During a recent prolonged April weekend, the Northern Italian city of Verona hosted thousands of visitors for the VINITALY 2025. Modern kissing couples and tourists, interested in the ancient and romantic city of Verona, home city of Romeo and Juliet, not only gathered under downtown’s Juliet’s balcony. Many of them moved also beyond Piazza Bra and the city’s ancient Porta Nuova. Their destination has been the 57th International Wine and Spirits Trade Show. The event was held in the suburbs of the city. Over 3600 exhibitors from around the world attended VINITALY 2025. The international wine show lasted from the 6th to the 9th of April 2025. There were many different visitors. They included wine lovers, tourists, buyers, sellers, journalists, bloggers, foodies, and wine experts. Exporters, importers, politicians, and economists were also there. Producers, buyers and sellers discussed the impact of the new U.S. import taxes and how to attract a new generation of foreign wine consumers. Also the farmers’ union Coldiretti actively participated. The Union advertised fair income requests for Italian farmers and a healthy and environmentally friendly farming. Many experts brainstormed about the impact of the new US importation tariffs. They also discussed what to do best for the Italian wine market worldwide. Others discussed the financial burden on exporters and importers of wine and spirits. They were concerned about rising import-export tariffs.

During VINITALY 2025, several members of the Coldiretti Union shared their beliefs. They commented on the United States’ increased import taxes under the Trump Administration. These taxes will create a harsh economic situation on both sides of the ocean. Their fears revolved around economic difficulties and tough times ahead. According to many, high export taxes will impact the daily life and incomes of farmers, producers, and exporters in Italy. They will also affect the pockets of consumers throughout the United States and the world. High U.S. taxes will not only elevate prices of Italian wines. They will also increase costs for olive oil, pasta, and a variety of cheeses. Prices of cheeses, such as Parmigiano Reggiano, Grana Padano, gorgonzola, mascarpone, and provolone will be especially affected.

“Prices will rise for us in Italy and in the world…to what greater purpose?” commented and asked a Coldiretti flag carrier during the international event.

At the three day long VINITALY 2025 event, participants explored a wide range of wines and spirits. These came from various regions of Italy. For those participants interested in specifics, statisticians focused on wine consumption and on wine cultivated land surfaces. Their study, for example, showed that some countries have increased their wine-growing land surface. Countries like China, the United States, Australia, and India are among them. They have also increased wine production. In contrast, famous wine countries such as France, Spain, Austria, and Italy have seen a decrease in wine-growing land. Their wine production has also decreased. According to Eurostat, during 2024, European wine and spirits export has been valued at 29.8 billions of euros with French export placement ahead of the Italian and the Spanish (Il Corriere Vinicolo Vino in Cifre Edizione Speciale – Aprile 2025; p. 4 and Eurostat export statistics published by newspaper Avvenire – 29 Aprile 2025; p. 19).

VINITALY 2025 participants also enjoyed alcoholic and non-alcoholic wine cocktails. They tasted, evaluated, and commented on what was offered, exhibited and displayed. Several wine and cocktail classes were held by professional sommeliers. Samplings and recipes targeted those eager to learn. Red and white still wines seemed to be recommended for menus of fine dining experiences and for selective baby boomers. White sparkling wines, like Prosecco, seem to reflect the trendy choice for casual finger food parties. Several demonstrations focused on serving new wine creations for a younger generation. Several presenters agreed that the “under 44” customers have money to spend. They prefer sparkling concoctions instead of classic reds or whites. Very young consumers have eclectic palates. For them, demonstrations focused on nonalcoholic wine drinks. Sweet and colorful cocktails were also highlighted. Many of these cocktails focused on sparkling wines and fruit flavored additions (Il Corriere Vinicolo N.11 31 Marzo 2025; p. 7).

To celebrate VINITALY 2025 and the Colli Piacentini region, the ASSOCIAZIONE BARMEN ITALIANI presented several interesting cocktails. These cocktails were especially crafted for a new generation palate. If you could not attend VINITALY 2025 and missed the Colli Piacentini Masterclasse, I have two wine cocktails I particularly liked for you.

“PINEAPPLE DREAMS” SPARKLING WINE COCKTAIL BY CLAUDIO FIORA

A cocktail with a pleasantly and delicate sweet tropical flavor. In a shaker, place cubes of ice and plantation pineapple rum. Add all other ingredients. Shake them well together with white sparkling Colli Piacentini’s DOC Ortrugo wine.

Ingredients: Ice cubes, 3 cl. Plantation pineapple rum, 2 cl. pineapple juice (bio), 1 cl. rose Monin syrup (Italian rose flavored syrup), 4 drops Magic Velvet (Italian vegan non alcoholic cocktail foamer), 8 cl. sparkling Colli Piacentini’s DOC Ortrugo wine.

“AL BICER DAL NOBIL” RED SPARKLING WINE COCKTAIL BY ANDREA USBERTI

A cocktail with a scent of spice and fruit. In a shaker, place cubes of ice, peach liqueur and all other ingredients. Shake well and pour in a glass with red sparkling Colli Piacentini’s DOC Gutturnio wine.

Ingredients: Ice cubes, 2 cl. peach liqueur, 2 cl. strawberry liqueur, 3 cl. orange, cinnamon and cloves infusion, 1 cl. lime Monin syrup, 1 cl. raspberry syrup, 6 cl. red sparkling Colli Piacentini’s DOC Gutturnio wine.

For more of these cocktail recipes: collipacentinidoc.it – Consorzio Tutela Vini Doc Colli Piacentini; Direzione Generale Agricoltori, Caccia e Pesca Regione Emilia Romagna and Associazione Barmen Italiani.

MORE ON WINES FROM THE “COLLI PIACENTINI” AREA (EMILIA ROMAGNA) AND ON GIUGGIOLE:

The city of Piacenza, with its 103,000 inhabitants and a well kept ancient downtown, is about 43 miles south of Milan and includes the Colli Piacentini wine region. It is 112 miles east of Turin, 56 miles west of Brescia, and 318 miles north of Rome. The city is surrounded by water rich rivers, fertile flat land, hills, and vineyards. The Colli Piacentini region is especially known for the red sparkling DOC Gutturnio, the white sparkling DOC Ortrugo, the DOC Colli Piacentini, with its golden yellow Trebbianino and the sweet Malvasia Candia Aromatica.

A LONG FORGOTTEN FRUIT – GIUGGIOLE

They look like hard dates or brown olives but are not. They grow on trees here and there throughout Emilia Romagna where they are harvested and preserved under spirit. Giuggiole, known also as either Jujube or jujuba, are also called “red dates” or “Chinese dates” or “Chinese jujube.” The fruit belongs to the Ziziphus buckthorn plant family. Italian “giuggiole” should not be confused with the Indian jujube. They are harvested throughout Emilia Romagna and grow in areas with a temperate to tropical climate. Indian jujubes grow only in warm subtropical and tropical regions. When “giuggiole” are ripe, they can be eaten like any other fruit that has a pit. In Italy, they are also dried or preserved in vinegar or “grappa.” Sometimes they are used to make jams or candies or served like appetizers.

ABOUT THE NORTHERN ITALIAN AUTONOMOUS REGION OF TRENTINO ALTO ADIGE – ALSO KNOWN AS TRENTINO AND SOUTH TYROL OR SUEDTIROL AND ITS RED AND WHITE WINES:

One autonomous region made of two provinces. Trentino has its capital in the town of Trento. Alto Adige, also called South Tyrol or Suedtirol, has its capital in Bozen, also known as Bolzano. A region in northern Italy bordering Switzerland and Austria. The region is known for its medieval castles. Some of these castles include: Castel Beseno and Castello del Buonconsiglio which in the XVI century was home to the Prince Bishop who initiated the Council of Trento. Other notable castles are Schloss Tirol, Schloss Runkelstein, and Schloss Eppan. The region is marked by the Dolomites, a portion of the Northern Italian Alps. Various ethnic groups inhabit this region. They speak either Italian or Austrian German. Ancient Germanic or Romanic languages such as Cimbro, Mocheno, and Ladin are also spoken. A region of 13,606 km² which until 1919 was part of the Habsburg’s Austrian Hungarian Empire.

FOR THOSE WHO LIKE A GREAT STEAK WITH A FINE RED WINE FROM TRENTINO

I call myself a baby boomer and traditional firm wine consumer. For my meat and red wine pairing, if I am staying in the Northern Italian region of Trentino Alto Adige, I love serving Trentino’s Sandri Pojer‘s red wines; either a Sandri Pojer‘s ROSSO FAYE with the little Duerer* rabitt label or Sandri Pojer’s PINOT NERO with the man leaning against a tree label.

WHERE TO ORDER AND PURCHASE POJER E SANDRI’S REDS RED AND WHITE WINES IN NORTHERN ITALY (TRENTINO):

POJER E SANDRI WINERY – VINI GRAPPE DISTILLATI E ACETI – FEDERICO SANDRI – +39 345 9942833 – email: federico@pojersandri.it – http://www.pojersandri.it – Via Molini 4, 38098 San Michele all’Adige, Faedo (TN), NORTHERN ITALY (TRENTINO)

WHERE TO PURCHASE A GREAT BEEF STEAK IN NORTHERN ITALY (TRENTINO):

MACELLERIA (BUTCHER) MARSILLI since 1929, VIA GARIBALDI, 27 – 38068 ROVERETO, NORTHERN ITALY (TRENTINO) – Tel. +39 0464 421233 – Email: macelleriamarsilli@gmail.com

For those who like fishing a mountain trout or eating or ordering it grilled, I tasted at VINITALY 2025: the white Eisacktal Valle Isarco Kerner, and Eisacktal Valle Isarco Sylvaner from Northern Italy (South Tyrol).

WHERE TO ORDER AND PURCHASE THE EISACKTAL VALLE ISARCO KERNER AND THE EISACKTAL VALLE ISARCO SYLVANER FROM NORTHERN ITALY (SOUTH TYROL – ALTO ADIGE ): KELLEREI EISACKTAL CANTINA VALLE ISARCO – KELLERMEISTER\ENOLOGO: STEFAN DONA’ – +39 338 961 88 28 – +39 0472 847 553 – email: info@cantinavalleisarco.it – http://www.cantinavalleisarco.it – Alto Adige, 39043 Chiusa (BZ), Loc. Coste 50, SOUTH TYROL , ITALY (ITALIEN)

WHERE TO FISH OR WHERE TO EAT A GREAT MOUNTAIN TROUT IN NORTHERN ITALY (SOUTH TYROL): SPORTFISCHEREI – PESCA SPORTIVA – RESTAURANT: + 39 0471 365430 – + 39 338 6756983 – KARNEID/CORNEDO (BZ) – EGGENTAL/VAL D’EGA , ITALY