Wednesday, February 27, 2008 Vancouver Convention & Exhibition Centre
The Playhouse Winefest shifted its trade attention from wine packaging in 2007 to the future of Sangiovese in 2008. Wine Access editor-in-chief Anthony Gismondi led an industry panel highlighted by a special presentation by Ruffino's Maurizio Bogoni. The audience was then polled on a number of questions relating to Sangiovese.
Sponsored by Wine Access and ContainerWorld
Clones are key and proper clonal selection will ultimately determine whether this grape has a long-term future outside of Tuscany.
Is Sangiovese at its best when bottled on its own or blended?
As Cabernet Sauvignon is the best selling red varietal wine in the world, would you be more likely to buy a Cabernet or a Tuscan Sangiovese to accompany your meal?
Would you be prepared to pay as much for a Sangiovese as you would for a Cabernet or any other red variety or blend?
With respect to Chianti, which is by law a minimum of 80% Sangiovese, do you personally identify with Chianti as:
If you had the power to put the word Sangiovese on any Italian label, would you put in the front or the back label?
Would you consider Tuscan Sangiovese as similar in quality, superior to, or inferior to, equivalently priced New World Cabernet Sauvignon?
Which of the following characteristics of Sangiovese have the most appeal to you?
It is 2013. You have just walked into a retail liquor/wine store, and you look for a Sangiovese based wine. You look:
Maurizio Bogoni began his academic journey in the wine world with a first-class honours degree in Agricultural Science at the University of Milan in 1989. Five years later he obtained the qualification for the profession of
Agronomist after successfully defending his thesis on quantitative genetic analysis applied in a grapevine breeding strategy. Maurizio has authored or co-authored more than 80 papers, including research papers, short communications, reviews, articles on science and cultivation of fruit trees and grapevines. In 1992 he started working as a consultant for Ruffino in site and clone selection and has been Director of Ruffino Estates for six years.
PATRICIA BRUNO, DIRECTOR OF SALES, PHILIPPE DANDURAND WINES LTD.
Patricia Bruno started her career in the wine industry 16 years ago as Promotions Coordinator with Andres Wines. She immediately fell in love with the business and decided the wine industry – exciting, fun and enjoyable –
would allow her to develop and grow to her potential. Patricia continued at Andres as Licensee Sales Rep, later joined Medallion Wine Marketing, then Southcorp Canada. In 2003 she became Sales Manager for Maxxium Canada and most recently has taken on the role of Director of Sales for BC at Philippe Dandurand Wines Ltd. Patricia credits her wine knowledge from her experience of working with some of the best portfolios in the industry and her extensive travel to many wineries around the world, including Italy,
Australia, New Zealand, France, California and BC’s own Okanagan Valley.
ADOLFO FOLONARI, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, RUFFINO
To Adolfo Folonari, his passion for wine was a birthright. “Being a member of a family that has been involved in the wine business since the end of the 1700s, I think wine is part of my soul,” he says simply. Officially
joining the family business in 1990, Adolfo is now the CEO, energetically guiding Ruffino into the 21st century with his thorough understanding of traditional and modern winemaking techniques, solid business skills and expertise in managing the intricacies of export markets. Having been raised on the very land he now works – he is the third generation of Folonaris to lead Ruffino – Adolfo adds to his role as CEO the deep understanding and abiding love of the traditions of Tuscany that only a native son can
possess.
ANTHONY GISMONDI, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, WINE ACCESS
Anthony Gismondi is one of Canada’s most influential wine critics. He is currently in his eleventh year at Wine Access – Canada’s Wine and Food Authority, his fourth as editor-in-chief, and he is completing 19 years as
the weekly columnist at The Vancouver Sun where his full page Saturday column reaches over 800,000 homes. His personal, comprehensive wine website, www.gismondionwine.com, attracts over 750,000 hits a month from 60 countries. An avid proponent of appellations and site specific wines Anthony spends at least three months of the year traveling the world’s vineyards to experience the wine notion of ‘terroir’ in person.
HOWARD SOON, MASTER WINEMAKER, SANDHILL AND CALONA WINES
Howard Soon was raised amid the 1960’s hippie culture of Vancouver quintessential neighbourhood, Kitsilano. He studied Biochemistry at the University of British Columbia, Business Administration at the University of Manitoba and after
five years at Labatt Brewing in Winniipeg, Howard moved to the Okanagan in 1980 to begin his winemaking career. In 1997, he was handed his most prestigious assignment – Sandhill. His study of viticulture and his determination to grow the highest quality grapes have become fundamental to Sandhill’s exploratory Small Lots Program. Howard is one of a select group of certified wine educators in Canada. He is an experienced judge of wine and has served on the panels of several major wine competitions in Canada and
the US, including the LA County Fair.
STUART TOBE, CONTRIBUTOR AND TASTING PANEL MEMBER, WINE ACCESS
Stuart Tobe is a regular Wine Access contributor and tasting panel member and is the Director of Tastings for Gismondionwine.com (www.gismondionwine.com). He has a BSc in
biochemistry/Microbiology, a MSc degree in Enology from the University of California Davis, an MBA and is a CFA charter holder. Stuart has been active in the wine industry for over 25 years and has worked as an assistant winemaker in several countries in addition to his work as a management consultant in the beverage industry worldwide. Stuart is also a Past President of the Vancouver Australian Wine Appreciation Society and is a council member of the Commanderie de Bordeaux chapter in Vancouver. In addition to his
writing and wine judging duties, Stuart continues to provide business valuation, financing and investment research services for non-resource related industries from his base in Vancouver.
I spent last weekend at the annual wine inundation known as Vancouver Playhouse Wine Festival—an event that locals and winery visitors argue is the best of its kind in Canada. It’s actually not even arguable...
