More than a hundred journalists from, around the world are now in Monica, in Sicily participating in the 21st edition of Sicilia en Primeur, the world showcase for wine and from Sicily. The Culture of Wine in Sicily: A Thousand-year Story that Looks to the Future”, a slogan that sums up the message that Assovini wants to launch this year.
“Wine,” explains Mariangela Cambria, President of Assovini Sicilia, “besides being an agricultural or commercial product, is an essential element of universal culture that spans centuries and civilizations. The culture of wine today also translates into the culture of travel. It is a journey that begins in and sets off from the vineyard, from working the land. It goes through an annual cycle that ends in the glass, in the bottle, or on tables all over the world.
Donnafugata, with five estates in Marsala, Contessa Entellina, Vittoria, Etna and Pantellaria, was founded by Giacomo and Gabriella Rallo in 1983, is one of the iconic brands of the region.
Journalists will be involved in 11 press tours that will explore every corner of Sicily, from Etna to Pantelleria, from Marsala to Agrigento, from Monreale to Lipari, to then meet up in Modica, where the climax of the event will take place on May 9 and 10.
“Sicilia en Primeur will, in fact, be a showcase for this splendid baroque town that journalists will have the opportunity to get to know, visit and talk about in their articles.”
Sicilia en Primeur starts with a technical tasting at the Castello dei Conti di Modica and with 4 talks on current topics, including the tools by which wine can be communicated to new generations. It also features an in-depth look at the new State labels to protect Made in Italy, neuro-marketing and consumer psychology, as well as a talk on the marketing projections of Assovini Sicilia.
There will also be a conference at the Teatro Garibaldi in Modica about the culture of wine, understood as informed and conscious drinking. It is also a promotion of the territory through wine tourism, as protection of the environment through increasingly sustainable good practices.
Among the speakers, is the Master of Wine, Andrea Lonardi, who will talk about the “S Factor: The Uniqueness of the Sicilian Wine Continent”, followed by speeches by Dario Stefàno, president of the Wine and Oil Tourism Centre (Lumsa University), and by Antonello Maruotti, professor of Statistics (Lumsa University) on “The South innovating through events, e-commerce and new hospitality models for wine tourism.”
Dr Sara Farnetti, Ph.D in Pathophysiology of Metabolism and Nutrition, will shift the spotlight to “Wine Culture: For Informed and Conscious Consumption.” Finally, Alessio Planeta, President of the SOStain Sicilia Foundation, will speak about “The Sustainable Future of Sicilian Wine.” Luciano Ferraro, vice-director of Corriere della Sera, will chair the conference.
The event ends with a gala dinner organized in collaboration with La Sicilia di Ulisse. This association brings together Sicilian excellence in the hospitality, gastronomy and viticulture sectors. The menu will be created by Chefs Accursio Craparo of Radici, Vincenzo Candiano of Locanda Don Serafino (1 Michelin star), Giuseppe Causarano and Antonio Colombo of Votavota (1 Michelin star) and Giuseppe Torrisi of Cortile Santo Spirito (1 Michelin star).
“This year, Sicily has been named the 2025 European Gastronomic Region,” says Cambria. “To underline the successful partnership between food and wine at Sicilia en Primeur, the chefs of Sicilia di Ulisse will share their culinary art at the final gala dinner devoted to the producers.”
The event will conclude at the Castello dei Conti, with tastings of wines from the 57 producers who are members of Assovini Sicilia, who will present their labels to journalists in person.
“I would like to thank the Istituto Commercio Estero and our sponsors, without whom this great event would not be possible; an event which has been shining a spotlight on Sicily for 26 years, attracting the attention of the national and international food-and-wine press,” concludes Mariangela Cambria. “Sicilia en Primeur is an eagerly awaited event that in recent years has contributed significantly to consolidating the image of a Sicilian wine-growing continent dedicated to excellence,” Cambria concluded. For more on Assovini Sicilia and Sicily en Primeur, visit assovinisicilia.it. Drink Responsibly.
