Wine, Cheese and Finocchiona
A number of interesting press releases appeared in our inbox over the last week or so. You may not be able to get to these events this time round, but do bookmark them for the future.
The Rome Wine Expo
On Sunday 9 and Monday 10 March 2025 the now annual Roma Wine Expo at the Grand Hotel Palatino in Via Cavour opens its doors just a short walk from the Colosseum.
More central than that!
This year the wines concerned come especially from the southern slope of the great volcanic terroir of the Colli Albani, but not only.
Roma Wine Expo 2025 will also be an introduction to the world of natural, organic and biodynamic wines.
As well as meeting the producers, do look out for a series of Master Classes such as ‘Alla Scoperta del Riesling Renano’ and ‘Viaggio nel cuore del Veneto vinicolo tra Soave, Breganze e Valpolicella’.
We are quite tempted by ‘Filosofia e terroir. Introduzione al mondo dei vini naturali, biologici e biodinamici.’
Wild Wines, Rome
Also on the same days as the above, and in the new venue of San Paolo District, is the edition of a wine event which promises to be even more engaging and expansive than before.
Natural winemakers from Italy and Europe, food proposals, special events and talks will intertwine into an experience of taste and awareness.
Over 120 winemakers will be present from this country list: Italy, France, Spain, Portugal, Slovenia, Germany, Slovakia and Poland.
To give it its formal title: Vini Selvaggi - The Independent Fair of Natural Wines. Follow the link for more.
Aperitivo, Milano
Described as the world's biggest event dedicated to aperitives or aperitivi, in Italy, Aperitivo is back in Milan from 9 to 11 May 2025.
3 days of related events in the very same city which has transformed the aperitivo into a social cult worldwide and still a dopo-lavoro ritual in the capital of Lombardia.
The setting is the Hotel nhow Milano in via Tortona 35 where for 3 days “a tasting path awaits you among dozens of stations all dedicated to Aperitivo, in the name of taste and entertainment.”
What about the Ham and Cheese?
Let’s start with the former, perhaps a salumi you may know little about.
Finocchiona is a historic Tuscan cured meat which is fast gaining popularity in both Italy and around the world.
The dedicated consortium is soon to celebrate 10 years since the product received Protected Geographical Indication. This April to be precise.
2025 also sees a new project called Oasi della Finocchiona IGP aimed at protecting the essential Tuscaness (Tuscanity?) of the ham.
Essentially, this means the consortium has put in place actions to strengthen a commitment to environmental balance and to support the growth of flowers and fennel seeds essential for its production.
These include:
Hive-Tech hives equipped with advanced sensors to monitor bee health, environmental parameters and impact on biodiversity.
Planting of nectariferous trees and shrubs which provide food and shelter for pollinators and help absorb carbon dioxide.
Introduction of ladybirds, useful natural allies to protect fennel crops from aphids in a sustainable and natural way.
And nor forgetting the protected area of the Tuscan hillsides offering nourishment and shelter from lime trees, cherry trees, apple trees, hawthorns as well as the ever-present rosemary.
HappyCheese, almost poetry.
This year’s event, as ever in Trentino, takes place from 1 to 15 March and is supported by a full calendar of daily gourmet proposals and fulsome apéritifs, all to the special notes of Dolomiti Ski Jazz.
Choose from a selection of Trentino wines ‘with a green soul’ or characteristic local craft beer and recipes from the local apples.
The breathtaking views of the Dolomites should be at their most iconic in early March and the sun notable.
Your valleys of interest are Val di Fiemme, Val di Fassa and San Martino di Castrozza.