The spring of Italian wine in Zurich

After a two-year break, the Vini d'Italia event in Switzerland returned in grand style. With its lovely spring-like weather, Zurich welcomed 50 wine producers in the scenic location of Lake Side. The city is experiencing a period of strong economic recovery, even if many have confirmed that it never really stopped during the pandemic. The national figures on wine imports speaks for themselves: according to UN Comtrade, Switzerland imported 1.25 billion euros worth of wines in 2021, recording a growth rate of about 15% both in 2019 and 2020. As to the Italian imports, 2021 closed with 415.1 million euros, for an increase of 8.8% in 2020. Many new openings in the restaurant industry are showing a particularly golden time for the city. "During the crisis, we tripled our openings thanks also to the delivery and the idea of launching the pizza a portafoglio. The Swiss are very receptive, they know how to recognize quality and pay the right price. They are willing to pay 26 francs (25.33 euro) for a pizza margherita. They are demanding, but they know how to reward and recognize merit," asserted talented pizza maker Raffaele Tromiro. His new opening, Pizzeria Napulé Zollikon, was awarded Two Slices during the event. The Top Italian Restaurants guide also rewarded the work of Luigia Zurich, halfway between a solid pizzeria and a classic cuisine restaurant, earning it Two Slices. Two Forks, instead, for Adriano Peroncini’s Gandria, offering a very strict Italian taste, as well as for Accademia del Gusto, the brainchild of Stefano and Mariana Piscopo, undoubtedly one of the best expressions of Italian cuisine in Switzerland. Lastly, Two Bottles and the Villa Sandi Best Contemporary Wine List award went to Ornellaia, result of the partnership between the Bolgheri winery and the Bindella family.

Santa Margherita Experience at the Accademia del Gusto

In the heart of Zurich, the event saw as protagonists the Gruppo Santa Margherita, Winery of the Year in the Vini d'Italia guide, and the cuisine of Accademia del Gusto, Stefano and Marianna Piscopo's restaurant. The tasted wines, narrated by Virginia Stancheris and Lorenzo Ruggeri, led the audience through the mountains of South Tyrol with the Kettmeir winery, till the highest altitude area of Chianti Classico with the Lamole di Lamole winery, flagship of the appellation with a great potential considering the climate trends. The Tuscan winery is celebrating its first year as certified organic company with a new range of labels. Pairings of the evening? The deep 2019 Kettmeir Pinot Bianco with raw tuna, vegetable brunoise and fried squid; the sleek 2018 Chianti Classico Riserva Lareale with sumptuous fresh maritati pasta creamed with piccadilly tomatoes and aged cacioricotta cheese; the 2017 Gran Selezione Vigneto of Campolungo with braised beef and polenta. The niche 2017 Moscato Rosa by Kettmier to conclude, with just a handful of bottles produced. "We started working with Ca' del Bosco, and we really appreciated the way they work, their professionalism and attention to detail". During our blind tastings, we also enjoyed other wines, and so we decided to go for wineries such as Kettmeir and Lamole di Lamole to do a good job. The rebound effect here in Zurich is very strong, people are going out even more and drinking higher-end wines. We have been very close to the restaurant industry in difficult times and now this approach is paying off. As for our producers, "we are not interested in selling, but rather in creating a long-lasting trust relationship", commented Gianni Vergani, one of the leading importers of Italian wine in Switzerland.