November 7, 2008
Merano Wine Festival

This weekend the classical Palazzo Kurhaus will be the backdrop to the 17th edition of the Merano International Wine Festival & Culinaria—a wine fair unlike any other where Italian and international wines are showcased based on excellence. The participating producers, in fact, may not showcase their entire line of production but only the product(s) selected by a jury of experts—thus ensuring the highest level of quality. Italy is represented with Centum, 100 producers, Excellentis 195 producers and Extremis 18 wines produced in extreme conditions. The international selection will include wines from Champagne and Burgundy, the best of Alsace, and Austria.

Other areas will be dedicated to food products, Culinaria, the hospitality industry with an emphasis on structures built with full respect of nature, AnimaTerra, the best of the organic products from Italy, Bio&Dinamica, all following the same criteria—chosen by a team of experts. Also in the city, the gardens of the Castel Trauttmansdorff are hosting the Versoaln, Europe’s oldest vine believed to be about 350 years old grown only in Castel Katzenzungen, situated in the small South Tyrolean village of Prissian, located between Merano and Bolzano.

In addition, on November 8th Merano will also host the second installment of the Gelardini & Romani international wine auction. The first auction was held in Rome on October 11, where the best of "Made in Italy" came out on top with record breaking sales (read more)—the same is expected to happen in Merano. The final appointment is scheduled for December 13th once again in the capitol city.