In the end, coronavirus won. Vinitaly 2020 trade show was postponed to June and Operawine preview with Wine Spectator is now scheduled on June 13th.
“Following the rapid evolution of the international situation giving rise to evident difficulties concerning all promotional activities, Veronafiere has decided to postpone the dates for Vinitaly, Enolitech and Sol&Agrifood to 14-17 June 2020, judged to be the best period for ensuring the highest business quality standards for exhibitors and visitors.” Giovanni Mantovani, CEO of Veronafiere, made this announcement at the end of the Board of Directors meeting today that discussed decisions regarding the international wine show. “Vinitaly, together with OperaWine,” Mantovani went on, “will therefore take place in a context when the great occasions for the excellence of Made in Italy – such as Cosmoprof and the Salone del Mobile, for example – will have the task of refocusing the attention of international markets and the image of Italy.”
The decision was the outcome of careful analysis of available data as well as listening to the positions of the market stakeholders, including the main sector associations: Unione Italiana Vini, Assoenologi, Federvini, Federdoc, Federazione Vignaioli Indipendenti and Alleanza delle Cooperative Settore Vitivinicolo.
“Rescheduling Vinitaly in June, as well as other important international events in Milan and Bologna,” explained Maurizio Danese, President of Veronafiere, “is a signal that Made in Italy is convinced of a prompt economic recovery in key sectors of the country-system. We therefore hope that the new national trade fair calendar will generate renewed confidence and be the tool which will capitalize on the resumption of operations in our country.”
Veronafiere will activate a task force to assist its customers in every sphere necessary to reorganise postponed events and, in close collaboration with relevant associations, it will prepare all incoming actions needed to ensure attendance by qualified buyers and professional operators. As regards the new dates, Confcommercio Verona and the Verona Hotel Cooperative have also assured their utmost cooperation to facilitate the transfer of reservations.
Vinitaly 2021 will be scheduled on its customary dates (18-21 April); these dates are the outcome of the agreement with the Union des Grandes Cru de Bordeaux (UGCB) first signed in 2013 in order to the needs of the protagonists in the world of wine, especially buyers and the international press.
