Updated: 24 March 2004
(These pages are updated early/end of each day from 24 March till
5 April. Additional reportage, with background information, before the event.
Additional in-depth articles after the event)
report by Remie Law in Verona, Italy
THE JOURNEY &
FIRST IMPRESSIONS
23/24 March
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The flight was uneventful but
long with a 4-hour transit at Charles de Gaulle Airport, Paris, before
touching down at Verona airport at about 11:30am. Here I met 2 of my Jury
colleagues - Francois from Belgium and Angela from South Africa, as we
were taxied to Verona's top grand hotel the Due Torri Baglioni. Even then,
our rooms were not ready for us. So, Francois, a Vinitaly veteran led me
through not-to-be-missed via Manzzini. Chockfull of small boutiques,
gelaterias & winebars. This pedestrian street crisscrossed by streets
with traffic led me to the most prominent monument of Verona - the well
preserved Roman Arena, where public shows are still being held, each
summer..... |
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| Nowadays, however,
open-air operas & other arts activities are held here. The
Piazza Bra at the Roman Arena, I found street performers like this
Russian girl playing the Russian zithr (need to check my spelling
when I get back). Although it was below 10degC, the gelatarias were
doing a roaring business with the many visitors & local alike. |
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| The evening ended with a
welcome reception for the about 90 members of the JURY from all over
the world. Francois (Belgium) & William (Canada) in the picture
among them. Others included Angela (South Africa), Jose (Spain),
Mina (South Korea), Vincent (India), Jason (Shenzhen, China), Susie
(Shanghai, China), Fabrico (Argentina), all lending their palate to
the Concorzio Enologica Internazionale. Dinner followed
with my favourite dishes of wafer-thin fatty air-dried ham and
risotto served on a cheese crust. The evening's event was washed
down with wines from Banfi. Now fully satiated at 11:30pm, I crawled
back to my room to write this transmission. I need to be up by
06:30am, tomorrow for the 08:30am coach to start the marathon
assessment of 3,406 wines from 30 different countries. Wish me
........ good health !!!! |
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