Pairing Wine and Music, Collisioni-Style

Last year, wine and food lovers were happy with Collisioni's considerably delicious offerings together with great music that filled the hills. This year – perhaps as a nod to the newly UNESCO-minted landscape? – the wine offerings take on a new level. 

And by “wine offerings,” we mean special guests and wine makers, top sommeliers, important journalists and wine writers, and – above all – a program of great wine tastings. Beginning Saturday, July 19 and on into Sunday, July 20, the tastings on offer are just another reason to enjoy this incredible musical event in the Langhe.

Among the enological events of this year’s Collisioni, many will be hosted by the celebrated wine critic Ian D'Agata of Decanter. A welcome theme for several tastings is delving deeper into how to pair wine with food. For example, July 19 at 4:30 pm at the Regional Enoteca of Barolo is the “Pizza and wine” (“Pizza e vino”) tasting, effectively debunking the myth that Italy’s greatest and most popular dish does not pair easily with wine. 

Sunday presents another food and wine pairing, “Moscato and Hazelnut Cake” (Moscato e torta di nocciola), at 11:00 am in the Regional Enoteca of Barolo; and after that is all about Piemonte’s most famous cheese, “Castelmagno and Barolo,” in the Wine Tourist’s Temple (inside the WiMu, Wine Museum). Meet and greet Master of Wine Charles Curtis while you’re sampling these two great players in Piemontese wine and food culture. 

Wine lovers also get the chance to brush up on their knowledge of the local wines. Among the many appointments are “Great Barberas of Piemonte” (Le grandi Barbera del Piemonte) on July 19 at 11:00 am in the Regional Enoteca; and “Dolcetto, a Wine to Rediscover” (Dolcetto, un vino da riscoprire) on July 20 at 6:00 pm in the Wine Tourist’s Temple. 

If theory isn’t your thing and you’d rather zoom straight to the action, just sign up for the tastings that will take place inside the Castle of Barolo where an area will be set up for the occasion. The tastings begin Sat., July 19 at 12:00 pm with Barbera wines and will continue about every hour until 5 pm, going through Arneis, Dolcetto, Barolo and Barbaresco (starts at 4 pm, and don’t forget that it will be the most crowded!), and “guest” white wines of Fruili. Sun., July 20 is the moment for native Piemontese grape varieties (2 pm), Arneis Cayega from Tenuta Carretta (3 pm), and Nebbiolo and the Roero (4:30 pm).

Finally, if you’re simply an incurable gourmet, you don’t miss out on the events led by Michelin starred chefs: “Pop Cuisine” (La cucina pop) by Davide Oldani on July 20, 3:30 pm at the Regional Enoteca; and “100% Alba” with Enrico Crippa on July 20 at 5 pm in the Regional Enoteca. These are two of the top chefs in Piemontese cuisine, paired with two great wines from Pico Maccario (Mombaruzzo) and Ceretto (Alba). 

Don’t forget that outside of the tasting rooms, wine is the best pairing for music during Collisioni, thanks to the association Made in Piedmont. The group has gathered over 80 wine makers from all over Piemonte and will be dispersing the many different labels throughout wine bars in the area.

COLLISIONI WINE&FOOD PROGRAM

Saturday, July 19

Appointments at the Regional Enoteca of Barolo

11:00
GREAT BARBERAS OF PIEMONTE (LE GRANDI BARBERA DEL PIEMONTE)
Arunas Starkus (Lithuanian Wine, Lithuania), Luzia Schrampf (Der Standard, Austria), Young Shi (Taste&Spirit, China), Fabio Ciarla (wine blogger).

13:30
STEVEN SPURRIER (DECANTER, INGHILTERRA)
Interviewed by Ian D'Agata and Fernanda Roggero, Editor in Chief for Il Sole 24 Ore.

15:00
NATIVE PIEMONTESE VARIETIES (I VITIGNI AUTOCTONI PIEMONTESI)
Ian D'Agata and Stephen Brook (Decanter, England).

16:30
AN UNEXPECTED MEETING: PIZZA AND WINE (UN INCONTRO INASPETTATO. METTI UNA SERA A CENA... PIZZA E VINO)
Fabio Turchetti (Il Messaggero), Alessandro Bocchetti (Gambero Rosso), Bernard Burtschy (Le Figaro, France), Brian St.Pierre (Decanter, England), Massimo Giovannini (Pizzeria Apogeo).

18:00
MADE IN ITALY – MADE IN PIEDMONT
Gianni Gagliardo (Pres. MIP), Antonio Preziosi (journalist and writer), Gao Xiang (Taste&Spirit, China), Vincenzo Reda (journalist and writer).

Appointments in the Temple of the Wine Tourist (Tempio dell'Enoturista)

13:30
A HAPPY MARRIAGE: CASTELMAGNO AND BAROLO (UN MATRIMONIO RIUSCITO: IL CASTELMAGNO E IL BAROLO)
Ronald De Groot (Perwin, Netherlands), Charles Curtis (Master of Wine, USA), Roberto Arru (Assopiemonte), Brian St.Pierre (Decanter, England), Manuela La Iacona (Cronache di Gusto), Alessandro Bocchetti (Gambero Rosso).

15:00
HOME KITCHEN AND STREET FOOD – BOOK PRESENTATION OF I HATE COOKING (IO ODIO CUCINARE) BY CHRISTIAN MILONE
Sandra Longinotti (Myself, l'Uomo Vogue, l'Espresso, D la Repubblica, Blog.SandraLonginotti.it), Sandra Salerno (www.untoccodizenzero.com) Tania Mauri (Gazza Golosa Gazzetta dello Sport) Giuseppe Iannotti (Kresios), Eugenio Boer (Fish Bar de Milan), Christian Milone (Trattoria Zappatori).

16:30
NEBBIOLO AT THE CONQUEST OF THE ORIENT (IL NEBBIOLO ALLA CONQUISTA DELL'ORIENTE)
Toshio Matsuura (Wands, Japan), Young Shi (Taste&Spirit, China), Gao Xiang (Taste&Spirit, China), Mauro Fermariello (writer), Charles Curtis (Master of Wine, USA), moderator Fernanda Roggero (Il Sole 24 Ore).

18:00
VERMOUTH, A DRINK FOR MAN AND GODS, FROM 1837 RISERVA CARLO ALBERTO (VERMUT, BEVANDA PER UOMINI E DEI, DAL 1837 RISERVA CARLO ALBERTO)
Ian D'Agata, Cathy Huyghe (Forbes, USA), Andrea Gori (Intravino), Toshio Matsuura (Wands Japan), Michela Bunino (Riserva Carlo Alberto), Tigre Ciliegio (Patron Compagnia di Caraibi).

Tasting rooms (inside the Barolo Castle)

11:00
FORTY YEARS OF FALLEGRO (QUARANT'ANNI DI FALLEGRO)
Federico Curtaz (enologist), Luca Gardini (sommelier and blogger), Gianni Gagliardo (Winemaker of Fallegro). The success story of Vermentino of the Roero will be told by Federico Curtaz, Gianni Gagliardo and Luca Gardini. During the appointment, participants may taste this white wine paired with traditional food.

12:00
BARBERA TASTING
Michele Longo (writer), Bijan Jabbari (L'Avis du Vin, Luxemburg), Cathy Huyghe (Forbes, Usa), Abi Duhr (Vino, Luxemburg).

13:30
OLTREPÒ PAVESE TASTING
Lorenzo Tablino (enologist), Fabiano Giorgi (President of the District of Quality Wines of Oltrepò Pavese), Cristian Calatroni (Advisor of the District of Quality Wines of Oltrepò Pavese), Alexandra De Vazeilles (MagicWines et LesTables de La Comtesse, France)

15:00
PRESENTATION OF THE "ADOPT A VINE" ("ADOTTA UN FILARE") INITIATIVE IN CASTAGNOLE LANZE
Mauro Fermariello (journalist), Michele Longo (writer), presenters. "Adopt a Vine in the Langhe" is a project for the township of Castagnole delle Lanze with the objective of promoting the territory and viticultural heritage of the area that has so recently been added to the UNESCO World Heritage list.

16:00
FRIULI WHITE WINES TASTING
Andrea Gori (Intravino), Lorenzo Tablino (enologist), Yohan Castaing (Anthocyanes, France), Stephen Brook (Decanter, England) and winemakers from Friuli

17:00
BAROLO AND BARBARESCO TASTING
Steven Spurrier (Decanter, England), Manuela Laiacona (Cronache di Gusto), Cathy Huyghe (Forbes, Usa), Lorenzo Tablino (enologist)

18:30
DOLCETTO TASTING
Antonella Iozzo (Bluarte), Bernard Burtschy (Le Figaro, France), Luzia Schrampf (Der Standard, Austria), Abi Duhr (Vino, Luxemburg) and Dolcetto winemakers

Sunday, July 20

Appointments at the Regional Enoteca of Barolo

11:00
A HAPPY MARRIAGE: HAZELNUT CAKE MEETS MOSCATO (UN MATRIMONIO FELICE. LA TORTA DI NOCCIOLA INCONTRA IL MOSCATO)
Fabio Turchetti (Il Messaggero), Antonella Iozzo (Bluarte), Bijan Jabbari (L'Avis du Vin, Luxemburg), Brian St.Pierre (Decanter, England) and producers from the "Queen" Hazelnut of Cravanzana

14:00
CLASSIC SPARKLING WINES OF THE OLTREPÒ - OUTLOOK AND REGULATIONS OF THE CANADIAN MARKET: OPPORTUNITIES FOR METODO CLASSICO FROM OLTREPÒ PAVESE  (BOLLICINE CLASSICHE D'OLTREPÒ – IMPARIAMO A CONOSCERE LE PROSPETTIVE E LE REGOLE CHE GOVERNANO IL MERCATO CANADESE. LE OPPORTUNITA' DI MERCATO PER IL METODO CLASSICO DELL'OLTREPÒ PAVESE.) Bernard Burtschy (Le Figaro, France), Fernanda Roggero (Il Sole 24 Ore), Cathy Huyghe (Forbes, USA), Arunas Starkus, (Lithuanian Wine, Lithuania), Abi Duhr (Vino, Luxemburg), Luca Bellani (Advisor of the District of Quality Wines of Oltrepò Pavese).

15:30
POP CUISINE (LA CUCINA POP) – DAVIDE OLDANI
Moderator: Alessandro Bocchetti (Gambero Rosso).

17:00
100% ALBA – ENRICO CRIPPA
Chef Enrico Crippa (of the three star Michelin restaurant Piazza Duomo, Alba), Charles Curtis (Master of Wine, USA), Roberta Ceretto, moderator: Fabio Turchetti (Guida Ristoranti Espresso).

18:30
MADE IN PIEDMONT TASTING
Ian D'Agata and Lorenzo Tablino (enologist), Young Shi (Taste&Spirit China), Ronald de Groot (Perwin, Netherlands), Andrea Gori

Appointments at the Temple of the Wine Tourist (Tempio dell'Enoturista)

11:00
DISCOVER GREAT WHITE WINES OF FRIULI (ALLA SCOPERTA DEI GRANDI VINI BIANCHI FRIULANI)
Bernard Burtschy (Le Figaro, France), Abi Duhr (Vino, Luxemburg) Ronald de Groot (Perwin, Netherlands), Luzia Schrampf (Der Standard, Austria).

13:00
NATURAL WINE (IL VINO NATURALE)
Giovanni Bietti, Andrea Gori (Intravino), Michele Longo (writer).

15:00
A SHORT LINE FROM THE HAZELNUT GROVE TO THREE MICHELIN STARS (FILIERA CORTISSIMA: DAL NOCCIOLETO AL TRE STELLE MICHELIN)
Enrico Crippa, Alexandra De Vazeilles (MagicWines et LesTables de La Comtesse, France), Federico Ceretto e i Produttori della nocciola Cravanzana.

16:30
BOOK PRESENTATION OF DA CERIGNOLA A SAN FRANCISCO E RITORNO, LA MIA VITA DA CHEF CONTROCORRENTE BY CRISTINA BOWERMAN
Moderator: Tania Mauri (Food Gazzetta dello Sport).

18:00
DOLCETTO: A WINE TO REDISCOVER (UN VINO DA RISCOPRIRE)
Nicola Imberti (Il Tempo), Stephen Brook (Decanter, England), Antonella Iozzo (Bluarte) and Dolcetto wine producers

Tasting rooms (inside the Barolo Castle)

12:30
ARNEIS AND WHITE WINE TASTING
Lorenzo Tablino, Arunas Starkus (Lithuanian Wine, Lithuania), Fabio Ciarla (wine blogger), Alexandra de Vazeilles (MagicWines et LesTables de La Comtesse, France)

14:00
GUIDED TASTING OF NATIVE VARIETIES (DEGUSTAZIONE GUIDATA DEI VITIGNI AUTOCTONI)
Lorenzo Tablino (enologist), Charles Curtis (Master of Wine, USA), Ian D'Agata (Vinitaly), Gao Xiang ( Taste&spirit China), Nicola Imberti (Il Tempo)

15:30
"FROM ARNEIS TO CAYEGA" ("DALL'ARNEIS AL CAYEGA") – 25th ANNIVERSARY OF THE ARNEIS DOC
Michele Longo (writer), con Giancarlo Montaldo (journalist), Young Shi (Taste&Spirit, China), Roberto Giacone (enologist)

17:00
NEBBIOLO AND ROERO WINES TASTING
Giancarlo Montaldo (journalist), Toshio Matsuura (Wands, Japan), Bijan Jabbari (L'Avis du Vin, France), Ronald de Groot (Perwin, Netherlands)

INFO

Collisioni - July 18-21, 2014
www.collisioni.it
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Tickets: There are two types of tickets available: Daily ticket and 4 days tickets. Children under 10 are admitted free. You can buy your ticket at the ticket office in Piazza Falletti, Barolo. The information and ticket office is open from Monday to Friday (9.30/12.30 – 14.30/17.30), Saturday and Sunday (14.30 – 17.30). Or buy online -- CLICK HERE

Cover photos by Giorgio Montersino and Revol Web, Creative Commons. Licenses 1 and 2 
Translated by Diana Zahuranec