(ANSA) – OSLO, 26 AGO – The “Wines of Piedmont” consortium has again organized this year’s “Barolo & Friends Event” at Gamle Logen, a prestigious facility in downtown Oslo. The aim of the initiative is to promote Piedmont wines in Norway, a leading market for high-quality wines, and in particular for reds, both those with great structure and the lighter, more territorial varieties. The event, which opened with a speech by the Italian Ambassador to Oslo, Stefano Nicoletti, and oenologist Lars G. Rein-Helliesen of TellUs Wine, hosted this year for the first time the Consortium Barbera d’Asti and Wines of Monferrato, to which an in-depth masterclass was dedicated reserved for industry professionals (importers, restaurateurs, sommeliers, journalists and ho.re.ca. representatives).
Attendees then attended a masterclass entitled “A Journey Through Langhe: Exploring Roero, Barbaresco, and Barolo,” led by award-winning sommelier Francesco Marzola (16th Best Sommelier of the World 2023, Best Sommelier of Norway 2020). In the afternoon, the Italian wineries present were able to offer two walk-around tastings, one reserved for industry professionals and one open to selected wine lovers.
Italy has long ranked first in wine exports to Norway in quantity and is second only to France in value. Wine retailing in Norway is mostly controlled by the state monopoly, which owns more than 330 stores, 18 of which specialize in fine wines. The import of wine is regulated through tenders in which the 500 or so importers take part, offering a range of tens of thousands of alcoholic products. The Italian Ambassador to Oslo, Stefano Nicoletti, commented, “The Barolo & Friends Event is an effective promotional tool, allowing wine producers to establish new business opportunities and consolidate their contacts. Italian wines are highly appreciated in Norway and maintain a solid position, despite strong foreign competition. On the other hand, sales are slowing down slightly, particularly those of reds, caused mainly by a change in consumer tastes. In fact, Norway represents a rich, demanding and evolving market. More than a third of the Italian wine imported to this country comes from Piedmont, which spares no promotional efforts to attract an increasingly demanding consumer audience. One trend favoring medium-bodied Piedmont wines is the current preference of the Norwegian youth market for lighter, easy-drinking red wines.”
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Attendees then attended a masterclass entitled “A Journey Through Langhe: Exploring Roero, Barbaresco, and Barolo,” led by award-winning sommelier Francesco Marzola (16th Best Sommelier of the World 2023, Best Sommelier of Norway 2020). In the afternoon, the Italian wineries present were able to offer two walk-around tastings, one reserved for industry professionals and one open to selected wine lovers.
Italy has long ranked first in wine exports to Norway in quantity and is second only to France in value. Wine retailing in Norway is mostly controlled by the state monopoly, which owns more than 330 stores, 18 of which specialize in fine wines. The import of wine is regulated through tenders in which the 500 or so importers take part, offering a range of tens of thousands of alcoholic products. The Italian Ambassador to Oslo, Stefano Nicoletti, commented, “The Barolo & Friends Event is an effective promotional tool, allowing wine producers to establish new business opportunities and consolidate their contacts. Italian wines are highly appreciated in Norway and maintain a solid position, despite strong foreign competition. On the other hand, sales are slowing down slightly, particularly those of reds, caused mainly by a change in consumer tastes. In fact, Norway represents a rich, demanding and evolving market. More than a third of the Italian wine imported to this country comes from Piedmont, which spares no promotional efforts to attract an increasingly demanding consumer audience. One trend favoring medium-bodied Piedmont wines is the current preference of the Norwegian youth market for lighter, easy-drinking red wines.”
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