Huge Success for SensOfWine NYC 2009

The Second Annual SensOfWine USA - the premier Italian wine tasting by Luca Maroni, noted Italian wine expert - was deemed a huge Success. More than 1000 participants attended the event at Cipriani 42nd Street in New York City, tasting more than 100 of the best Italian wines from the top Italian wine producers.

Luca Maroni’s SensOfWine USA tasting, organized in collaboration with New York-based epicurean society Alta Cucina Society, and held at Cipriani’s fabulous catering hall on 42^nd Street was deemed a huge success by importers, producers and consumers alike. Over 1000 people attended the event sponsored by Buon Italia, Veronafiere, Alitalia, Alta Cucina, Venere.com, and Enomatic. “I have never been at an event with such exquisite service by the staff,” an importer exclaimed. Many more participants would have gladly come but the event was sold out in few days. Expectations are that next year’s event will be even bigger. Cipriani’s beautiful hall with its marble floors, chandeliers, and wooded roof was a perfect venue to showcase premier Italian food and wines.  

Luca Maroni’s events in Rome, generally held over a two day period each November, garner as many as 20,000 participants. He has written volumes of articles and books on wine and has introduced many novices to the wine world. Maroni has tasted more than 130,000 wines using a specific methodology. “It is precisely in times of crisis and general contraction of market demand, when Italian wine shows all of their potential,” Maroni noted. In 2008, Italian wine exports surpassed those of France for the first time in a decade.

Participants were able to taste more than 100 wines from a variety of regions, grape varieties, and importers. Wines made from relatively unknown indigenous grapes from Calabria, Campania, Liguria, Le Marche and Sicily were on offer as were those made from more well-known grape varieties from Piedmont and Tuscany.  Maroni hopes to make this an annual event and judging by the response, he is not alone. Cipriani’s service was impeccable as were the culinary delicacies offered by Cipriani and Buon Italia.

A special part of the evening was dedicated to an awards ceremony to honor people who have made a special and outstanding contribution to the US-Italian Wine Business. Vias, a boutique Italian wine importer and David Lynch, an author, a journalist and Wine Director/Sommelier each received SensOfWine awards of excellence.