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Nairobi roadshow offers connoisseurs a taste of Italian wine

The Thursday event was attended by Italian Ambassador to Kenya Roberto Natali who lauded the event, hinting that it is a way to introduce Italian wine culture to east Africa, through Kenya

Wine aficionados in Nairobi were on Thursday treated to a taste of Italian wine during the second edition of the Gambero Rosso Italian wines roadshow.

The event held at the Shamba Café in Loresho attracted a number of wine lovers, both local and international, who came to tease their taste buds and have something different.

The Thursday event was attended by Italian Ambassador to Kenya Roberto Natali who lauded the event, hinting that it is a way to introduce Italian wine culture to east Africa, through Kenya. This is also a means to ensure there are good relations between Kenya and Italy, by allowing Italians to sell their produce directly to Kenya.

Fiona Ngesa, the Acting Director, Market Development at Kenya Tourism Board, says the event is a way of marketing the country and broadening the tourism sector.

She added: “In as much as they are here for the event, they are also contributing to the growth of the tourism sector. They use our hotels, eat from our restaurants, explore our cities and towns.” She has praised the event organizers for bringing the event to the country, urging the showcasing individuals to visit various tourist destinations across the country and take in the sceneries that are coveted by many foreigners.

Gambero Rosso Chief executive Officer Luigi Salerno says they aim to hold the event every year, not  only to share their wine but also to ensure the expansion of the economy and at the same time creating rapport with the Kenyan market which he says has potential.

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Tiziano Bastianoni, who was one of the people showcasing their wine brands, was happy to be in Kenya, saying the country has welcomed the idea of Italian wines positively. As he poured wine and explained where and how it is produced, eager oenophiles and connoisseurs were listening attentively and swirling and sipping on their wine; evidently happy and interested in knowing more about Italian wine.

Alessio Fortunato, the export manager for Conti Zecca winery, says it is important to understand wine pairing and know when and how to drink the wine. He says it is important to always have the best wine, if one is to the world of drinking and tasting wine. Alessio gave pointers on ensuring how to pair wines, saying pairing wine without the know how, might result in not getting the right flavors.

Elise Rialland from Casale Del Giglio says this is the second time showcasing at the Gambero Rosso Italian wines roadshow and she was happy that a number of people were turning up to explore various wines from various wineries in Italy. She was fascinated by how interested the wine lovers were, saying mostly, the wine in the market is from France or South Africa.

While the event is fun and educative at the same time, wine lover and educator(sommelier) Victoria Munywoki says the event is a way to educate wine lovers on in-depth knowledge of different types of wines and how they are to be taken and when they are to be taken. With her extensive knowledge, she is generous  and open to educating wine lovers on what to do and what not to do as wine enthusiasts. She is dedicated to raising the level of wine knowledge and appreciation while at the same time promoting responsible consumption of wine.

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These are some of the basic things to consider when attending wine tasting events;

·             Avoid strong scents

·             Hold the glass by the stem

·             Swirl the wine before sniffing it

·             Do not mix the wine with water

·             Mind the temperature of the wine

·             Do not smell the cork

·             Ask questions to learn about the wine you are tasting

·             Avoid unsightly lip marks by tasting one from the same spot on the rim

·             Clink glasses bell to bell, not rim to rim, to avoid accidental breakages

In subsequent articles, we will dive deep into the etiquette, types of wine and pairing.

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