Updated: 29 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 on activities during VINITALY 2004, Verona, Italy - Jury Judging, Winery visits, Personalities, Food & Restaurants, People, Historic Buildings, Vinitaly for You

report by Remie Law in Verona, Italy

CONCORSO ENOLOGICO INTERNAZIONALE
28/29 March

	Mr. Guiseppe Martelli, the Juries' President of the Concorso (Challenge) is the main co-ordinator of the entire event. A qualified eneologist, Mr. Martelli, consistently stood up on the podium directing the pouring of the wines by the team of sommeliers & ensure that the entire tasting sessions were conducted in a professional manner by each & every juror. Mdm. Loppi, his "English" assistant was constantly on his side translating each instruction into English for non-Italian speakers.
	Red wines older than 3-years are all decanted in front of the jury members. This tremendous job were done by the sommelier in-charge of each commission (juror panel). The almost military precision of the pouring process is a joy to watch. Video clips of these parades will appear, soon, among these pages, including the decanting process & pouring of wines.
	This is one member of the "back-room" team that worked very hard to ensure that each wine was properly labeled & each score was properly recorded so that the correct wine receives the accolade it deserves.
	These are two main "cowgirls", who herded the 90 jurors from the hotel, onto the coaches, then, into the tasting hall. Repeating the process at the end of each morning & evening session. In between, they were on-hand to handle, cheerfully, the needs of the various jurors. Their constant attention contributed to an almost incident-free 5 days of the Wine Challenge sessions.
	Perhaps the oldest member of the Jury, Mr. John Salvi, a freelance writer, attached to The Institute of Masters of Wine, London. He never missed a beat throughout the Competition sessions, adding dry British humour to discussions during refresher breaks & meals.
	Huge dinners with plenty of wine, relaxed and /or earnest discussions on wine & aspects of wine, plus, creating long lasting friendships among the Jury members, are some of the positive benefits of this event. Putting an international & diverse group of people with only one passion together for 5 concentrated days, creates a bonding that will last long after the actual event. Further, many will return year after year to renew & strengthen these bonds, sharing information on the development of the wine industry among some 30 countries is an amazing achievement by the Concorso Enologico Internazionale, having completed its 12th year.

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