Sicily is starting to compete with the rest of the world thanks to what the territory offers and the knowledge possessed. Wine and vine growing have become one of the leading sectors of the farming industry of the island and farm holidays are increasing every year. Also institutions, politics, local administrators and the Regional Parliament have realized this new face of the Sicilian economy.

The Region is giving a great importance to the Sicilian wine and grape companies that, in the last ten years, with an extraordinary entrepreneurial spirit, are obtaining consensus all around the world.

The quality and prices of Sicilian wines are extremely competitive and Sicily is becoming one of the main references of world oenology.

To confirm this new positive trend, the island will host an extraordinary event: from the 23rd to the 25th of April Palermo will be the first Italian city to host the ‘Concours Mondial de Bruxelles’, a top-quality wine competition, considered by many a “world championship of wine”: 6 thousand different wines, coming from 50 countries of all continents, will be evaluated by an international jury composed of 200 people, two thirds will be specialized journalists, and there will also be wine experts, sommeliers and professional buyers.

The Concours takes place in turn in all European cities. “We chose Sicily – said the president of the Concours Baudouin Havaux – because it is the European region with the largest area cultivated with vines. In the last period the quality of Italian wine has improved enormously. Moreover we have established an excellent relationship with local institution, in particular with the Sicilian Region and with the Institute for Grapes and Wine (Irvv)”.

Thanks to this good relationship – continued the director of the Concours, Thomas Constenoble – and to a better technical evaluation of the dossier presented, Palermo’s nomination was the best for us, surpassing Florence”. Wine has become a farming and industrial product. The strategy of the Regional Institute for Grapes and Wine points on territory and on an aware and a moderate consumption. Two elements that make the Sicilian way to approach wine a peculiarity for Italy, and not only.

Translated by Chiara Nunnari from John Milton Institute