Italy desperately needs Masters of Wine. After ignoring for decades the importance of this respected institution (for Italian brands' awareness and trade), the Italian wine industry took recently the initiative to search for candidates able to compete to enter in the restricted group of international Masters of Wine: actually they are 312 from 24 countries, only Pierpaolo Petrassi represents Italians in this group (he lives and works in UK).

This 2014 will be a key year when, from 15 to 18 May 2014, delegates from all over the world will be gathering in Florence for the Institute of Masters of Wine's 8th Symposium.

And, coming to our more close interest, under the initiative of Istituto del Vino Italiano di Qualità Grandi Marchi, which brings together 19 Italian wineries (see the list below), and with the partnership of the Institute of Masters of Wine itself, Valpolicella will be the next place to welcome their joined activities: the Foresteria Serego Alighieri (in Gargagnago, near Sant’Ambrogio di Valpolicella) to host the working sessions from March 7th to 9th that act as the introduction to the strict programme of studies for the title of Master of Wine.

If you have the right qualifications and you are interested to try, or simply you want more details, please read the official press release hereafter.