Wine&Siena 2024, a journey through the best Italian wines with masterclasses and tastings
From 26 to 29 January, Siena celebrates the excellence of wine production with many events not to be missed
The programme of the ninth edition of Wine&Siena 2024, held in Siena from 26 to 29 January in the Santa Maria della Scala complex, is full of events. Approximately 500 labels to be tasted from all over Italy as well as many gastronomic products including varieties of chocolate, cheese, oil, meat and salami, beer, pasta, rice, cereals, grappa and liqueurs, from producers from all over the country.
Six prestigious Masterclasses, starting with Tocai, the wine that changes its name but does not lose its identity, moving on to the evolutionary harmonies from Piedmont to Alto Adige, and the secrets and wonders of Art in Amphora. And again, a sensory journey among Italy's best bubbles, the wine treasures of the Val d'Orcia, Brunello di Montalcino and the symphony of an unmistakable terroir. The guided tours of Palazzo Sansedoni, the headquarters of the Monte dei Paschi Foundation, where the event's opening press conference is also scheduled, are not to be missed. At Monte dei Paschi, but in the historic headquarters of Palazzo Salimbeni, there is an invitation-only conference dedicated to the DOP Economy. And then, again at Santa Maria della Scala, the talks by The WineHunter, from the distillation of Moscato to Amphora to the secrets of recognising a quality olive oil and, above all, the presentation both in person and via live streaming of the Merano InterWine Festival China, which will see the food and wine event land in the Far East in May 2024.
The whole programme:
Friday 26 January: Wine&Siena begins with the conference DOP Economy between growth and the future organised by Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena, by invitation only, in its historic headquarters in Piazza Salimbeni. At 6.00 p.m. in the press room of the Monte dei Paschi Foundation, in Palazzo Sansedoni, opening Wine&Siena press conference with toast. Followed, at 8.00 pm, in Palazzo Squarcialupi, Santa Maria della Scala, the inaugural event of the 2024 Small Plates Dinner.
On Saturday 27 January from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Santa Maria della Scala, Palazzo Squarcialupi, the Winehunter Area, with the tasting sessions of selected wines The WineHunter Award, with exhibitors Wine, Wine in Amphora, Food & Spirits, Extrawine and Consortia.
On Saturday 27 January, also, open doors at Palazzo Sansedoni, Monte dei Paschi di Siena Foundation, for two guided tours by appointment (for a maximum of 30 people per visit), one at 12 noon and one at 5 p.m., to book please write to info@verniceprogetti.it. And again, on Saturday 27th, extraordinary opening and guided tours of the Museo delle Biccherne Archivio di Stato di Siena, Banchi di sotto 52, free visits from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and at 11.30 a.m., guided tours at 12 p.m. with reservation as-si.comunicazione@cultura.gov.it.
Also at Santa Maria della Scala, but in the Sala San Ansano, The WineHunter Talks: from 12 to 1 p.m., in presence and live streaming, presentation Merano InterwineFestival China by China Link and The WineHunter; from 3 to 4 p.m., Distillando Moscato in Italia by Marcello Vecchio - ANAG.
The WineHunter Masterclasses - Grand Hotel Continental - Starshotel Collezione, from 11.30 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. the first masterclass "Tocai... The wine that changes its name but does not lose its identity", with Marcello Vagini, AIS Siena delegate; from 2 p.m. to 3.30 p.m. "A journey from Piedmont to Alto Adige, savour the different evolutionary harmonies"; from 4.30 p.m. to 5.30 p.m. "Art in Amphora: secrets and wonders of wine in history towards the future" with Helmuth Köcher - The WineHunter.
On Sunday 28 January from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Santa Maria della Scala, Palazzo Squarcialupi, wine and food tasting continues with the Wine Exhibitors, Wine in Amphora, Food & Spirits, Extrawine, Consortia. There is again the Winehunter Area, a tasting desk with selected wines from The WineHunter Award. For The WineHunter Talks, Sala San Ansano, Santa Maria della Scala, from 10 a.m. to 10.40 a.m. "Amphora" by AICOO, from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. "Let's learn to recognise Quality Olive Oil" by AICOO. With The WineHunter Masterclasses - Grand Hotel Continental - Starhotels Collezioni from 11.30 am to 12.30 pm "Bubbles of Italy: a sensory journey through the excellence of Italian bubbles", from 2 pm to 3 pm "Under the skies of Val d'Orcia: wine treasures amidst enchanting hills and authentic traditions" with Andrea Frassineti, ONAV National Councillor, from 4.30 pm to 5.30 pm "Symphony of terroir: Brunello di Montalcino - The art of an unmistakeable red wine".
Monday 29 January from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Santa Maria della Scala, Palazzo Squarcialupi, wine and food tasting on the day dedicated to tourism, catering, hospitality and press operators. The extraordinary opening and guided tours of the Museo delle Biccherne State Archives of Siena are back, open for free visits from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. with entrance at 10 a.m. and 11.30 a.m., guided tours at 12 p.m. with reservation as-si.comunicazione@cultura.gov.it. A maximum of 20 people per entrance and visit with priority to Wine&Siena bracelet holders. The WineHunter Talks, Sala San Ansano, Santa Maria della Scala at 11.30 a.m., there will be an award ceremony for the winning restaurant of the 5th edition of "Tra Borghi e Cantine. Dove la tradizione incontra il gusto" with Confcommercio Siena; at 3.30 p.m., in the Sala San Ansano, the press conference closing the ninth edition of Wine&Siena 2024. On this occasion, the bottles donated to QuaVio will be presented. The association assisting cancer patients has in fact asked producers to donate one of their bottles to be used as a prize in solidarity tombolas, fundraising lotteries and other events, to cover the expenses for the psychologist supporting patients.
The Fuori Wine&Siena has some remarkable food and wine appointments in store. On Friday 26 January, while the traditional Small Plates Dinner officially opening the ninth edition of Wine&Siena takes place at Santa Maria della Scala (8 pm), the "fuori salone" offers two gourmet dinners. Restaurant Alcide in Poggibonsi organises 'The treasures of San Gimignano'. Alcide's gourmet dinner (8 pm, max. 50 people, reservation is appreciated) will feature a tasting of five wines from the Casa alle Vacche winery in San Gimignano paired with the territory's best-known products, from Zafferano di San Gimignano DOP del Vecchio Maneggio to the organic cheeses of Poggio di Camporbiano, the Chianina beef of Macelleria Covati (Allevamento Vannini), the 'Crema di Santa Fina' with saffron and pine nuts, the most famous flavour of the well-known ice-cream maker Sergio Dondoli of the ice-cream parlour of the same name in Piazza della Cisterna in San Gimignano. In Siena, the Bruscello Bistrot restaurant presents a dinner-tasting with wines from the Alessio Komjanc winery in San Floriano Del Collio (Gorizia). This is one of the historic families among the producers of Collio, the Friulian territory located on the extreme north-eastern Italian border with Slovenia, where they produce white wines of the highest quality. On Saturday 27 January, the Grand Hotel Continental Lounge Bar by Sapordivino will be offering Aperitivo DiVino with the Scipio winery from Pitigliano, which will be presenting its two top wines, Giudizio Toscana Bianco Igt and Meletello Toscana Rosso Igt, signed by the famous oenologist Gaspare Buscemi, a pioneer of 'natural and artisan' wines.