You don’t appreciate the seven or seventy-seven wonders of a city, but the answer it gives to your request.
Italo Calvino.
The producers of Conegliano Valdobbiadene have come together to host Virtual Trips for members of the UK wine press and trade this November. The extended virtual experiences, devised with the advice of UK consultant Sarah Abbott MW and Italy-based Michele Shah, aim to bring the current developments, terroir, wines and culture of the UNESCO world heritage vineyards to life.
Virtual travellers on the trip will receive “ConVal in a box” containing a wide selection of Prosecco Superiore and speciality cheeses from herds that graze the local sub-alpine pastures, as well as maps of the region. The trip takes place via Zoom over two consecutive mornings in October 2020, when guests will virtually meet with winemakers and grape growers in their vineyards, and hear the latest on viticulture, enology and enotourism in the region. Guests will be guided through virtual wine tastings with the winemakers and specialists of Conegliano Valdobbiadene, and the program has been developed to contain a stimulating range of media and ways of experiencing the region – despite travel restrictions.
Each session is supported with a virtual tasting pack of background information, references and resources, and guests will be supported with all the follow up information and samples they need in order to get the most out of the trip, and their time. Furthermore, guests have the opportunity to register a particular line of enquiry or interest in advance, and to have this aspect covered during the trip.
The Virtual Trips were developed in response to the continuing uncertainty and caution around international travel, and the challenges and potential waste involved in planning a conventional press trip under current circumstances. The Consorzio hopes to resume in-person trips to the region soon, but the response to the virtual version has been so positive that they are considering running both models in the future.
The Virtual Press Trip (running from 6th-7th October) is now full, but a few places remain for the Virtual Trade Trip, which runs from 20th to 21st October. Places are free to attend for members of the trade – to register your interest or find out more please contact Sarah Abbott on sarah@swirlwinegroup.com.
