Record attendees and a brand new city at Great Wines of Italy USA 2019

An amazing few days from March 1 to 8 showed how popular the Great Wines of Italy USA event series has become. More than over 4,000 wine lovers in the United States had the chance to sample hundreds of top-rated wines (all scoring 90 points or above) and meet winemakers from some of Italy’s most popular names.

We returned to four key cities – Beverly Hills, San Francisco, New York and Miami – but also added a Chicago event this year to bring these fantastic wines to the American Midwest. It was a sold out event like the other four cities and highlighted what a great wine town the Windy City is!

A record-breaking 240 premium Italian producers took part in the overall tour, all handpicked for the event to showcase the best wines being produced throughout Italy. Each of these prestigious wineries poured their latest releases, all scoring no less than 90 points. James and his team of tasters visited the top wine regions in Italy and rated more than 5,400 Italian wines in 2018.

“The Great Wines of Italy USA is the most popular premium Italian wine event in America and it underlines our love as Americans for the best wines of Italy! “ said James Suckling, CEO and editor of JamesSuckling.com.

The Great Wines of Italy USA series kicked off on March 1 in Beverly Hills at the SLS Hotel. The event got off to a great start, with vineyard owners, winemakers and industry representatives all enjoying a superb selection of Brunellos, Barolos, Super Tuscans, Barbarescos, and more.

A bit of light rain didn’t dampen the enthusiasm at the next city in the tour, San Francisco, with the event fittingly taking place at the historic Presidio Golden Gate Club. Debutante Chicago was next, and it too was packed with a great mix of wine lovers. While the weather dropped below freezing outside (minus 22 centigrade!), inside the venue at Loews Chicago Hotel, the crowds were warmed up with yet another fantastic selection of wines, as well as tunes from DJ Surahn, who came for the tour all the way from Melbourne, Australia. Surahn is formerly with the famous Ozzie bad Empire of the Sun and now tours with top names from Flight Facilities to Hayden James. His music is unique to our wine events around the world.

The final two events were at IAC in New York and at Moore Building in the Miami Design District, both of which were also sold-out successes. Wine lovers and many key figures from the industry came out in full force, with many wineries out of pours by the end of events.

The events were supported by Holland America, Wine.com, Sea Shepherd and Coravin. A significant portion of money from the ticket sales was also donated to Sea Shepherd who continue to make the seas safe for whales and conduct other initiatives to save our oceans.

Great Wines of Italy USA will be back again next year in early March 2020, so if you missed out this time be sure to watch this space.

Scroll through the galleries below to relive the top moments from Great Wines of Italy USA 2019

Beverly Hills, SLS Hotel (March 1)

The grand entrance to the event in Beverly Hills.
Alojz Felix Jermann from Jermann.
The crowds came out in force for the Beverly Hills event at the SLS Hotel.
Pouring an Etna Rosso DOC “Le Sabbie dell’Etna” from Firriato.
Dario Pieropan, owner of Pieropan.
Sabino Colucci and Mario Gregorio from Colli di Castelfranci in action.
Everyone enjoyed the latest releases from the Italian producers who were present.
Vincenzo d'Andrea - Bibi Graetz.
2017 Jermann Pinot Grigio.
Jens Schmidt, owner of La Rasina.
Sarah Halstead and Gottfried Pollinger from Nals Margreid.
DJ Surahn spinning smooth tunes.
Stefano Maggini - Sette Ponti Orma.
Luciano Brussolo - Camigliano.
Giuseppe Santarelli - Avignonesi.

San Francisco, Golden Gate Club (March 2)

For the 6th year in a row, The Presidio Golden Gate Club hosted our San Francisco tasting. All wines poured scored a minimum of 90 points.
Guests were able to sample premium Italian wines and meet their producers and owners in person.
Luca Sanjust, owner of famed Tuscan winery Petrolo.
Giacomo Neri pouring his Casanova di Neri Brunellos for enthusiastic wine lovers
Martina Molino, owner of Mauro Molino.
Federico Basso, owner of Villa Raiano from Campania.
DJ Surahn spinning the decks.
Brett Benham - Poderi Aldo Conterno.
Vincenzo d'Andrea - Bibi Graetz.
Teresa Cloyd - Mesa.
Ryan Anderson - Monteverro.
Robert Sawicki - Tony Sasa.
Maddalena Cordella - Cordella.
Maarten Leereveld - Collemassari and Grattamacco.
Lidia Ceseri - Ruffino.
Jimmy Minutella - Renato Ratti.
Holly Phillips - Ciacci Piccolomini d'Aragona.
Guillaume Akouka - Umani Ronchi.
Debbie Slutsky - Varvaglione.
Claire Beliaard - Poggio La Noce.
Despite the weather, people came out in force to enjoy the great wines.

Chicago, Loews Chicago Hotel (March 4)

It was a great turnout for the Chicago debut.
James addresses the crowd.
Alan Hulsbergen, owner of famous vineyard Villa Trasqua.
Stefano Frascolla, owner of Tua Rita who produces many 100-point scoring wines.
Stefano Maggini - Sette Ponti Orma.
A wine lover tastes at the Luce stand.
Michele Contartese, General Manager of Castello di Meleto.
Massimo Piccin, owner of Podere Sapaio.
Maddalena Cordella from Cordella.
Nicoletta Nafi Ciacci - Piccolomini d'Aragona.
Alessandro Fuselli, next generation owner of Terre del Marchesato.
Serena Rettori - Cecchi.
Erminia D'Angelo owner of D'Angelo.
Marzia Varvaglione, next generation owner of Varvaglione.
Marica Bonomo, owner of Monte del Frà.
Ilaria Bettarini owner of Fattoria di Piazzano, and Maria Faza.
Gregorio Fortino - Vite Colte.
Giorgio Fragiacomo - Querciabella.
The producers enjoyed the event as much as the tasters.
Giacomo Alari - Tenute del Cerro.
Enzo Tedeschi - Il Borro.
Daniel Fabbro, second generation owner of San Polino.
Pouring at the Viberti stand.
Antonella Panetta - Taverna.
Alessandro Lunardi - Ornellaia.

New York, IAC (March 6)

The venue for New York was IAC Building and it was packed.
James with Helen and Alex Biba, owner of Viticcio in Chianti Classico.
Cesare Benvenuto, fifth generation of Pio Cesare.
Doni Coppi, owner of Coppi.
Daniel Fabbro, second generation owner of San Polino.
James addresses the 900 guests in the room
Camilla Colutta, owner of Colutta.
Marco and Federico Balocco, 3rd generation winemakers Collina San Ponzio in Piedmont.
Gunther Di Giovanna, owner of Di Giovanna.
Roberto Cristoforetti, founder and owner of Urlari.
Ilaria Petitto, owner of Donnachiara.
Bernardo Barberani, owner of Barberani.
Orlando Pecchenino, from Pecchenino.
Alessandro Cellai, head winemaker and director of Castellare di Castellina.
Alberto Machetti from Tenuta Buon Tempo.
Alberto Colombo CEO of Vallepicciola.
Silvia Batazzi, fourth generation owner of Piancornello.
Nicola Lenci, owner of Fattoria di Magliano.
Marco Di Serramarrocco, owner of Barone di Serramarrocco.
Mirko Gosgnach and Matteo Bernabei from Canonica a Cerreto.
Trave Paolo - Lo Zoccolaio.
Jacopo Bacci, owner of Castello di Bossi.
Tommaso Squarcia, owner and CEO of Castello Tricerchi.
Guido Andretta, owner of Andretta Vitanza.
Alessandro Cardini and Paolo Nevini – Castelli del Grevepesa.
Diana D'Isanto, next generation owner of I Balzini.
Werner Waldboth - Abbazzia di Novacella.
Stefano Maggini - Orma.
Antonio Rallo and Barbara Pezzano from Donnafugata.
Lorenzo Sassetti, owner of Livio Sassetti.
Ettore Finetto, founder of Garbole, with his son Costin Finetto Cojoc.
Riccardo Bogi - Argiano.
Laura Broccardo presenting Broccardo.
Gabrizia Cellai - San Fabiano Calcinaia.
Cosimo Soderi - Gagliole.
Pietro Cavallo - Castelli Martinozzi.
Maurizio Masi, owner of Bellini.
Giorgio Colutta, owner of Colutta.
Olympia Romba - Cavalli Tenuta Degli Dei.
Fabrizio Pratesi from Pratesi.
Michele Contartese, General Manager of Castello di Meleto.
Michael Rigney - Luce della Vite.
Michael Miller - Frescobaldi.
Massimo Galvano - Silvio Nardi.
Massimo Basile - Argentiera.
Luca Belingardi - Villa Poggio Salvi.
Paolo Lovisolo - Bersano.
Linda Siddera -Casale del Giglio.
Jacopo Vagaggini, technical director of Amantis.
Giuseppe Propato - Uccelliera.
Giulio Galli - Bellavista.
Giulia Negro - Rocche dei Manzoni.
Emanuele Gastel – Collemassari and Grattamacco.

Miami, Moore Building (March 8)

James addresses the crowd while DJ Surahn rocks on.
Alan Hulsbergen, owner of Villa Trasqua.
Happy attendees enjoying the Miami debut.
Ilaria Petitto, owner pof Donnachiara with Pietro Piccioni from Barba.
Daniel Fabbro, next generation owner of San Polino.
Rocio Escudero from Torre Zambra with Crystal Doumenis from Prunotto.
Ettore Finetto and son Costin Finetto Cojoc, owner from Garbole.
Guido Andretta from Andretta-Vitanza quality testing.
Roberto Guldener - Terrabianca.
While the weather was freezing outside, inside crowds were warmed up with a fantastic selection of wines, as well as tunes from DJ Surahn.
Lara Brandoni - Tenuta di Sesta.
Andreas Comploj from Monteverro shares a word with a fan.
A portion of money from the ticket sales was donated to Sea Shepherd and we had their representatives present.
Sarah Perez - Holland America.
It was a great turnout for the Miami leg of Great Wines of Italy 2019.
Jeff Philips - Wine.com.
James always has time for a photo op.
Many wineries were out of pours by the end of the event.
Alessandro Raise - Ridolfi.