• Il Collettivo Part 2: bringing best of artisan Italian wines to UK buyers

    Is there a town in the UK without its favourite neighbourhood Italian wine restaurant? But it’s not just the food we love, but Italian wine has long been a favourite of the average wine drinker who are showing signs of branching away from a safe Pinot Grigio on a night out. Next week’s Il Collettivo tasting hopes to celebrate the exciting and dynamic end of the Italian wine scene with a joint tasting amongst four of our leading specialist importers.

    Is there a town in the UK without its favourite neighbourhood Italian wine restaurant? But it’s not just the food we love, but Italian wine has long been a favourite of the average wine drinker who are showing signs of branching away from a safe Pinot Grigio on a night out. Next week’s Il Collettivo tasting hopes to celebrate the exciting and dynamic end of the Italian wine scene with a joint tasting amongst four of our leading specialist importers.

    mm By June 1, 2017

    Yesterday we heard from specialist wine importers Swig and Sommelier’s Choice about what to expect at next week’s Il Collettivo tasting. Today’s its the turn of fellow small distributors and joint exhibitors Forty Five 10 and Flint Wines.

    You know what it’s like, you get all excited about a new Italian restaurant with the most “authentic” Calibrian, Puglian or Venetian in the country and excitedly book yourself a table. Only when the time comes to go you drool at all the weird and wonderful ingredients that make up all the house specials and chef’s set piece dishes and then end up order what you always do when you go to an Italian. A plate of calamari, and a bowl of penne arrabiata.

    It’s the same with the wine. All those local wines matched perfectly to the food sound brilliant and exciting, but should you not just go with what you know and trust?

    Il Collettivo hopes to change all that. Or at least make you feel even more guilty for being so conservative when out eating Italian. This is the first event of its kind, brought together by four like minded independent small importers looking to bring fresh, exciting and dynamic wines to our dining tables. It has one objective: to showcase the most exciting and progressive wines being produced across Italy.

    What to expect

    The event will have 32 winemakers represented across the four importers with around 200 wines to taste on the day. Expect to see lots of indigenous grape varieties and wines ideal to pick for your summer list.

    It also includes four masterclasses during the day covering the ancient varieties of Campania (10am-10.45am), Brunello (11am-11.45am), Piemonte (2pm-2.45pm), and lastly indigenous varieties (4pm-4.45pm). If you are interested in attending any of them email chloe@chloedelanne.com  to book a place.

    Here’s Forty Five 10’s Massimiliano Jacoboacci and Flint Wines’ Jason Haynes to tell you what is really going on and why they love their Italian wine.

    Jason Haynes: Flint Wines 

    Jason Haynes: there is a big whole in the trade calendar for a tasting celebrating artisanal Italian wines
    Jason Haynes: there is a big whole in the trade calendar for a tasting celebrating artisanal Italian wines

    Tell us about the Il Collettivo tasting. What can we expect?

    Lots of passion and enthusiasm from both the importers and the growers and hopefully lots of wines that over deliver in terms of quality and personality; wines that you won’t find on the ubiquitous wine lists you see in average gastro pubs and restaurants chains

    Why are you doing this now?

    With the Definitive Italian Tasting seemingly fallen by the wayside a huge gap has been left for a comprehensive Italian wine tasting. Each of the importers involved is expanding their Italian portfolio so it seemed logical to get together and present lots of new wines to what is an expanding and interested market

    What do you think personally are the most exciting trends/wines/ regions coming out of Italy?

    The desire of the new generation of winemakers to reject overly modern, ‘international’ wines and be ambitious about making wines that reflect where they come from and the grapes they are supposed to be made from.

    It seems you can't move for specialist UK wine importers in Piedmont
    It seems you can’t move for specialist UK wine importers in Piedmont

    Which price points and styles are working best for the premium on-trade? Lighter dishes in restaurants means we need more elegant wines and we are certainly seeing plenty of examples of that from Italy. Some of the best value wines are always the cheapest. For example, an entry level wine such as a Dolcetto or Nebbiolo from a top Piedmont producer such as Cogno or Roagna, offers stunning winemaking for very little money. It’s their name on the label and they take equal pride in making these wines as they do their top cuvées.

    Any tips for buyers to make the most of their time at the tasting?

    Try and taste at least one wine from each grower. That way you will get a feel for if their style matches your taste and then you can look at the rest of the range on another occasion.

    You are collaborating with other specialist importers – how has this come about and why did you choose the importers involved?

    flint-wines

    We wanted to create the best possible tasting with the most diverse range of wines possible so it made sense to group together. None of us could have put on a tasting of 250 wines on our own. This is very much a case of being stronger together. We all have the same approach to buying wines; we buy what we like and hope our customers agree. You won’t find any mass produced, industrial wines at the tasting that is for sure!

    You have done this before, do you see this becoming the way forward for specialist importers looking to make a difference?

    Quite possibly. These events take a lot of organisation so sharing the costs, both financial and time, makes a huge amount of sense

    How do you see the wider trade as a whole for specialist importers? 

    I think it’s important to specialise in certain areas and become respected for those. Yes, we need to have wines from elsewhere for when we do an entire wine list for a restaurant but it’s important to be (amongst) the best in a specific area. Customers will come to you if they trust you know what you are doing.

    What are the main challenges and opportunities as a small importer?

    The main issues with specialising is continuity of supply and pricing. If a region is badly affected by frost, for example, and there is virtually no harvest, maintaining supply without diluting quality will be a big challenge. Having the courage to hold stock helps to offset this risk. We specialise in three main areas, Burgundy, Italy and California which opens up a lot of doors, especially as all three are enjoying a real purple patch in terms of popularity.   

    Il Collettivo is all about Italy, so what is your favourite Italian dish?

    Anything with truffles on it!

    Where are you eating it – restaurant/city/place? 

    Ideally in Piedmont!

    What are you drinking with it?

    Barbaresco or Barolo with age. 

    Massimiliano Jacoboacci: Forty Five 10

    forty-five-10

    Tell us about the Il Collettivo tasting. What can we expect?

    An all Italian tasting with a specific focus on the various regions and indigenous variety.

    Why are you doing this now?  

    For two reasons. To capitalise on the growth in Italian wines sales and because there is no other Italian tasting dedicated to small and artisanal winemakers.

    What do you think personally are the most exciting trends/wines/ regions coming out of Italy?

    I notice more low alcohol, less oak, less extraction wines. The south of Italy is finally finding his own style and focus on the indigenous variety, the result is very exciting

    Which price points and styles are working best for the premium on-trade?

    Between £8 to £15 for the by the glass offer. I’d say that the centre/south of Italy still represent good value for money

    Any tips for buyers to make the most of their time at the tasting?
    Don’t rush and take the time to enjoy the presence of several Italian great winemakers.

    You are collaborating with other specialist importers – how has this come about and why did you choose the importers involved? 

    Bruno Besa will run a masterclass on indigenous Italian wine varieties at the tasting
    Bruno Besa from Astrum Wine Cellars will run a masterclass on indigenous Italian wine varieties at the tasting

    It all started with a casual conversation between my colleague Silvia Garatti, Bruno Besa of Astrum (he will run a masterclass at the tasting) and myself. We all know and respect each other and the focus on quality wines.

    You have done this before, do you see this becoming the way forward for specialist importers looking to make a difference?

    Yes and yes.

    How do you see the wider trade as a whole for specialist importers? 

    The increasing number of specialist importers cooperating shows an increased interest in small production, high quality and low intervention wines, so the outlook is very positive.

    What are the main challenges and opportunities for Italian wines?

    Going forward the idea is to represent all of Italy and most of the indigenous varieties so trying to be impartial for the future selections will be key. A great part of the national trade is looking more and more for lesser known wines/growers and great quality.

    Il Collettivo is all about Italy, so what is your favourite Italian dish?

    I am a big fan of Piedmontese food and wine so I’ll pick a classic dish. Bollito misto alla piemontese.

    Where are you eating it – restaurant/city/place? 

    When in Piemonte...
    When in Piemonte…


    Vascello d’Oro, Carru, Piemonte.

    • What are you drinking with it?

    Barbera d’Asti would be the perfect match but I prefer Nebbiolo……that starts with a “B”.

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