OperaWine is back! After two years of disruption Vinitaly is back too, in Verona and in person for its 54th edition. The full range of events are back to pre-pandemic levels: a situation that is not taken for granted but which once again reaffirms the importance of our wine and spirits exhibition for the international promotion of Italian wine. As has become tradition, OperaWine has the honour to represent the Vinitaly curtain-raiser, with its grand tasting of the best Italian wines as chosen by Wine Spectator, the prestigious American magazine partner to this initiative. OperaWine goes on show this year with an expanded list to 130 labels, selected to represent the diversity and authenticity of each Italian region. The super-tasting continues to expand, a sign of the ongoing popularity of our wines in strategically important markets such as the United States. This is a trend confirmed by the attendance of a delegation of over 120 top buyers from North America accredited to Vinitaly, the largest group ever from this region. Another auspicious sign that we want to celebrate at the OperaWine premiere. So at last we’re reunited again, face-to-face, to enjoy the pleasure of each other’s company and share the warmth and culture found in a glass.

Marvin R. Shanken
Editor and Publisher, Wine Spectator

OperaWine’s new look coincides with the 150th anniversary of the birth of Piet Mondrian, an abstract artist whose distinctive style and interpretation aligns perfectly with our own current sentiments. The work of this influential twentieth century artist is characterized by the combination of simple and minimalistic elements, such as vertical and horizontal lines, and by the use of primary colors. These elements seem to represent a juxtaposition between the negative and the positive, suggesting a continuous search for balance. Last year, after 18 challenging months, we were finally able to welcome 186 producers and our special guests to the 10th Anniversary edition of OperaWine. That edition also marked a return to the celebration of Italian wine through in-person events. This year, after another 12 months of uncertain and challenging times, we come together once again with a line-up of 130 Italian wineries to celebrate another significant milestone, as OperaWine kick starts Vinitaly, the International Wine and Spirits Exhibition. This return to normality is a comforting sign. It seems that we are gradually reclaiming our lives, that everything is slowly falling back into place. On the other hand, if there is one thing this past few years has taught us, it is that we will never return to the pre-COVID era we once knew. The world of wine finds itself in a state of flux, between a global pandemic that has dealt it a hard blow and the emergence of new spaces for innovation that demand exploration. We must adapt to the new scenario we find ourselves in. On the one hand it is important to retain essential practices and familiar ways of organizing our work, on the other we must embrace new ways of doing business. We must find balance between the negative and the positive. Although OperaWine 2021 was seen as the celebration of a very long-awaited reboot, it goes without saying that OperaWine 2022 will be aiming to raise the bar even higher. Going beyond a mere in-person restart, we want to express and instill meaning, finding that precious balance between negative and positive to face the “new normal”.
2022 began as a year of hope, a year of transition in which Tom Matthews eased into retirement after 10 years of continuous contribution to OperaWine. It is not by chance that he is the awardee of “The Vinitaly International Award 2022”. He is an eternal optimist and believed in the OperaWine project from the very beginning. Collaborating with Veronafiere and Vinitaly, Tom and Wine Spectator have seen OperaWine flourish since its inception in 2015. By always showcasing the best of Italian wines, both at OperaWine and in the pages of Wine Spectator, Tomʼs contribution to promoting Italian wine diversity to a wider audience of wine enthusiasts cannot be underestimated. Now we can only hope that our good intentions are realized and that our message is well received. We hope you appreciate this new experiential journey exploring the regions, grape varieties, and, above all, the finest wines that Italy has to offer.

Buon OperaWine a tutti!

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