As the most emblematic elements of the “Made in Italy” label, fashion, wine, gastronomy, art, music and design were featured at the f GALA ITALIA. Now celebrating its 25th anniversary, the event was  held on February 25th, 2010, under the high patronage of the Italian Ambassador in Washington, Giulio Terzi di Sant’Agata.

The acclaimed GALA ITALIA remains the foremost showcase of the finest “Made in Italy” products on the trend-setting New York stage.  The event took place at the Grand Ballroom of the Marriott Marquis Hotel in Times Square. To recognize the prosperous 25-year-old relationship between GALA ITALIA and New York City, Mayor Michael Bloomberg proclaimed the date February 25th as “GALA ITALIA DAY.”
After the success of the 2009 edition of GALA ITALIA, an even more exciting program is planned for this year.

The main event of GALA ITALIA, the grand Wine & Food Tasting, features leading Italian wine producers who personally presented their best quality wines. Many of these producers are responsible for spreading the knowledge about Italian wine within this country and have been instrumental in introducing Italian wine into the American market. The following wine makers have already confirmed their participation: Antinori,  Astoria, Baglio del Cristo di Campobello, Bava, Bellussi, Belpoggio, Bertani, J. Biondi Santi, Bottega Vinaia, Cantina di Montalcino, Cantina Sociale dell’Alto Belice, Cantina Todini, Carlo Pellegrino, Carpineto, Casa di Grazia, Casabella, Casale di Falchini, Castello di Gabbiano, Castello di Querceto, Cavit, Concadoro, Concilio, Corbera, Coste del Faena, Consorzio Produttori Vini di Manduria, Donna Cristina, Alessandro Di Camporeale, Duca di Castelmonte, Fattoria Montecchio, Fazi Battaglia, Feudi di San Gregorio, Fonterutoli, Fratelli Muratori, Gigi Rosso, Gran Sasso, Grotta del Sole, Imperiale, Lunetta, Marchesi di Barolo, Meloni, Michele Chiarlo, Nardin S., Planeta, Rocca delle Macie, Ruffino, Sansone, Sella & Mosca, Settesoli, Tenuta di Arceno, Tenuta di Biserno (L. Antinori), Tenuta Gatti, Tenuta Ormanni, G. Tiburzi, Torrevento, Travaglini and Villabella to mention a few of them.

In addition to these producers, the Istituto Regionale Vite e Vino of Palermo is sponsoring the participation of some of the most highly profiled Sicilian wine producers, who  showcased an excellent selection of wines at GALA ITALIA. The contribution of the Istituto Regionale Vite e Vino is part of its activities to promote Sicilian wine around the world and follows its successful participation in last year’s GALA ITALIA. To further emphasize the presence of the Sicilian wine producers, members of the press  participated in a Gala Dinner, which includes a drawing for a trip to visit the best wineries of Sicily.

During the Wine & Food Tasting an American jury awards the traditional “Gold Medal” to the best wine of each participating winery.  In addition to these unique GALA ITALIA medals, the producers receive a certificate of merit presented by an Italian personality. The certificate attests to their success and recognizes their inclusion in the “Special Selection of Top Italian Companies” in the wine world. This contest increases the visibility of the companies participating in GALA ITALIA and further highlights the most notable Italian wines.

Preceding the Wine and Food Tasting, a Luncheon-Tasting was held in the Manhattan Ballroom at the Marriott Marquis Hotel. During the luncheon, with a special menu, the participants tasted the wine previously selected by each company and the representatives of each winery have the opportunity to speak informally with journalists who were present.

Moreover, prestigious Italian restaurants within New York offered their best dishes. Among them are names such as: Serafina, the restaurant of the international Jet Set, the very new and elegant SD26 of Tony May, the famous Osteria del Circo of Sirio Maccioni and Aleo, Bettola, DeGrezia, Falai, Gusto, Il Punto, Il Riccio, Ornella, Salumeria Rosi, Sora Lella, Scuderia and Testaccio, set up in an area adjoining the Ballroom, named appropriately “Via Veneto” for the occasion. A large number of Italian producers and U.S. importers of Italian specialty foods – Olio Monini, Caffe’ Segafredo Zanetti, Olio Azienda Agricola Poggetto di Mezzo, Caffe’ Lavazza, Ferrero chocolates, Smeraldina as water sponsor and many others – also appeared and demonstrated the importance of gastronomically pairing the Italian foods and wines.

The GALA ITALIA also premiered If You Speak Fashion, You Speak Italian, a video that features “Made in Italy” fashion and reveals spectacular images taken in Rome to re-energize the “Italian dream” for the benefit of American retailers and consumers. The presentation ended  with a fashion show featuring Atelier Aimée’s wedding dress collection.

Another highlight of the evening was the Italian Fashion Show, presenting the clothes, jewelry and accessories of Simona Ventura’s spring-summer sportswear collection, StarChic.

Several personalities of the Italian showbiz attended  the event, including the actress Samuela Sardo (Un posto al Sole, Incantesimo) and the author and musical director Massimo Piparo.

To add to this special event, Elena Bonelli, the well-known Italian singer, who recently performed at Carnegie Hall, and who has been directing a film shot partly in New York, enhanced the Gala with a program of popular Italian songs entertaining all with her amazing voice..

There was an exhibition of the new Fiat 500, created to revive the Chrysler line of cars, shown together with the legendary Fiat Cinquecento of the Fifties. There was also be a display of Vespas by Piaggio, one of the greatest Italian success stories of recent years in the U.S. and of Italian-made luxury bicycles.

During the Gala exciting prizes, including a Vespa scooter, courtesy of Piaggo, and several trips to Italy offered by New York office of the Italian Government Tourist Board were  raffled off among the guests.

All of the participating wineries received  a special GALA ITALIA color catalog giving detailed information about the event, such as the producer’s name, station number and importer’s name (including address, telephone and fax numbers). Over 4000 copies of the catalog were  distributed to all attendees and after the show to importers of Italian wines and foods.

Over 3,000 trade representatives, restaurateurs and journalists in the sector of wine, specialty foods, fashion, design and art from the U.S. East coast were expected to attend the 2010 edition of GALA ITALIA.

For the first time GALA ITALIA, in its 25th edition, offers on-line registration to all guests.

Following GALA ITALIA, the “Italian Wine Gala” took place in Los Angeles on March 1. This event  expanded the promotional activity of the “Made in Italy” products to the markets in California and the West coast of the U.S. The Italian Wine Gala is reserved for the press and trade of the greater metropolitan area of Los Angeles and  occurred from 2:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the well-known restaurant Valentino, with the cooperation of the owner Piero Selvaggio. The producers/importers in attendance participated  in a special press luncheon held from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. in one of the rooms at the restaurant.