The Opening Evening
03.11.2009 The Opening Evening
Not even the population of Meran could believe it, but it was definitely true. The Merano WineFestival, one of the most exclusive oenogastronomic festivals in Europe, celebrated its 18th birthday. Not only were the best wines from South Tyrol presented, but also the most exquisite wines from the whole of Italy and the rest of the world.
To celebrate this evening in a truly unforgettable way, a special opening evening was planned for the guests.
The specially invited guests, producers, partners, local and national personalities and the many press representatives came to the Kursaal of Meran for a gala dinner. More than 500 people took part in the evening.
The guests were welcomed in the Rotunde with an aperitif from South Tyrol and Fermo accompanied by music from the Ulten Valley. Once in the Kursaal the guests were greeted with a premier of the WineGlass Sound & Light Performance where, by subdued lighting, the guests were transported into the world of wine.
At the end of the performance the moderator Silvia Fontanive invited Helmuth Köcher onto the stage to formally greet the official guests who then handed the word over to Paolo Russo, the president of the commission of the Italian Agricultural Chamber, Hans Berger, Minister for Agriculture and Tourism in Bozen, Günther Januth, Mayor of Meran, Luciano D’Aponte, director of the Region of Campania, Nazzareno Di Chiara, president of Fermo Promuve, Luigi Cremona, journalist and wine critic, and Dante Stefano Del Vecchio, journalist from Mistery Apple Communication.
The special guest of the evening was the internationally famous soprano Paola Sanguinetti who was accompanied by Maestro Milo Martani on the piano. Her recital of works by G. Verdi and G. Puccini, and from the Opera Gianni Schicchi provided unforgettable moments.
Helmuth Köcher presented the excellent wines and the gastronomic creations of the chefs Mimmo Di Raffaele from Restaurant Belvedere Hotel Caruso in Ravello, Luciano Minnoni from Fermo and Davide Bernardi from “Istituto Alberghiero dell’Aquila” to the guests.
While the dessert was being served, Helmuth Köcher took to the stage once more and presented the Award 2009. Roberto Cipresso, who was present at the festival on Monday 9th November, was crowned the best Italian oenologist in the world and Enrico Derflingher was crowned Ambassador of Italian cuisine to the world during the various stages of the EuroTour 2009.
The 18 birthday candles were blown out to sounds of “Il Brindisi” from G. Verdi, sung by Paola Sanguinetti, and toasts were made to the future of the festival.
The evening came to a close with the Ultner Bänkelsänger singing in the Rotunde and guests were presented with Melannurca apples from the Region of Campania and a copy of the gastronomic guide from Alto Adige Südtirol as they left the Kurhaus. We hope all the guests had an unforgettable opening evening.