The inaugural edition of Vinitaly.USA is set to take place in Chicago from October 20 to 21, marking the first Italian wine fair in the U.S. organized by Veronafiere and Fiere Italiane, in partnership with the Italian Trade Agency (ITA). The event will host a groundbreaking Wine Business Forum titled “Between Tradition and Innovation: The Future of Italian Wine on the American Market.”
Scheduled for Sunday, October 20th, from 4:00 to 6:30 p.m. at Navy Pier, the business-to-business event is spearheaded by the Italian Trade Agency. The forum aims to analyze trends in the American wine market, which remains the top destination for Italian wine exports. Additionally, discussions will explore the future positioning of Made-in-Italy wine products in the U.S. market.
Key Sessions and Participants
The forum will feature three working sessions, bringing together key U.S. wine buyers, including restaurateurs, importers, distributors, and representatives from large-scale retail trade.
Bill Terlato, President and CEO of Terlato Wine Group, and Lia Tolaini-Banville, Founder of Banville Wine Merchants, will lead a debate on market strategies and challenges within the industry.
Key figures such as Lee Schlesinger from Winesellers Ltd., Mary Megna of Winebow Imports, and Stefano Francini from Opici Wines and Spirits will focus on new consumer trends and the obstacles facing distribution. They will exchange ideas with prominent Italian wine producers, including Lamberto Frescobaldi (President of Unione Italiana Vini), Matteo Lunelli (CEO of Ferrari Trento), Alessio Planeta (CEO of Planeta Vini), and Massimo Tuzzi (CEO of Holding Terra Moretti).
Program Overview
The event will begin with welcoming speeches and institutional greetings from:
- Matteo Zoppas, President of the Italian Trade Agency
- Adolfo Rebughini, CEO of Veronafiere
- Riccardo Guariglia, Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation
- Annamaria Barrile, Director General of Confagricoltura
- Ettore Prandini, President of Coldiretti
- Francesco Lollobrigida, Minister of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forestry
The forum’s panels will include:
Panel 1: Key Architects of Italian Wine in the U.S. Market: Insights from Leading Importers
Featuring: Bill Terlato (Terlato Wine Group), Lia Tolaini-Banville (Banville Wine Merchants)
Moderated by: Robert M. Tobiassen (NABI – National Association of Beverage Importers)
Panel 2: The Viewpoint of Italian Wine Producers
Featuring: Lamberto Frescobaldi (Unione Italiana Vini), Matteo Lunelli (Ferrari Trento), Alessio Planeta (Planeta), Massimo Tuzzi (Holding Terra Moretti)
Moderated by: Stevie Kim (Managing Partner of Vinitaly)
Panel 3: Unlocking Opportunities: Italian Wine Growth in the Heartland – A Midwestern Focus
Featuring: Lee Schlesinger (Winesellers Ltd.), Maria Megna (Winebow), Stefano Francini (Opici Wines & Spirits)
Moderated by: Robert M. Tobiassen (NABI)
This event aims to strengthen the position of Italian wine in the U.S. market by fostering dialogue among industry leaders and offering insights into consumer trends and growth opportunities.
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