We are honored to host Filippo Gastaldi, President of AEPI, the "Associazione dei Enotecari Professionisti Italiani," here at Allwinestories.com.
Mr. Gastaldi, could you kindly begin by providing a brief introduction of yourself and AEPI?
AEPI is the acronym for Associazione Enotecari Professionisti Italiani (Italian Wine Professional Associatiation). The Association admits members (which can be proprietors and employees and consultants) with strict requirements and is subject to the control of the Italian Minister of Business and Enterprises, according with the National Law n. 4/2013. In particular it must supervise the annual mandatory professional updating of all members. Members of AEPI are wine retailers, winebars managers, wine consultants.
I am 40 yo and I have been AEPI co-founder in 2016 and at th end of last year I became national president. I have a degree in economics and oenology. I have a wine store and a distributing company.
AEPI organizes the prestigious “Miglior Enotecario d’Italia” competition annually in collaboration with VINARIUS, the Italian Wine Shop Association.
Could you share more details about this event and its significance within the wine industry?
This is the only competition devoted to wine professionals both as wine stores and wine bars. Can be admitted everybody (AEPI members or not) who works in a winebars or wine restaurants or wine shops.
We have in Italy the best bartender, the competition for the best sommelier, the best chef, the champion of any matter but there was a hole about the crucial job in entire wine industry supply chain and we thought it was time to have the best wine professional retailer and the best wine professional winebar manager.
What selection processes and competitive criteria are used to identify the six finalists for the competition?
There is a first step with a selection among all the registered. It is online, based on 15 questions and all the registered must answer in 75 minutes. Only the first 10 for each category (winebars and winestores) have access the semi-final. This second step is also online and give to us the best three for each category. Then the final in presence. There is one trophy for wine shop category and one trpphy for winebars category. There are also two special side trophies: one devoted to the best classified under 30 years old and one devoted to the best italian professional working outside Italy.
The finalists for this year are notably young professionals in the Italian market. Do you see them as potential leaders in attracting a younger generation of wine consumers?
This year we have 4 of the six finalists under 30 yo. This is a huge and important sign for the future of our job. Consider also that of the total registration at the begining about 70 per cent were under 40.
Could you tell us about the members of the technical committee and the arbitration panel overseeing the competition?
There is a president, his name is Stefano Caffarri, one of the most knowledgeable experts in Italy for food and wine, restaurants etc. Also, excellent professional in social media.
There are three members, each one representing a specific field.
Alessandra Piubello, food and wine journalist, contributor for a a large list pof paper and online newspapers and magazines.
Anna Maschio for the commercial side. She is a big expert in marketing of wine and spirits, so she is perfect to evaluate how the candidates manage the purchase side of the job.
Piero Sattanino Honorable President of ASPI (Italian Professional Sommelier Association - the only italian sommelier association recognized by ASI Association de la Sommellerie Internationale) became the first to win the title of World Champion Sommelier in 1971.
Which awards will be presented at the upcoming ceremony on November 11th at Palazzo Valentini in Rome?
Best Italian Enotecario (winebars category) and Best Italian Enotecario (wineshops category)
Best Italian Enotecario UNDER 30
Best Italian Enotecario working outside Italy
and (new this year) Best Enotecario of Rome and its area (this because the Mayor of Rome is hosting the event at Palazzo Valentini, head office of Rome extended geographical area - the Province of Rome). The full official name is Città metropolitana di Roma Capitale.
Lastly, who are the key sponsors and supporters of this year’s competition?
We have the high patronages of Ministry of Agricolture, Region of Latium, Città metropolitana di Roma Capitale.
Our partners are Enoteca del Barolo and Bureau du Champagne (who represents Comité Champagne in Italy).
Enoteca del Barolo and Comité Champagne have offered a four days trip, respectively, to Barolo and to Epernay in order to increase each candidate's knowledges for a fuller training looking at the final.
Sponsors of the entire competition are six Consortium of some of the most prestigious italian wine geographical appellations:
CHIANTI CLASSICO, FRIULI COLLI ORIENTALI e RAMANDOLO, CIRO' e MELISSA, TRENTINO, COLLIO, ISTITUTO DELLA GRAPPA TRENTINA.
Μany thanks to Allwinestories.COM for this interview and for supporting the contest as official media partner.
Article: Marinos Skolarikos, November 11 2024
