Italian Signature Wines Academy blows out its first 10 candles. The association that brings together some of the most prestigious brands of Italian wine, namely Allegrini, Arnaldo Caprai, Bellavista, Feudi di San Gregorio, Fontanafredda, Frescobaldi, Masciarelli, Planeta and Villa Sandi, turns 10 this year. A significant milestone that marks the ten-year presence of Iswa both in Italy and abroad, studded with many successful initiatives.
“In my capacity as president of Italian Signature Wines Academy, I would like to express my deep satisfaction in celebrating the tenth anniversary of this prestigious reality, born from the common passion for Italian wine”, underlines Marilisa Allegrini, president of Iswa. “In these 10 years, we have built extraordinary synergies and achieved important goals, contributing to the valorization and promotion of Italian wine excellence in the world. I renew my most sincere wishes for success for the future of the Academy and for all those who are part of it”.
To celebrate its first 10 years, Iswa has scheduled a series of celebratory events, starting with the opening event in Montreal, which kicked off the festivities on February 1st.
From Montreal to Paris: the celebrations for the first 10 years of Italian Signature Wines Academy
The companies united under Iswa will celebrate the milestone of 10 years together in the promotion of quality Italian wine in a series of events around the world. The first meeting took place in Canada. The “Gala del vino divino, Italian excellence”, in partnership with Saq (Société des alcools du Québec), took place on February 1st in the sumptuous setting of Windsor Station, where the 250 people who attended were able to taste a selection of important labels from the companies united under Italian Signature Wines Academy, starting with the aperitif and ending with the dinner curated by the famous chef Marc-Andrè Jettè of Hoogan & Beaufort Traiteur.
Resuming the format of the “Grande Serata” conceived by Iswa with Saq in 2018, the event was inspired by the magic and glamour of the Venice Film Festival. The iconic Venetian settings of the famous film festival were revived, transforming the evening into a sort of “Oscar night”.
The institutional videos of the nine companies were projected on giant screens and awards were given to the best productions, with a lineup that recalled the nominations of the celebrations of international cinema, in a red carpet atmosphere.
A tribute to the art of wine even when it uses cinematic language to communicate its values, beauties and landscapes through the flow of images that literally captured the gaze of the participants so immersed in the fascinating atmospheres of each of the estates of the companies that are part of the Italian Signature Wines Academy.
An invitation not only to appreciate the wine but also to visit the places of production in person. Below are the nominations and representatives who received the award on stage:
- Bellavista: award for best costumes, Massimo Tuzzi
- Feudi di San Gregorio: award for best special effects, Antonio Capaldo
- Arnaldo Caprai: award for best dramatic short film, Marco Caprai
- Masciarelli: award for best actress in a supporting role, Miriam Lee Masciarelli
- Frescobaldi: award for best drone video footage, Stefano Benini
- Fontanafredda: award for best historical documentary short film, Roberto Bruno
- Planeta: award for best cinematography, Alessio Planeta
- Allegrini: award for best artistic directing, Matteo Allegrini
- Villa Sandi: award for best soundtrack, Diva Moretti Polegato
“The tenth anniversary of Iswa represents not only a milestone, but an opportunity to celebrate the excellence of Italian wine in the world,” says Roberto Bruno, vice president of the Italian Signature Wines Academy. “With exclusive events like the Gala del Vino in Montreal, in partnership with Saq, we want to strengthen the bond with an audience in Quebec that greatly appreciates the values of identity, authenticity and tradition that distinguish our wines”.
Stefano Benini, also vice president of the Italian Signature Wines Academy, adds “Iswa has once again confirmed that unity is strength. Together we have the tools to seize all the new opportunities and best face the challenges of the market. Over time, Canada has shown that it is sensitive to quality Italian wine, becoming one of the points of reference for our exports, and maintains a great attention to excellence on the part of local consumers, combined with great curiosity for the uniqueness of our territory and the passion for good food to which good wine is naturally linked”.
The celebrations, as mentioned, do not stop in Canada. The first appointment is already at Vinexpo Paris 2025: after the success of the inaugural event in Montreal, the association will also be a protagonist at one of the most important events in the panorama of international wine fairs, which continues to grow in importance year after year. During the fair, Italian Signature Wines Academy will welcome customers, journalists and importers to the stand for a special celebration, scheduled for Monday 10 February during the late opening.
This convivial moment will be an opportunity to toast together with all those who have contributed to the success of the association and to joyfully share the ten-year milestone achieved. Along with the wines of the group’s producers, the aperitif will be accompanied by the specialties of Casa Bini, which has been able to bring genuine and authentic products of Italian gastronomy to the Ville Lumière, thus creating a choral food and wine hymn to Italianness.
The future of Iswa
The Iswa companies look to the future with optimism, renewing their commitment as ambassadors in the world of quality Italian wine and the most authentic and qualified hospitality of our country. The shared intent is also to consider this precious alliance as an effective tool to consolidate their position on international markets and to expand their activities globally. Several initiatives are planned for the coming months, aimed both at strengthening and developing their distribution networks and at spreading the culture of Italian wine through events, partnerships and targeted marketing initiatives, with the ambitious goal of increasingly bringing the wines of the Italian Signature Wines Academy companies to the tables and hearts of consumers around the world.
Antonio Capaldo, third vice president in office, concludes:
“The friendship and spirit of collaboration that are behind Iswa have been crucial in difficult times, such as the Covid crisis, and will be important, for all of us members, to face the important challenges of the sector that await us. Together we are not only stronger, but we think better and feel better”.
