"MIGLIOR ENOTECARIO D' ITALIA 2022"

An idea created by AEPI to award the best wine shop owners, enployees, consultans, sommeliers  in Italy through a competition that opened its doors for entries on February 5. A competition which aims to turn the spotlight on the professional figures of the wine.

The first edition of the competition "Miglior Enotecario d' Italia" organized by AEPI (Associazione Enotecari Professionisti Italiani) was born with the goal of giving a real stage to Italian wine shop owners, employees, wine consultants, a category which is the ambassador of the world of wine and alcoholic products in general. In fact, AEPI represents all the professionals who work in the world of wine in the role of wine shopkeepers, a precious category which can boast a high knowledge of the product, of consumers' preferences, of the restaurant and gastronomy sector.

The idea of the contest starts from the assumption that, as opposed to other categories such as sommeliers, barmen and chefs, to this day, professional wine shop owners have not yet had the opportunity to test themselves in a competition totally dedicated to them.

 "The competition aims at being an occasion of comparison and dialogue within the category. - says Francesco Bonfio, President of AEPI - And the occasion to give shape and expression to what are the real and multiple skills that professional wine shopkeepers can put in the field. It will be a moment to celebrate the experience daily introduced by every single professional in the choice of the product, in the capacity of proposal, in the attitude to communicate with competence and willingness to dialogue, showing seriousness and great attention to the needs of the consumer. The goal of the competition, finally, is to give media prominence to those who will participate and succeed, creating a moment of personal and collective growth".

 The contest "Miglior Enotecario di Italia", developed with the collaboration of Vinarius (Associazione Enoteche Italiane), will involve both wine shopkeepers operating in wine shops, where take away sales are proposed, and professionals working in wine shops where the service is provided inside the shop. The wine shopkeeper, the sommelier, ets, as a protagonist working in wine bars, taverns, wine stores and  businesses specialized in the proposal, in the serving and in the service of wines, other alcoholic products and quality spirits will be the core of the whole event.

How the "Miglioe Enotecario di  Italia" Contest works.

 Aspiring winners will be able to enroll in one of the two sections of the competition: one concerning wine shops with take away sales and the other one dedicated to wine shops. As it is a contest which focuses on the figure of the wine shop owner and wants to reward his or her professionalism, all the members of a single wine shop will also be able to apply, provided they actively work in it.  Registration is open to owners, employees, consultants, collaborators, freelancers who will compete in two tests in order to have access to the final scheduled in Rome in June. To judge the participants in each of the tests there will be a jury composed of four members, great connoisseurs of the beverage sector and led by a figure of great experience. Exceptional are also the Consortia that decided to join and become sponsors of the competition: Consorzio Tutela Vini dei Colli Orientali del Friuli, Consorzio Vini DOC delle Venezie, Consorzio Vini Alto Adige, Consorzio Vino Chianti Classico, Consorzio di Tutela Vini Cirò e Melissa, Consorzio Vino Toscana, Consorzio di Tutela Vini del Trentino, Consorzio Tutela Vini Colli Euganei, Consorzio Tutela Vini Valpolicella, Enoteca Regionale del Barolo.

 Consorzio del Brunello di Montalcino and Comité Interprofessionnel du Vin de Champagne (CIVC) will be present during the competition as trainers. In fact, the finalists will be welcomed by these excellent entities in two training stages hosted in their headquarters and in their reference territories. A great occasion of learning where the focus will be placed on the deepening of specific themes related to the profession of wine shopkeeper and on highly formative activities offered to participants.

The Competition Miglior Enotecario d’Italia"" is an initiative sponsored by MIPAAF (Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Forestry Policies) and it is getting ready to be a great opportunity to enhance a profession of the high quality Italian wine industry. From February 5th it is possible to register on the website www.migliorenotecarioditalia.it.