Porto Cervo Wine & Food Festival Returns on it’s 9th Edition

From 12-14 May 2017, Sardinia’s Costa Smeralda welcomes the ninth edition of the Porto Cervo Wine & Food Festival, the boutique event focusing on the best of Sardinian and Italian wine and food produce.

Following a successful combined event in 2016 the Wine Festival and Food Festival will take place together once again, offering a unique journey through Sardinian wine experts and food specialists with tastings, meetings, book launches and cooking shows to kick off the season on the Costa Smeralda, Sardinia.

The Cervo Conference Center will welcome an array of producers – from world-famous makers to small, local producers – gathering together to showcase their produce to food and wine experts, together with tourists who are lucky enough to visit Costa Smeralda in May. During the weekend, plenty of tasting opportunities will be combined with a rich programme of meetings, book launches and cooking demonstrations.

The Festival will kick-off on Friday 12 May with Bruno Gambacorta – creator of the famous TV program Eat Parade, broadcasted during TG2 (the news on RAI 2) – moderating two sessions dedicated to healthy eating and long life followed by an interview with Eliana Liotta, author of bestselling book La Dieta Smartfood, in collaboration with the IEO in Milan, and a renowned journalist for Io Donna, the women’s magazine for Il Corriere della Sera. The book considers how ‘Smart Food’ can interact with DNA and slow down aging genes.

At 5pm, Marcello Coronini will join Bruno; Marcello is a writer, food and wine critic and university professor, and founder of the La Cucina del Senza brand. He will reveal the secrets of his book, of the same name, which showcases fat-free dishes, with no added salt and sugar, for healthy eating without compromising on taste.

Wine becomes the highlight on Saturday 13 May wherein Bruno Gambacorta will interview Luigi Moio, Professor of Oenology at the University of Naples Federico II and President of the International Organisation of Vine and Wine. One of the leading experts on Italian wine, Moio is also the author of “Il respiro del vino” – a fascinating journey to discover the invisible ‘sphere’ of the nose of wines.

At 5pm the Festival welcomes Antonio Paolini, journalist and wine critic, one of the leading food and wine publishing names, co-curator of I Vini de L’Espresso and a member of the Executive Committee of Guide Ristoranti d’Italia. Antonio will speak to Bruno Gambacorta about wine and regional marketing, offering insightful tips and strategies on how to promote and develop the best wine related tourism.

The day begin at 11:30am on Sunday 14 May with Il Gambero Rosso journalist Giuseppe Carrus talking about Sardinia and its wines, leading the audience on a journey through the island’s 15 native grapes. Alongside him, Gianluigi Bacchetta, director of the Botanical Garden and professor at the University of Cagliari, will offer insight about vines that date from the Nuragic civilisation – from the bronze age to the 2nd century AD – and the recent discovery in Sardinia of the oldest vines in the western Mediterranean.

At 3.30pm Bruno Gambacorta will meet husband and wife team Clara and Gigi Padovani – writers, journalists, wine critics – and authors of many bestselling books in the wine & food world. Their most famous titles include “L’arte di bere il vino e vivere felici”, an easy guide for readers first approaching the world of wine and “Tiramisù. Storia, curiosità, interpretazioni del dolce italiano più amato,” a fun read about the origins of this delicious dessert.

Finally, to end a brilliant three days of Festival, two cooking stars will take to the stage for a delicious ‘four hands’ cooking challenge. The challenge will be a meeting between Sardinia and Japan – both ‘Blue Zone’ islands of longevity – with Chef Hiro, star of the television programme “Hello, I am Hiro” on Gambero Rosso TV and Alberto Sanna, from Il Campidano Resstaurant in Samassi – recently named in Forbes 30 Under 30 for 2017. The performance will showcase the skills and talents of both chefs, with incredible results – the perfect way to end proceedings.

Porto Cervo Wine & Food Festival will be held on Friday 12 May, Saturday 13 May, Sunday 14 May 2017 from Friday and Saturday, 3.00pm – 7.00pm; Sunday 11.00am – 6.00pm.

For more details please visit: www.portocervofoodfestival.com or www.portocervowinefestival.com