOCG from the Santo Stefano Farm in Greve in Chianti. The owner Elena Bendinelli with her brothers told me that this particular wine is: a blend of 90% Sangiovese and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon grapes; a wine with a taste of red fruit with notes of raspberry, which meets the gentle aroma of wild lily flowers, fine and elegant with a pleasant alcoholic structure; the patiently selected grapes are placed to ferment in steel vats and then to refine in French oak barrels for 30 months, until bottling. Really charming!

The third wine I appreciated is the Taurasi DOCG from Cantine Calafé in Avellino: the maximum expression of the regulation and refinement of one of the oldest grape varieties in Italy: Aglianico. Benito Petrillo, Ceo of the company confirmed to me that the grapes of this cru come from historic territorial areas of Taurasi, Montemarano and Castelfranci, in the southern area of the DOCG from higher and more long-lived vineyards (even 60/80 years) which are harvested belatedly to express a greater potential for aging. The grapes are then harvested exclusively by hand and this creates the masterpiece...

On the nose, the aromas of ripe cherry, plum, blackberry, licorice and balsamic notes of eucalyptus are enriched with complex empyreumatic notes. In the mouth a great structure that fills the palate, fresh and savory with well-present but melted tannins. Beyond the balance, the wine offers sumptuousness and complexity of great texture. It is a wine for dishes of great structure, also rich in spices: grilled game, lamb and veal, with truffles. Very seasoned cheeses, including extranational ones. Perfect for meditation.

Another noteworthy wine is the Sicilian Pietrasacra from Casa Vinicola Fazio. Lilly Ferro Fazio, CEO of the company shared the idea of this DOC Erice, a Nero d'Avola, coming from the historic vineyards of Sicily; elegant, sophisticated and complex in taste and structure, characterized by pleasant fruity and spicy notes and a robust body that make it ideal for refined dishes, but intense and decisive in taste. To try!

Interesting are the many varieties from Calabria which is represented here by many winemakers. Among these I chose the Scerò, an IGT red wine from the Brigha Agricultural Society. Speaking with Alberto Mentana, he explained to me that this wine is the result of the best Calabrese selections grown on the hills of Bova, a municipality in the Grecanica area. This wine with an intense ruby color and an ethereal, pleasant, spicy bouquet is obtained from here. An ideal red with a dry, full, robust but velvety flavour.

A particular story that fascinated me was born from the meeting between two people who arrived from Latvia twenty years ago in the wonderful Gallura and fell in love with this place.

Oksana Korolisina confirms to me that the passion for this territory and for the wine has ensured that Vermentino DOCG has been produced here, a wine with pronounced flavors of pear, lime and grapefruit with strong notes of Granny Smith apple and almond notes and floral notes of daffodils.

I remember the Masterclasses to taste and better understand the various wines followed by many enthusiasts, but also by some buyers.

Let's not forget the section dedicated to distillates where I mention three companies that particularly interested me: the first is Treviso-based Trevisi: legend has it that its ancient recipe was found inside one of the four shipwrecks that disappeared in a cove sheltered by the river Sile, where the Burci cemetery is still located.

Gingum, born with the experience and passion of Roberto Pordenon for oriental martial disciplines. The name GinGum derives from the pronunciation of the word “jingum”, which means "true blade" in Korean and this Gin, with its 42° degrees, its 10 botanicals (Juniper, Cinnamon, Angelica, Coriander, White pepper, Sichuan pepper, Grapefruit , sweet-leaved bramble, elderberry and finally black tea) and free from artificial flavors, it allows us to savor the fresh initial hints of juniper, driven by slightly pungent herbaceous notes which, with the oxygenation of a few minutes, give way to more soft, floral and delicately fruity children of the aromatic interaction of the 10 botanicals that compose it.

Another interesting company is Gianluca Zorzi's Still which, from his passion for distillates and his previous activity as a chemist, has practically freed pure taste with innovation and balance. A must for those who always create new cocktails.

Let's not forget all the wine accessories presented here by Silvia Ghezzi of iPromo who presented wine accessories and various promotional gadgets… and by Vinstrip who helped us in the tastings with the official cup holder of the event and much more.

I end this event with the editorial part of Wine Meridian created by Lavinia Furlani and Fabio Piccoli, to give a voice to Italian winemakers and help all fans of the nectar of Bacchus. Speaking with Roxana Zeca, Marketing & Export Consultant, she explained to me that this is not just a magazine, but organizes events and promotes wine tourism.

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