Award ceremony in Rome dedicated to big names in the industry and important considerations on the evolution of the wine world. New markets, strong roots, innovative stylistic approach and modern language.
After the trip to the Far East, which saw the 18 families of Istituto Grandi Marchi protagonists of a double meeting in Tokyo and Seoul, the group makes a stop in Rome for the presentation of the international award reserved for the most important names in the field of journalism. The award was established to enhance those who every day, with their passion and professionalism, contribute to the spread of Italian wine culture. Over the years it has been awarded to prominent figures such as Burton Anderson, Jens Priewe, Monica Larner, James Suckling and Wine Spectator magazine.
This was the turn of Isao Miyajima, a close friend of DoctorWine and one of the leading wine experts in Japan, who was honored with the award for his valuable work in popularizing and enhancing the entire wine and food heritage. Not coincidentally, Miyajima in 2014 received the honor of Commendatore dell’Ordine della Stella d’Italia (Commander of the Order of the Star of Italy) from then-President of the Republic Giorgio Napolitano, demonstrating his active interest that, from 1983 to the present day, sees him as one of the greatest connoisseurs of our country’s territories and productions of excellence.
The comments of the protagonists
“It’s with great pleasure that as an Institute this year we bestow our recognition on Isao Miyajima – said the President Piero Mastroberardino -. Besides being the foremost expert on Italian wine and food in Japan, he is also above all a dear friend of ours and of the Italian producers whose every secret he knows. Over the more than two decades of our activity (and again last June in Tokyo) he has led the many master classes we have given, always with great competence and dedication “.
“This recognition is a great honor for me –
said Isao Miyajima – I lived from 1983 to 1989 in Rome: these were the years of the so-called Italian wine renaissance. I was fascinated by these wines born from the new philosophy of great quality, innovative and modern but at the same time respectful of a great tradition. These wines changed my life and I began to write about them. The producers of the Istituto Grandi Marchi are all protagonists of that era full of enthusiasm: I am deeply grateful to them of course for this recognition but also for bringing me with their products into the beautiful world of Italian wine.”
Wine world considerations
The award ceremony was also an opportunity to reflect on the most appropriate strategies to adopt, in light of the current state of the sector, confirming Istituto Grandi Marchi’s commitment to promoting the excellence of Italian wine in dialogue with the most authoritative voices of national and international journalism.
“The wine world is going through a period of major changes that require vision and focused strategies on multiple fronts – explained Piero Mastroberardino, president of Istituto Grandi Marchi – from language choices to production choices to internationalization strategies: every decision must take into account the changing context. Our companies are aware of this and have always played the role of those who anticipate trends, interpreting their expectations in terms of stylistic evolution, while remaining consistent with their historical, family and territorial references.
The processes of innovation never end and allow one to remain a guardian of one’s roots. The commitment to markets continues, taking care to invest, as is the Institute’s tradition, both in mature markets, where there is already great awareness of the value of Italian wine, and in developing markets.
This is a direction we have been pursuing for years and pioneering, as evidenced by the growth of those once emerging countries that are now an integral part of the global success of Italian wine of excellence.”
The next leg of the Istituto Grandi Marchi program will be held in Mexico from October 20 to 22. There will be master classes, walkaround tastings and meetings with ho.re.ca operators and the press in Mexico City and Cancun.
They are part of Istituto Grandi Marchi: Ambrogio & Giovanni Folonari, Antinori, Argiolas, Ca' del Bosco, Carpenè Malvolti , Col d'Orcia, Donnafugata, Jermann, Lungarotti, Masi, Mastroberardino, Michele Chiarlo, Pio Cesare, Rivera, Tasca d'Almerita, Tenuta San Guido, Tenuta San Leonardo, Umani Ronchi.
